# Create Library Components and Dashboards

JDashboard is a new way of information delivery, using a user portal user interface rather than a web report or page report. Users can create, edit and browse dashboards from the JReport Console using JDashboard.

Library components are the basic members in dashboards for presenting data via intuitive components such as charts, crosstabs, tables, and Google maps. Library components are created using JReport Designer and then published to the component library on JReport Server for use when creating or modifying dashboards.

To create library components:

First the report developer should create library components to present data using JReport Designer and then publish them to JReport Server.

1. In JReport Designer, click File > New > Library Component on the menu bar to display the New Library Component dialog.

2. Input a title for the library component and select a layout with which to create the library component.

3. Click OK.
   - If Blank is selected as the layout, a report which is blank will be created. You can then use the Toolbox and the Resource View panels to add objects and view elements to the report.
   - If you select the layout as Table, Chart, or Crosstab, the corresponding wizard will then be displayed. Specify the settings according to your requirements.
4. If required, equip the library component with a configuration panel, which can be used to specify parameter values when there are parameters used in the library component, to filter or sort on the library component, or to change properties of the library component.
5. Create more library components following the above steps.
6. You can define message delivery between the library components, such as where and how to send a message, who will be able to receive the message and what to do after receiving.
7. Save the library components.
8. Publish the library component to JReport Server via the menu File > Publish and Download > Publish to Server > Publish Component to Server.

More information about library components >>

Then the server users will be able to access the published library components when creating dashboards using JDashboard.

1. On the JReport Console > Resources page, click New > Dashboard. A blank dashboard will be created.

2. The dashboard header is the upper section of the blank editing area. You can make the bottom border of the header shown which is a dotted horizontal line by hovering the mouse over the header section. In the header you can insert labels, images, and special fields like Print Date and User Name via Toolbox in the Resources panel.

3. The dashboard body is the section below the header. In the body you can insert library components, sliders, and filter controls via the Resources panel.

   Drag a library component from the Component Library:

   Drop the library component in the body:

4. Save your dashboard.

More information about JDashboard >>