build-dashboard

build-dashboard

/build-dashboard - Build Interactive Dashboards

If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.

Build a self-contained interactive HTML dashboard with charts, filters, tables, and professional styling. Opens directly in a browser -- no server or dependencies required.

Usage

/build-dashboard <description of dashboard> [data source]

Workflow

1. Understand the Dashboard Requirements

Determine:

• Purpose: Executive overview, operational monitoring, deep-dive analysis, team reporting

• Audience: Who will use this dashboard?

• Key metrics: What numbers matter most?

• Dimensions: What should users be able to filter or slice by?

• Data source: Live query, pasted data, CSV file, or sample data

2. Gather the Data

If data warehouse is connected:

• Query the necessary data

• Embed the results as JSON within the HTML file

If data is pasted or uploaded:

• Parse and clean the data

• Embed as JSON in the dashboard

If working from a description without data:

• Create a realistic sample dataset matching the described schema

• Note in the dashboard that it uses sample data

• Provide instructions for swapping in real data

3. Design the Dashboard Layout

Follow a standard dashboard layout pattern:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Dashboard Title                    [Filters ▼]  │
├────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬───────────┤
│  KPI Card  │  KPI Card  │  KPI Card  │ KPI Card  │
├────────────┴────────────┼────────────┴───────────┤
│                         │                        │
│    Primary Chart        │   Secondary Chart      │
│    (largest area)       │                        │
│                         │                        │
├─────────────────────────┴────────────────────────┤
│                                                  │
│    Detail Table (sortable, scrollable)           │
│                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Adapt the layout to the content:

• 2-4 KPI cards at the top for headline numbers

• 1-3 charts in the middle section for trends and breakdowns

• Optional detail table at the bottom for drill-down data

• Filters in the header or sidebar depending on complexity

4. Build the HTML Dashboard

Generate a single self-contained HTML file using the base template below. The file includes:

Structure (HTML):

• Semantic HTML5 layout

• Responsive grid using CSS Grid or Flexbox

• Filter controls (dropdowns, date pickers, toggles)

• KPI cards with values and labels

• Chart containers

• Data table with sortable headers

Styling (CSS):

• Professional color scheme (clean whites, grays, with accent colors for data)

• Card-based layout with subtle shadows

• Consistent typography (system fonts for fast loading)

• Responsive design that works on different screen sizes

• Print-friendly styles

Interactivity (JavaScript):

• Chart.js for interactive charts (included via CDN)

• Filter dropdowns that update all charts and tables simultaneously

• Sortable table columns

• Hover tooltips on charts

• Number formatting (commas, currency, percentages)

Data (embedded JSON):

• All data embedded directly in the HTML as JavaScript variables

• No external data fetches required

• Dashboard works completely offline

5. Implement Chart Types

Use Chart.js for all charts. Common dashboard chart patterns:

• Line chart: Time series trends

• Bar chart: Category comparisons

• Doughnut chart: Composition (when <6 categories)

• Stacked bar: Composition over time

• Mixed (bar + line): Volume with rate overlay

Use the Chart.js integration patterns below for each chart type.

6. Add Interactivity

Use the filter and interactivity implementation patterns below for dropdown filters, date range filters, combined filter logic, sortable tables, and chart updates.

7. Save and Open

• Save the dashboard as an HTML file with a descriptive name (e.g., sales_dashboard.html)

• Open it in the user's default browser

• Confirm it renders correctly

• Provide instructions for updating data or customizing

Base Template

Every dashboard follows this structure:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Dashboard Title</title>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/chart.js@4.5.1" integrity="sha384-jb8JQMbMoBUzgWatfe6COACi2ljcDdZQ2OxczGA3bGNeWe+6DChMTBJemed7ZnvJ" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/chartjs-adapter-date-fns@3.0.0" integrity="sha384-cVMg8E3QFwTvGCDuK+ET4PD341jF3W8nO1auiXfuZNQkzbUUiBGLsIQUE+b1mxws" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
    <style>
        /* Dashboard styles go here */
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="dashboard-container">
        <header class="dashboard-header">
            <h1>Dashboard Title</h1>
            <div class="filters">
                <!-- Filter controls -->
            </div>
        </header>

        <section class="kpi-row">
            <!-- KPI cards -->
        </section>

        <section class="chart-row">
            <!-- Chart containers -->
        </section>

        <section class="table-section">
            <!-- Data table -->
        </section>

        <footer class="dashboard-footer">
            <span>Data as of: <span id="data-date"></span></span>
        </footer>
    </div>

    <script>
        // Embedded data
        const DATA = [];

        // Dashboard logic
        class Dashboard {
            constructor(data) {
                this.rawData = data;
                this.filteredData = data;
                this.charts = {};
                this.init();
            }

            init() {
                this.setupFilters();
                this.renderKPIs();
                this.renderCharts();
                this.renderTable();
            }

            applyFilters() {
                // Filter logic
                this.filteredData = this.rawData.filter(row => {
                    // Apply each active filter
                    return true; // placeholder
                });
                this.renderKPIs();
                this.updateCharts();
                this.renderTable();
            }

            // ... methods for each section
        }

        const dashboard = new Dashboard(DATA);
    </script>
</body>
</html>

KPI Card Pattern

<div class="kpi-card">
    <div class="kpi-label">Total Revenue</div>
    <div class="kpi-value" id="kpi-revenue">$0</div>
    <div class="kpi-change positive" id="kpi-revenue-change">+0%</div>
</div>

function renderKPI(elementId, value, previousValue, format = 'number') {
    const el = document.getElementById(elementId);
    const changeEl = document.getElementById(elementId + '-change');

    // Format the value
    el.textContent = formatValue(value, format);

    // Calculate and display change
    if (previousValue && previousValue !== 0) {
        const pctChange = ((value - previousValue) / previousValue) * 100;
        const sign = pctChange >= 0 ? '+' : '';
        changeEl.textContent = `${sign}${pctChange.toFixed(1)}% vs prior period`;
        changeEl.className = `kpi-change ${pctChange >= 0 ? 'positive' : 'negative'}`;
    }
}

function formatValue(value, format) {
    switch (format) {
        case 'currency':
            if (value >= 1e6) return `$${(value / 1e6).toFixed(1)}M`;
            if (value >= 1e3) return `$${(value / 1e3).toFixed(1)}K`;
            return `$${value.toFixed(0)}`;
        case 'percent':
            return `${value.toFixed(1)}%`;
        case 'number':
            if (value >= 1e6) return `${(value / 1e6).toFixed(1)}M`;
            if (value >= 1e3) return `${(value / 1e3).toFixed(1)}K`;
            return value.toLocaleString();
        default:
            return value.toString();
    }
}

Chart.js Integration

Chart Container Pattern

<div class="chart-container">
    <h3 class="chart-title">Monthly Revenue Trend</h3>
    <canvas id="revenue-chart"></canvas>
</div>

Line Chart

function createLineChart(canvasId, labels, datasets) {
    const ctx = document.getElementById(canvasId).getContext('2d');
    return new Chart(ctx, {
        type: 'line',
        data: {
            labels: labels,
            datasets: datasets.map((ds, i) => ({
                label: ds.label,
                data: ds.data,
                borderColor: COLORS[i % COLORS.length],
                backgroundColor: COLORS[i % COLORS.length] + '20',
                borderWidth: 2,
                fill: ds.fill || false,
                tension: 0.3,
                pointRadius: 3,
                pointHoverRadius: 6,
            }))
        },
        options: {
            responsive: true,
            maintainAspectRatio: false,
            interaction: {
                mode: 'index',
                intersect: false,
            },
            plugins: {
                legend: {
                    position: 'top',
                    labels: { usePointStyle: true, padding: 20 }
                },
                tooltip: {
                    callbacks: {
                        label: function(context) {
                            return `${context.dataset.label}: ${formatValue(context.parsed.y, 'currency')}`;
                        }
                    }
                }
            },
            scales: {
                x: {
                    grid: { display: false }
                },
                y: {
                    beginAtZero: true,
                    ticks: {
                        callback: function(value) {
                            return formatValue(value, 'currency');
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    });
}

Bar Chart

function createBarChart(canvasId, labels, data, options = {}) {
    const ctx = document.getElementById(canvasId).getContext('2d');
    const isHorizontal = options.horizontal || labels.length > 8;

    return new Chart(ctx, {
        type: 'bar',
        data: {
            labels: labels,
            datasets: [{
                label: options.label || 'Value',
                data: data,
                backgroundColor: options.colors || COLORS.map(c => c + 'CC'),
                borderColor: options.colors || COLORS,
                borderWidth: 1,
                borderRadius: 4,
            }]
        },
        options: {
            responsive: true,
            maintainAspectRatio: false,
            indexAxis: isHorizontal ? 'y' : 'x',
            plugins: {
                legend: { display: false },
                tooltip: {
                    callbacks: {
                        label: function(context) {
                            return formatValue(context.parsed[isHorizontal ? 'x' : 'y'], options.format || 'number');
                        }
                    }
                }
            },
            scales: {
                x: {
                    beginAtZero: true,
                    grid: { display: isHorizontal },
                    ticks: isHorizontal ? {
                        callback: function(value) {
                            return formatValue(value, options.format || 'number');
                        }
                    } : {}
                },
                y: {
                    beginAtZero: !isHorizontal,
                    grid: { display: !isHorizontal },
                    ticks: !isHorizontal ? {
                        callback: function(value) {
                            return formatValue(value, options.format || 'number');
                        }
                    } : {}
                }
            }
        }
    });
}

Doughnut Chart

function createDoughnutChart(canvasId, labels, data) {
    const ctx = document.getElementById(canvasId).getContext('2d');
    return new Chart(ctx, {
        type: 'doughnut',
        data: {
            labels: labels,
            datasets: [{
                data: data,
                backgroundColor: COLORS.map(c => c + 'CC'),
                borderColor: '#ffffff',
                borderWidth: 2,
            }]
        },
        options: {
            responsive: true,
            maintainAspectRatio: false,
            cutout: '60%',
            plugins: {
                legend: {
                    position: 'right',
                    labels: { usePointStyle: true, padding: 15 }
                },
                tooltip: {
                    callbacks: {
                        label: function(context) {
                            const total = context.dataset.data.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
                            const pct = ((context.parsed / total) * 100).toFixed(1);
                            return `${context.label}: ${formatValue(context.parsed, 'number')} (${pct}%)`;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    });
}

Updating Charts on Filter Change

function updateChart(chart, newLabels, newData) {
    chart.data.labels = newLabels;

    if (Array.isArray(newData[0])) {
        // Multiple datasets
        newData.forEach((data, i) => {
            chart.data.datasets[i].data = data;
        });
    } else {
        chart.data.datasets[0].data = newData;
    }

    chart.update('none'); // 'none' disables animation for instant update
}

Filter and Interactivity Implementation

Dropdown Filter

<div class="filter-group">
    <label for="filter-region">Region</label>
    <select id="filter-region" onchange="dashboard.applyFilters()">
        <option value="all">All Regions</option>
    </select>
</div>

function populateFilter(selectId, data, field) {
    const select = document.getElementById(selectId);
    const values = [...new Set(data.map(d => d[field]))].sort();

    // Keep the "All" option, add unique values
    values.forEach(val => {
        const option = document.createElement('option');
        option.value = val;
        option.textContent = val;
        select.appendChild(option);
    });
}

function getFilterValue(selectId) {
    const val = document.getElementById(selectId).value;
    return val === 'all' ? null : val;
}

Date Range Filter

<div class="filter-group">
    <label>Date Range</label>
    <input type="date" id="filter-date-start" onchange="dashboard.applyFilters()">
    <span>to</span>
    <input type="date" id="filter-date-end" onchange="dashboard.applyFilters()">
</div>

function filterByDateRange(data, dateField, startDate, endDate) {
    retur

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