In this episode of Widget Wednesday, Chris Twiest walks through how to get up and running with ControlUp Dashboards—especially if you’re new, short on time, or not sure where to begin. The session is intentionally practical, with no assumptions or pressure, and focuses on the quickest path to building something useful.
Where to start
The episode opens with the basics of approaching dashboards for the first time. Chris explains how to navigate the Dashboard Gallery, explore shared dashboards, and decide when it makes sense to build from scratch, outlining the natural entry points for new users.
Building your first dashboard
You’ll see how to create a dashboard step by step, from naming it and adding a description to defining a simple, focused use case—such as a Wi-Fi performance dashboard—before adding any complexity.
Creating widgets without the guesswork
The walkthrough introduces the widget builder and explains why starting with curated metrics and indexes is important. These come preconfigured with appropriate units and filters, helping new builders avoid common pitfalls and focus on meaningful insights instead of raw data complexity.
Working with real data
Chris demonstrates how to inspect underlying data while building widgets, duplicate widgets to visualize trends over time, and make small visual adjustments that improve readability and clarity.
Comparing and grouping data
The session also shows how to compare Wi-Fi SSIDs using tables and grouping, creating simple “top 10” views that immediately highlight problem areas.
Why this matters
If dashboards have been on your “get to it later” list, this episode provides a clear, approachable starting point and a repeatable foundation you can build on over time.
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Categories: ControlUp Dashboards, Widget Wednesday - ControlUp Dashboard Videos