aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md')
-rw-r--r--content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md203
1 files changed, 96 insertions, 107 deletions
diff --git a/content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md b/content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md
index 5a40f51..d274eb1 100644
--- a/content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md
+++ b/content/blog/2024-01-26-audit-dashboard.md
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ description = ""
draft = false
+++
-Alteryx and Power BI are powerful tools that can help turn your
-old-school audit trackers into interactive tools that provide useful
-insights and potential action plans.
+Alteryx and Power BI are powerful tools that can help turn your old-school audit
+trackers into interactive tools that provide useful insights and potential
+action plans.
With these tools, we are going to build the following dashboard:
@@ -18,59 +18,57 @@ With these tools, we are going to build the following dashboard:
This project assumes the following:
-- You have access to Alteryx Designer and Power BI Desktop.
- - If you only have Power BI Desktop, you may need to perform some
- analysis in Power BI instead of Alteryx.
-- Your data is in a format that can be imported into Alteryx and/or
- Power BI.
-- You have a basic understanding of data types and visualization.
+- You have access to Alteryx Designer and Power BI Desktop.
+ - If you only have Power BI Desktop, you may need to perform some analysis
+ in Power BI instead of Alteryx.
+- Your data is in a format that can be imported into Alteryx and/or Power BI.
+- You have a basic understanding of data types and visualization.
# Alteryx: Data Preparation & Analysis
## Import Data
-With Alteryx, importing data is easy with the use of the
-`Input Data` tool. Simply drag this tool onto the canvas from
-the `In/Out` tab in the Ribbon to create it as a node.
+With Alteryx, importing data is easy with the use of the `Input Data` tool.
+Simply drag this tool onto the canvas from the `In/Out` tab in the Ribbon to
+create it as a node.
-You can choose the File Format manually or simply connect to your
-file/database and let Alteryx determine the format for you. For this
-example, we will be importing an Excel file and changing the
-`Start Data Import on Line` variable to `2`.
+You can choose the File Format manually or simply connect to your file/database
+and let Alteryx determine the format for you. For this example, we will be
+importing an Excel file and changing the `Start Data Import on Line` variable to
+`2`.
![Alteryx Excel
Import](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_import.png)
## Transform Data
-Next, let\'s replace null data and remove whitespace to clean up our
-data. We can do this with the `Data Cleansing` tool in the
-`Preparation` tab in the Ribbon.
+Next, let's replace null data and remove whitespace to clean up our data. We
+can do this with the `Data Cleansing` tool in the `Preparation` tab in the
+Ribbon.
Ensure that the following options are enabled:
-- Replace Nulls
- - Replace with Blanks (String Fields)
- - Replace with 0 (Numeric Fields)
-- Remove Unwanted Characters
- - Leading and Trailing Whitespace
+- Replace Nulls
+ - Replace with Blanks (String Fields)
+ - Replace with 0 (Numeric Fields)
+- Remove Unwanted Characters
+ - Leading and Trailing Whitespace
![Data
Cleansing](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_cleansing.png)
-For our next step, we will transform the date fields from strings to
-datetime format. Add a `Datetime` tool for each field you
-want to transform - in the example below, I am using the tool twice for
-the \"Started On\" and \"Submitted On\" fields.
+For our next step, we will transform the date fields from strings to datetime
+format. Add a `Datetime` tool for each field you want to transform - in the
+example below, I am using the tool twice for the "Started On" and "Submitted
+On" fields.
![Data
Transformation](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_transformation.png)
-Now that the dates are in the correct format, let\'s perform a
-calculation based on those fields. Start by adding a `Filter`
-tool, naming a new Output Column, and pasting the formula below into it
-(the two fields used in this formula must match the output of the
-`Datetime` tools above):
+Now that the dates are in the correct format, let's perform a calculation based
+on those fields. Start by adding a `Filter` tool, naming a new Output Column,
+and pasting the formula below into it (the two fields used in this formula must
+match the output of the `Datetime` tools above):
``` txt
DateTimeDiff([SubmittedOn_Out],[StartedOn_Out], "days")
@@ -81,8 +79,8 @@ Analysis](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_analysis
## Export Data
-Finalize the process by exporting the transformed data set to a new
-file, for use in the following visualization step.
+Finalize the process by exporting the transformed data set to a new file, for
+use in the following visualization step.
![Data
Export](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_export.png)
@@ -91,17 +89,15 @@ Export](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/alteryx_export.png
## Import Data
-To start, open the Power BI Desktop application. Upon first use, Power
-BI will ask if you want to open an existing dashboard or import new
-data.
+To start, open the Power BI Desktop application. Upon first use, Power BI will
+ask if you want to open an existing dashboard or import new data.
-As we are creating our first dashboard, let\'s import our data. In my
-example below, I\'m importing data from the \"Tracker\" sheet of the
-Excel file I\'m using for this project.
+As we are creating our first dashboard, let's import our data. In my example
+below, I'm importing data from the "Tracker" sheet of the Excel file I'm
+using for this project.
-During this process, I also imported the export from the Alteryx
-workflow above. Therefore, we have two different files available for use
-in our dashboard.
+During this process, I also imported the export from the Alteryx workflow above.
+Therefore, we have two different files available for use in our dashboard.
![Excel
Tracker](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/excel_tracker.png)
@@ -111,78 +107,71 @@ Import](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/powerbi_import.png
## Add Visuals
-To create the dashboard below, you will need to follow the list
-instructions below and format as needed:
+To create the dashboard below, you will need to follow the list instructions
+below and format as needed:
![](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/dashboard_01.png)
![](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20240126-audit-dashboard/dashboard_02.png)
Instructions to create the visuals above:
-- `Text Box`: Explain the name and purpose of the
- dashboard. You can also add images and logos at the top of the
- dashboard.
-- `Donut Chart`: Overall status of the project.
- - `Legend`: Status
- - `Values`: Count of Status
-- `Stacked Column Chart`: Task count by assignee.
- - `X-axis`: Preparer
- - `Y-axis`: Count of Control ID
- - `Legend`: Status
-- `Treemap`: Top N client submitters by average days to
- submit.
- - `Details`: Preparer
- - `Values`: Sum of Avg~DaysToSubmit~
-- `Line Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours over time.
-- `Clustered Bar Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours per
- person.
-- `Slicer & Table` - Upcoming due dates.
- - `Slicer`:
- - `Values`: Date Due
- - `Table`:
- - `Columns`: Count of Control ID, Date Due,
- Preparer, Status
+- `Text Box`: Explain the name and purpose of the dashboard. You can also add
+ images and logos at the top of the dashboard.
+- `Donut Chart`: Overall status of the project.
+ - `Legend`: Status
+ - `Values`: Count of Status
+- `Stacked Column Chart`: Task count by assignee.
+ - `X-axis`: Preparer
+ - `Y-axis`: Count of Control ID
+ - `Legend`: Status
+- `Treemap`: Top N client submitters by average days to submit.
+ - `Details`: Preparer
+ - `Values`: Sum of Avg~DaysToSubmit~
+- `Line Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours over time.
+- `Clustered Bar Chart`: Projected vs. actual hours per person.
+- `Slicer & Table` - Upcoming due dates.
+ - `Slicer`:
+ - `Values`: Date Due
+ - `Table`:
+ - `Columns`: Count of Control ID, Date Due, Preparer, Status
## Format the Dashboard
-You can choose a theme in the View tab of the Ribbon. You can even
-browse for custom JSON files that define themes, such as ones found
-online or custom ones created by your organization.
-
-For each visual, you can click the `Format` button in the
-`Visualizations` side pane and explore the options. You can
-custom options such as:
-
-- Visual
- - Legend
- - Colors
- - Data labels
- - Category labels
-- General
- - Properties
- - Title
- - Effects
- - Header icons
- - Tooltips
- - Alt text
-
-You can always look online for inspiration when trying to decide how
-best to organize and style your dashboard.
+You can choose a theme in the View tab of the Ribbon. You can even browse for
+custom JSON files that define themes, such as ones found online or custom ones
+created by your organization.
+
+For each visual, you can click the `Format` button in the `Visualizations` side
+pane and explore the options. You can custom options such as:
+
+- Visual
+ - Legend
+ - Colors
+ - Data labels
+ - Category labels
+- General
+ - Properties
+ - Title
+ - Effects
+ - Header icons
+ - Tooltips
+ - Alt text
+
+You can always look online for inspiration when trying to decide how best to
+organize and style your dashboard.
# Sharing the Results
-Generally, you have a few different options for sharing your dashboards
-with others:
-
-1. Export the dashboard as a PDF in the file menu of Power BI. This
- will export all tabs and visuals as they are set when the export
- button is pressed. You will lose all interactivity with this option.
-2. Send the full Power BI file to those you wish to share the
- dashboard. This will retain all settings and interactivity. However,
- you will also need to send the source files if they need to refresh
- the dashboard and you will need to re-send the files if you make
- updates.
-3. Store the dashboard in a synced location, such as a shared drive or
- Microsoft Teams. Depending on how a user configures their local
- Windows paths, the data source paths may not be compatible for all
- users with such a setup.
+Generally, you have a few different options for sharing your dashboards with
+others:
+
+1. Export the dashboard as a PDF in the file menu of Power BI. This will export
+ all tabs and visuals as they are set when the export button is pressed. You
+ will lose all interactivity with this option.
+2. Send the full Power BI file to those you wish to share the dashboard. This
+ will retain all settings and interactivity. However, you will also need to
+ send the source files if they need to refresh the dashboard and you will need
+ to re-send the files if you make updates.
+3. Store the dashboard in a synced location, such as a shared drive or Microsoft
+ Teams. Depending on how a user configures their local Windows paths, the data
+ source paths may not be compatible for all users with such a setup.