Using Dashboards in FAST Finance Reporting

Patience Ternus
6 steps
48 seconds

Finance > Reporting > FAST > Dashboards **Purpose and Scope of this Guide** *"How am I aligning with my budget?"* *"What payroll is hitting my index?"* While FAST’s powerful reporting tools can provide the data you need, translating raw data into clear, actionable insights can sometimes be easier said than done. Thankfully, the Financial Reporting Team (*fluent* in 'Data') has developed a set of ready-to-use Dashboards that make it easier to surface key information and find the answers you need. This guide covers general navigation and use of Dashboards. If you're new to using FAST or Dashboards, it's highly recommended to read through this guide first. If you're all set, use the links below to jump to the guide for a specific dashboard. - [**Account Directors Dashboard:**](https://scribehow.com/shared/FAST_Dashboard__Account_Director__rcn9cysrSWmqu_Aj9GB9pw) Tracks budget and spending activity for a selected Index over the course of the **fiscal year** - [**Grants / PI Dashboard:**](https://scribehow.com/shared/FAST_Dashboard__Grants__PI__a9l5ZmDWTQaP_2f7eRZIOQ) Tracks budget and spending activity for a selected Grant Index from **inception to date** For information on creating *personal* Dashboards, check out FAST’s [online help center](https://mfast.isos.isu.edu/CONTROLS/PopupHelp.aspx?SCHEMA=9tDhX1GMC/FnteOVjPoD5A==&PAGENAME=XPQoYRnVPpCh5wyoat84gf+eXXx9z9DcJQcZHMxyAHoHldwAV5bWMA==)

**Prerequisites/ You'll need:** - Access to the FAST Finance Reporting module - To be added to a module 'Group' that the Dashboard is shared with. See the [Accessing FAST Modules ](https://scribehow.com/shared/Access_a_specific_module_in_FAST__lQKGXORkTBeSv-ZkBrGiwQ) guide for more details. Contact the [Financial Reporting](https://www.isu.edu/financeadmin/departments/financial-reporting/our-team/) team with any questions.

Locating the Dashboards

Log in to FAST and select the desired module from the navigation menu on the left. (see the instructions for [accessing FAST modules](https://scribehow.com/shared/Access_the_FAST_AR_Module__lQKGXORkTBeSv-ZkBrGiwQ?referrer=workspace) if necessary)

Click the "Dashboard" tab

From this screen, you'll see all Dashboards available to you in the selected module (shown in red below). Dashboard access is based on which **Group Role(s)** you belong to within that module. Group membership is managed in different ways depending on how each Group is set up. For example: - To view the 'Index Operations' dashboard, you would need to be added to the '*UBOs'* Group, which is managed in FAST and can be edited by Finance Admins - To access the 'Account Directors' dashboard, you would need to be in the *'ISU Account Directors'* Group. However, *this* group is synced with the list of ADs in Banner and **cannot** be updated manually in FAST; you would need to be added as an Account Director in Banner first. If a dashboard you need isn’t visible: - First, check with your supervisor or IT to confirm that you have the correct Fund/Org Security and group settings (if applicable) in Banner. - If you do and you still don’t have access, contact the appropriate [Module Admin](https://scribehow.com/viewer/Access_a_specific_module_in_FAST__lQKGXORkTBeSv-ZkBrGiwQ?scrollToActionId=5b4d2597). They will either add you to the necessary FAST group or direct you to the person who can.

**Module-Specific Menu Options** The menu tabs in the side navigation—and what they display—will change depending on which module you’re in. For example: - The **Home Screen Dashboard Tab** (shown in red in the image below) takes you to your **personal** Dashboard area, where you can build and view your own custom Dashboards. These are private and visible only to you. - The **Dashboard Tab *inside* a Module** (shown in green in the image below) displays pre-built, **department-provided** Dashboards. These are visible to group members and cannot be customized. **How to Tell Which One You're In** (highlighted in orange) - If you see a **Top Navigation menu and a ‘Home’ button**, you’re inside a **module**, and the Dashboards you see are module-specific. - If you do **NOT** see a Top Navigation menu or a ‘Home’ button, you’re in your **personal** Dashboard area.

Using Dashboards

**Dashboard Blocks and their Functions** FAST Dashboards can include two types of content blocks: tables of data they refer to as **Grids,** and charts that help visualize data, called **Graphs**. Each block shows only a summarized snapshot or 'view' of a larger underlying report. If you need to explore the data in more depth, click the **Report Title** at the top of any block to open the full 'source report' in a new browser tab. From there, you can access more details and additional options for working with the data (see "Navigating the Full Report" below)

**Using Dashboard Filters** Some Dashboards have filters along the top that let you narrow down results to specific sets of data—like a single account code or particular time frame. Clicking into a filter will open a dropdown menu. You can scroll through the list or just start typing, and the list will automatically display matching results as you type. **Keep in mind:** - Dropdown menus will only show options for Indexes you have access to based on your Fund/Org access settings in Banner. If something is off—like a missing or incorrect Index—please contact your supervisor and/or IT. - Filters marked **\*Required** will need to be filled in before any data will appear in the reports below.

**Using the Source Reports** As mentioned earlier, you can open the full report behind any Grid or Graph for more control and detail. Once in the report view, you can: - **Export** the data to Excel or PDF (highlighted in blue below) - Apply **advanced filters** not available in the dashboard (highlighted in red) - **Sort, filter, or rearrange columns** by left-clicking any column header - **Pin the report** to your personal collection (highlighted in green) All customizations made in a report are **personal to you**—they won’t affect the dashboard or other users. Reports open in a new tab, so just close the tab when you're finished to return to the dashboard. For more info on what's possible in custom reports, visit FAST’s [Online Help Center](https://mfast.isos.isu.edu/Documentation/1/FASTFINANCE/WebHelp/User/index.htm?rhtocid=_6_1_2_0#t=about_the_reporting_page.htm).

**Dashboard Limitations** Because Dashboard blocks are only *views* of reports, the data they display is **static**—you can’t interact with it like you can in a full report (sort columns, expand grouped data, etc). Also, the Refresh and Export buttons in the top right corner of blocks **do not (currently) work** and should not be used. - Report data updates daily, not in real time. The timestamp in the top right of the module shows when it was last updated (shown in orange in the image below). Consequently, the Refresh button only reloads a block with the same data. - The Export button is **VERY** buggy and (as of 4/25) will not export the data shown in a block. To export, use the Source Report (as previously explained) instead.

**Dashboards are subject to change** We want everyone to succeed in their responsibilities as financial stewards. As part of our commitment to principles of continuous improvement, the Financial Reporting team is constantly refining the reports and dashboards available across FAST and its modules to ensure you have the data you need, presented in a clear, useful, and easy-to-understand way. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or suggestions for how a dashboard could be made more helpful.

Tips & Tricks

**Re-ordering Dashboard Tabs** You can drag and drop the dashboard tabs to reorder them. Your custom tab order will be saved until you change it again.

**Persistent Filters & Unique URLs** Filters you set will remain in place—even after logging out—until you manually change or clear them, making it easier to keep an eye on a specific Index or set of data you check regularly. Also worth noting—each combination of filters generates its own unique URL. You can bookmark these URLs to return **directly** to a view of that specific set of filters. This is especially helpful if you manage a *lengthy* list of Indexes and want to quickly access a particular view without needing to reset and reselect filters each time. To generate the URL, click the 'Link' icon next to the Dashboard title, then right-click or press **Ctrl+C** to copy it. Add it to your bookmarks using the standard method specific to your browser of choice.

Using Dashboards in FAST Finance Reporting

Patience Ternus
6 steps
48 seconds

Locating the Dashboards

Click the "Dashboard" tab

Using Dashboards

Tips & Tricks

**Re-ordering Dashboard Tabs** You can drag and drop the dashboard tabs to reorder them. Your custom tab order will be saved until you change it again.