grailautomation/build-dashboard

/data: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

/data: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:

1. Query the necessary data
2. Embed the results as JSON within the HTML file

If data is pasted or uploaded:

1. Parse and clean the data
2. Embed as JSON in the dashboard

If working from a description without data:

1. Create a realistic sample dataset matching the described schema
2. Note in the dashboard that it uses sample data
3. 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 that 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

6. Add Interactivity

Filters:

// All filters update a central filter state
// Charts and tables re-render when filters change
function applyFilters() {
    const filtered = data.filter(row => matchesFilters(row));
    updateKPIs(filtered);
    updateCharts(filtered);
    updateTable(filtered);
}

Table sorting:

• Click column headers to sort ascending/descending
• Visual indicator for current sort column and direction

Tooltips:

• Charts show detailed values on hover
• KPI cards show comparison to previous period

7. Save and Open

1. Save the dashboard as an HTML file with a descriptive name (e.g., sales_dashboard.html)
2. Open it in the user's default browser
3. Confirm it renders correctly
4. Provide instructions for updating data or customizing

Output Template

The generated HTML file 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/[email protected]" integrity="sha384-jb8JQMbMoBUzgWatfe6COACi2ljcDdZQ2OxczGA3bGNeWe+6DChMTBJemed7ZnvJ" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
    <style>
        /* Professional dashboard CSS */
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="dashboard">
        <header><!-- Title and filters --></header>
        <section class="kpis"><!-- KPI cards --></section>
        <section class="charts"><!-- Chart containers --></section>
        <section class="details"><!-- Data table --></section>
    </div>
    <script>
        const DATA = [/* embedded JSON data */];
        // Dashboard initialization and interactivity
    </script>
</body>
</html>

Examples

/data:build-dashboard Monthly sales dashboard with revenue trend, top products, and regional breakdown. Data is in the orders table.

/data:build-dashboard Here's our support ticket data [pastes CSV]. Build a dashboard showing volume by priority, response time trends, and resolution rates.

/data:build-dashboard Create a template executive dashboard for a SaaS company showing MRR, churn, new customers, and NPS. Use sample data.

Tips

• Dashboards are fully self-contained HTML files -- share them with anyone by sending the file
• For real-time dashboards, consider connecting to a BI tool instead. These dashboards are point-in-time snapshots
• Request "dark mode" or "presentation mode" for different styling
• You can request a specific color scheme to match your brand