Dashboard Builder allows you to create a series of saved definitions for metrics and graphs, then associated those saved definitions to one or more dashboards. This gives you the flexibility to reuse your metric and graph definitions for many distinct dashboards. For example, where you want to have a dashboard for your Operations Team, another perhaps for your Executives, and yet another for yourself. The saved metric and graph definitions are using your data from tables and queries in real time, which saves you from performing onerous exports to Excel to create pivot charts and tables to analyze your data.

Which versions of Access are supported?

Dashboard Builder is fully tested and compatible with Access 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010 (32- and 64-bit), 2013 (32- and 64-bit), 2016 (32- and 64-bit), and 2019 (32- and 64-bit).

Is Dashboard Builder an add-in?

Dashboard Builder is a set of forms, modules, and tables. You have full access to the source code, and Dashboard Builder becomes a part of your application, as opposed to an add-in, which is generally separate.

Can Dashboard Builder put my Access database on the web?

At this time Microsoft Access does not support publishing database forms on the web (we wish it did!). You can certainly deploy an MS Access database within your local network to other users in your organization.

Can I create a form with a single graphic meter? More than 4 meters?

Yes. You can copy the graphic meter from the Dashboard Builder dashboard and add it to your own forms. You will need to add one line of VB code to your form’s On_Load event for each meter you add to your form to load the meter at startup.

Can I send a dashboard via email, or save it to a file?

Absolutely. If you have Access 2000, 2002, or 2003, Dashboard Builder allows you to print to paper (or PDF using free utilities available online) . If you have Access 2007, Dashboard Builder will use the PDF format to email or save your dashboard. Look for this icon on the bottom right of the dashboard.

Can I copy a dashboard into Excel or PowerPoint?

The Professional Edition graphs can be copied and pasted into Excel, Word, or PowerPoint, and then manipulated as you would any other type of Microsoft Graph object. For the data dashboards, you can take a screen snapshot and paste a cropped version into the application of your choice.

What kind of support can I expect if I buy Dashboard Builder?

We stand by our products through ongoing investment, and excellent customer support. We offer email technical support to help you work through integrating Dashboard Builder into an existing Access project, or configuring advanced features to work just the way you need them. We can't fix your database design, and we only offer support related to how your application works with Dashboard Builder. But there are many resource online, including UtterAccess.com, where you can find the expertise you need. We are based in North America, which means our responses to your inquiries may be slightly delayed if you are on another continent.

Does OpenGate offer consulting?

We do. Please see our Microsoft Access Consulting page for more information.

Do I need to know Visual Basic or SQL to use Dashboard Builder?

Definitely not, we designed Dashboard Builder to be used by people that aren’t Visual Basic experts. Dashboard Builder is easy enough for a new Access user to learn in minutes, and powerful enough to help even the most experienced Access gurus.

What languages are supported by Dashboard Builder?

The code, administrative screens, and all comments are in English. However the dashboard names and labels can be configured to display any language (including simplified Chinese). All currencies are displayed in the user's system currency.

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Licensing Questions

Do I need a license for each user?

Dashboard Builder comes in 10-user and unlimited license levels. For the 10-user license, a maximum of 10 users are allowed to use Dashboard Builder (regardless of where they access the software, from their own PC or a central location).

Can I use Dashboard Builder in products I create for my customers?

Definitely. We have many professional developer clients that use Dashboard Builder to reduce the time to deliver quality solutions for their customers. Please refer to our redistribution pricing for more information about licensing.

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Demo Questions

Why can't I open the demo forms in design mode?

The evaluation copy is locked down to protect OpenGate intellectual property and prevent piracy. If you want full access to the source code and objects, we recommend purchasing the product. You have 30-days to evaluate the software with a full money back guarantee if the product does not meet your needs.

Can I test out Dashboard Builder with my own data?

If you are interested in seeing your own data in a dashboard, we recommend you link tables from your existing database to the Dashboard Builder evaluation database.

Why is the demo in MDE format? You support Access 2007, right?

Dashboard Builder definitely supports Access 2007. We deliver the evaluation database in MDE format so that it can be used by people with Access 2000 and higher.

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Upgrade Questions

Can I upgrade to Professional Edition if I've bought the Standard Edition?

The upgrade feature allows you to easily upgrade to the Professional Edition when you are ready, without losing your current dashboard setups.

How will I be notified when updates are available?

OpenGate emails customers when updates are available.

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Multi-User Questions

How many users will Dashboard Builder support?

Dashboard Builder does not limit the number of users for your applications. The limitations will largely come from Microsoft Access, which can encounter performance problems with 5-10 simultaneous users, depending on whether they are accessing the same records at the same time, and whether your file server and network are fast enough. If you need to deploy your database to more than 5 users, you may want to look at deploying your database on MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server, and then use Microsoft Access and Dashboard Builder as the front-end user interface. Dashboard Builder is tested against MySQL and Microsoft SQL Servers.

Do users need to have Microsoft Access installed to use Dashboard Builder?

Users will need to have the free Microsoft Access runtime installed at a minimum. If you plan to allow users to make design changes to the forms and tables, then they will need to have a full license for Microsoft Access.

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Installation Questions

Will I need to run a setup program?

No setup program is required for Dashboard Builder. The Dashboard Builder database file that you download after purchasing the software is all that is required.

Are any ActiveX controls required?

No ActiveX controls are used, which can help avoid error messages that users often encounter when a database uses ActiveX, but the user does not have the control library on their machine.

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Developer Questions

Can I compile my Dashboard Builder database into an MDE/ACCDE format?

Yes, absolutely. We verify each version can be compiled into an MDE/ACCDE file. In fact, that is how we deliver our evaluation versions.

Can I customize Dashboard Builder objects?

Definitely. You get full access to the forms and modules to change things as you see fit. Note that once you make changes to the objects as delivered, OpenGate Software will continue to assist you should you encounter issues, but may not be able to resolve every issue raised since the changes themselves are not supported. Additionally, you may need to incorporate your modifications into future versions of Dashboard Builder if you choose to update your database to the latest version of Dashboard Builder when it is available.

Can I upsize my database to MySQL or SQL Server?

Absolutely. Dashboard Builder is tested against MySQL and Microsoft SQL Servers.

Is Dashboard Builder compatible with other OpenGate products?

Yes, Dashboard Builder is compatible with all other OpenGate products. We use the same foundational VB libraries for all our projects. If you purchase multiple products, you can incorporate them all into a single master database. You will simply need to import a single copy of VB modules that have the same name.

Dashboard BuilderTM for Microsoft® Access®

Frequently Asked Questions

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