# How to build a spreadsheet dashboard

Learn how to build a sales competition dashboard using the Spreadsheets data source.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

In this guide, we'll cover all the steps to build a sales competition dashboard. We'll create widgets that visualize data from [this example spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18b61g9mRDhSO5jBLEvhruNYJEyxYHKTq4Wsy2qsv9fI/edit?usp=sharing) to track individual and team sales performance. Alternatively, you can use your own data and follow the steps below to build similar visualizations if you'd like to. This guide uses Google Sheets, but the exact same steps can be followed if you are using Excel.

# Make a copy of the sheet

If you want to follow along using the example spreadsheet template, make a copy with these steps:

1. Open [this spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18b61g9mRDhSO5jBLEvhruNYJEyxYHKTq4Wsy2qsv9fI/edit?usp=sharing).
2. Click File, then select **Make a copy**.
3. Change the title if preferred.
4. Click the **Make a copy** button again to save the file to Google Drive.
5. Click **Share**, and make sure the **General Access** field is set to **_Anyone with the link._**

# Get connected and build your first widget

We’ll start by connecting the Google Sheet so Geckoboard can access the data to build the first widget, Team sales this year.

1. Click the **\+ Add widget** button on your dashboard.
2. Search for **Google Sheets** and select it.
3. In the Link to file field, **add the link** to your sheet.

1. Alternatively, you can [connect your Google Drive](https://support.geckoboard.com/en/articles/6055538-connect-your-excel-file-or-a-google-sheet-to-visualize-your-spreadsheet-data) directly if preferred.

4. On the Select data range page that opens, click the drop-down in the bottom left corner, then select the sheet titled **For Geckoboard**.
5. Now, **click cell A10** (labeled Total sales this year), select **Keep single cell**, and then click **Continue**.
6. In the Visualization field, set it to **Number**.
7. Now click **Add comparison visualization** and make sure **Goal** is selected.
8. In the **Goal is** field, enter the value **5,800,000** and click **Save**.

1. Alternatively, you can add this value (or any goal value) to the sheet and select the cell instead, which we’ll cover in a later step.

9. At the top of the widget, where the example title is, add the text **this year** to give the widget a title.
10. Then click **Add to dashboard** to save your configuration.

# Expand your dashboard

## Duplicate widgets to quickly build out the dashboard

Now that your first widget is built, you can continue adding more widgets for the same data source quickly with the Duplicate feature. We’ll demonstrate this by duplicating the Team sales this year number widget created earlier, then editing it to build the Team sales this week number widget.

1. In the top right of the widget on your dashboard, **click the ellipsis**, then select **Duplicate**.
2. Hover over the top right of the newly created widget, **click the ellipsis**, then select **Edit**.
3. Now click **Edit your data selection** to open the data range area.
4. In the current cell selection box, clear the current selection by **clicking X**.
5. Now **select cell A2** (labeled Total sales this week), select Keep single cell, then click **Continue**.
6. In the Visualization field, set it to **Number**.
7. Now, to show the comparison between sales this week and last week, click **Edit comparison visualization** and select the **Number** comparison type.
8. In the Compare to field, **select cell B2** (labeled Total sales last week), **click the up icon**, then click **Save**.
9. Click **Save** once more to save the configuration.
10. Hover over the current title and **change it to _this week_**.
11. Finally, click to the right of the comparison value and **add the label _last week_**.

## Group your widgets together to show the relationship between the metrics

To help viewers quickly understand what data is related, it can be helpful to group related metrics together. Let’s do this with the two widgets we’ve created so far.

1. **Drag and drop** one widget on top of another.
2. Resize the group by **dragging the edge** in or out.
3. Give the group a Team sales label.
4. **Click and drag the group** into the top left corner of your dashboard.

## Add a team sales leaderboard

The next widget we’ll build is a Team sales this year using a Leaderboard visualization below the widgets we created earlier.

1. Add a new Spreadsheets widget to your dashboard using the same file as before.
2. On the Select data range page that opens, make sure you have the sheet titled **For Geckoboard** selected.
3. **Select D:D** (labeled Teammate) and click **\+ Add another range**.
4. Then **select I:I** (labeled Total sales this year) and click **Continue**.
5. Set the visualization to **Leaderboard**.
6. At the top of the widget, **add the title _Top sales this year_**, then click **Add to dashboard**.

## Add a weekly sales lines chart

Next, we’ll build the Weekly sales line chart widget, located in the bottom left of the dashboard.

1. Add a new Spreadsheets widget to your dashboard using the same file as before.
2. On the Select data range page that opens, make sure you have the sheet titled **For Geckoboard** selected.
3. **Select the data in A12 and below** (labeled Week start date), then click **\+ Add another range**.
4. **Select the data in B12 and below** (labeled Total weekly sales), then click **Continue**.
5. Now set the visualization to a **Line chart**.
6. Next, set the X-axis field to **Week start date**.
7. Set the Series field to **Total weekly sales**.
8. Add the title **_Weekly sales_**, then click **Add to dashboard**.

## Add images of your team

To further highlight individual sales performance, we’ll display an image for each sales team member. You can upload a photo directly or display images hosted in cloud storage.

1. Click the **\+ Add widget** button on your dashboard.
2. Search for **Image** and select it.
3. On the **File** tab, **upload your image** or swap to the **Link** tab and paste the link for your image.
4. Give the widget an optional title or leave the field blank, then click **Save**.
5. **Repeat this process** for any additional sales team members.

## Add total individual sales number widgets for this week

Now we’ll add number widgets for each of our sales team members to track individual sales performance this week.

1. Add a new Spreadsheets widget to your dashboard using the same file as before.
2. On the Select data range page that opens, make sure you have the sheet titled **For Geckoboard** selected.
3. **Select F2** (column labeled Total sales this week) for the first team member, then click **Continue**.
4. Set the visualization to Number.
5. Then click **Add comparison visualization** and select the Sparkline option.
6. In the Compare to field, **drag and select cells O2:O6** (labeled with a name) to add the corresponding data for this team member, then click **Save**.
7. Now click **Add to dashboard**.
8. Hover below the value and **add the label _this week._**
9. **Repeat this process** for any additional sales team members.

## Add total individual sales number widgets for this year

Next, we’ll add another set of number widgets for each of our sales team members to track individual sales performance this year.

1. Add a new Spreadsheets widget to your dashboard using the same file as before.
2. On the Select data range page that opens, make sure you have the sheet titled **For Geckoboard** selected.
3. **Select I2** (column labeled Total sales this year) for the first team member, then click **Continue**.
4. Set the visualization to Number.
5. Then click **Add comparison visualization** and select the **Goal** option.
6. In the Compare to field, **select the corresponding cell L2** (labeled Year target), then click **Save**.
7. Now click **Add to dashboard**.
8. **Repeat this process** for any additional sales team members.

# Finalize the dashboard layout and labels

Finally, we'll complete the dashboard layout and add labels to the remaining widgets that require them.

1. **To create a group, drag and drop** the widgets created in the last two steps on top of the related image.
2. **Resize the group** to fill the space vertically.
3. **Add the remaining labels** to widgets that do not have them yet:
   1. Add the name of the team member to the top of their widget group.
   2. If preferred, add their location or area of responsibility below their name.
   3. Add the label _this year_ to the widgets created in the step prior to this.
4. **Repeat this process** of grouping and labeling for all remaining widgets.

# Next steps

- Learn [how to prepare your own spreadsheet data](https://support.geckoboard.com/en/articles/6055516-prepare-your-spreadsheet-before-connecting-to-geckoboard) before bringing it into your dashboard.
- Discover all the options for [sharing a dashboard with others](https://support.geckoboard.com/en/articles/10159791-how-to-share-a-dashboard-with-others).