This document provides an overview of Dashbuilder, an open source tool for visually configuring business dashboards and reports without coding. Key features include drag-and-drop dashboard configuration, KPI indicators, interactive tables, filtering, different data sources, access control, and integration with jBPM for process and task monitoring. The technical architecture involves a Java web app that retrieves data from providers to power the UI dashboard configuration and reporting features. Dashbuilder comes with out-of-the-box jBPM dashboards and allows custom data connectors and dashboard development.

1. Dashbuilder
Introduction
Key features & target users
Key concepts
Architecture
Functional overview & screenshots
Process and task monitoring with jBPM
How to learn more about Dashbuilder
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www.dashbuilder.org

2. Dashbuilder Introduction
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www.dashbuilder.org

3. Key features
Enable the configuration of business
dashboards with no coding.
Key features:
■ Visual configuration of dashboards
(Drag'n'drop).
■ Graphical representation of KPIs (Key
Performance Indicators).
■ Configuration of interactive report tables.
■ Data export to Excel and CSV format.
■ Filtering and search, both in-memory or SQL
based.
■ Process and tasks dashboards with jBPM.
■ Data extraction from external systems, through
different protocols.
■ Granular access control for different user
profiles.
■ Look'n'feel customization tools.
■ Open source.
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Example: Editing an indicator.
Example: Dashboard with active filter
www.dashbuilder.org

4. Target users
Managers / Business owners. Consumer of dashboards and reports.
IT / System Architects. Connectivity and data extraction.
Process Analyst. Dashboard composition & configuration.
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www.dashbuilder.org

5. Dashbuilder key concepts
Concept
Informal definition or comment
Dashboards
Data providers
Composed of Worskpaces, Pages and Panels
Connectors to retrieve data via a given set of protocols and
formats.
Examples: CSV over HTTP / File, SQL over JDBC.
Matrix of information that will be filtered, processed and
displayed via indicators
Unit of information which is meaningful from the business
users perspective, usually displayed in a graphical way.
Component that allows user to filter the current data and
refresh the affected indicators.
Clicking directly on chart area or table cell acts on filter
automatically. Going back to previous page restores the
filter status.
Permissions can be set to workspaces, specific pages or
panels.
Data sets
Indicators
Filter
Drill-down / Drill
Up
Permissions
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www.dashbuilder.org

6. Generic technical overview
■ Dashbuilder is an standard Java webapp in WAR format for JDK 1.6+
■ Several containers supported:
JBossAS 7, Wildfly 8, Red Hat JBoss EAP 6, Apache Tomcat 7, Jetty.
■ Open Source (Apache License)
UI provides all the features
for users to configure reports
and KPIs
Dashbuilder webapp
(WAR)
Engine process and
aggregates data
Data providers are used to
retrieve data
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www.dashbuilder.org

7. Dashbuilder functional overview
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www.dashbuilder.org

8. Dashboards
Edit toolbar (only with admin permissions)
Breadcrumb and title
Navigation menu
Current filter status
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Indicator
Click to filter and drill
down
www.dashbuilder.org

9. Dashboards – Drill down
Breadcrumb shows current navigation path
INFORMATION
FILTERED BY
SELECTION
Filter is set when
clicking on chart
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www.dashbuilder.org

10. Dashboards - Create indicator
Step #1. Click on
panels palette
Step #2. Select 'Key
Performance
Indicator'
Step #3. Select
'Create panel'
Step #4. Drag and
drop panel onto
region
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www.dashbuilder.org

11. Dashboards - Edit indicator
Visual KPI Editor
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www.dashbuilder.org

12. Dashboards - Report tables
Export filtered data
to Excel & CSV
Click to sort and filter
Summary tables
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www.dashbuilder.org

13. Data extraction
■ Check if an standard data provider is suitable for the job. Currently:
■ SQL/JDBC data provider – Create datasource endpoint if required
■ CSV/HTTP data provider
■ If another protocol is to be used, you can develop new custom data provider.
■ Configure data set properties.
■ Property names / translations
■ Resolve property ambiguity (example number vs label).
When finished, data set is available for dashboards.
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www.dashbuilder.org

14. jBPM and Dashbuilder integration
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www.dashbuilder.org

15. jBPM Dashbuilder integration
Dashbuilder is ready to use with jBPM 6 for process and task monitoring.
■ Out of the box dashboards for any jBPM 6 installation.
■ Global process and task indicators and reports. Instances and durations.
■ Process specific indicators and reports.
■ Integrated with jBPM workbench.
■ More info at:
http://docs.jboss.org/jbpm/v6.0/userguide/chap-bam.html
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www.dashbuilder.org

16. jBPM Dashbuilder Integration – Process & tasks
Dashboards for jBPM will provide real time task
and process reports
Global process view
Instance count and duration stats
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www.dashbuilder.org

17. jBPM integration – selected process drilldown
Process indicators
Selected process
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www.dashbuilder.org

18. To learn more about Dashbuilder, please visit:
http://www.dashbuilder.org/
Commercial support is offered by Red Hat with the BPMS 6 platform subscription
http://www.redhat.com/solutions/it/business-process-management/
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www.dashbuilder.org