How to Build a Dashboard for Your Services With ColdFusion

ColdFusion is a rapid application development platform that allows users to create simple applications for database supervision. Using Microsoft Excel, you can create data tables on a spreadsheet, and these data tables can then be imported into the ColdFusion integrated development environment (IDE) program to create charts, graphs, and other tables for presentation in a single window, known as a "dashboard."

Instructions

1

Open a new Excel file by double-clicking the "Microsoft Excel" icon in your computer's "Programs" folder.

2

Create your data tables based on the information you have. Each data table must have defined rows and columns. Add other data tables by selecting the "Sheet" tabs at the bottom of your Excel window. Each sheet can contain a different data table.

3

Save your Excel file to your desktop after creating your data tables. Open your ColdFusion IDE program and select the "New Project" option.

4

Select the "Import" option in the IDE program's menu bar to open the import window. Select the Excel file you just created on your desktop in the window, then select the "OK" option to import the spreadsheet, and data tables, into the program. This will launch your dashboard wizard.

5

Select the charts and graphs you wish to add to your dashboard. For each chart or graph you select, you will be asked to select the data table you wish to have mapped to the chart or graph.

6

Select the "Compile" option once you have finished organizing your dashboard. The dashboard is converted into a Flash file, which is then saved to the destination of your choice.