User-defined dashboards are created in the Looker UI. To compare and contrast user-defined dashboards and LookML dashboards, see the [Comparing user-defined and LookML dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/types-of-dashboards.md.txt) documentation page.

To create a dashboard, you must have the following:

- The [**Manage Access, Edit**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt#folder_access_levels) access level for the folder in which you want to place the dashboard
- The [`save_content`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#save_content) and [`see_user_dashboards`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#see_user_dashboards) Looker permissions

Additionally, you must have [access to the LookML models](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#model_sets) for any data you that you want to use in the dashboard.

When you're creating a dashboard, keep in mind best practices for dashboard construction. Find information and recommendations about building performant dashboards in the [Considerations when building performant Looker dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/best-practices/considerations-when-building-performant-dashboards.md.txt) Best Practices page.

## Creating a dashboard from the **Create** button

A **Create** button in the [left navigation panel](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/finding-content.md.txt#using_the_left_navigation_panel) of Looker lets you create dashboards. To create a dashboard, follow these steps:

1. Click the **Create** button.
2. Select the **Dashboard** menu item. This opens a **Create dashboard** window.
3. Enter a name for your new dashboard in the **Name** field.
4. Navigate to and select the folder that you want to save the dashboard in. Alternatively, you can select the **Create New Folder** icon to create a new folder for the dashboard.
5. Click **Create dashboard**.

Next, your new blank dashboard appears. From here, you can add tiles or text by entering edit mode. To enter edit mode, click **Edit dashboard** from the **Dashboard actions** menu, or click the **Edit Dashboard** button in the dashboard pane.


## Creating a dashboard from a folder

To create a dashboard from a folder, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to a folder where you'd like the dashboard to be located.
2. Click the **New** button at the top right of the folder.
3. Click the **Dashboard** option.

   This opens the **Create Dashboard** window.
4. Enter a name for your new dashboard in the **Name** field.

5. Click **Create Dashboard**.

Next, your new blank dashboard appears. From here, you can add tiles or text by entering edit mode. To enter edit mode, click **Edit dashboard** from the **Dashboard actions** menu, or click the **Edit Dashboard** button in the dashboard pane.


## Creating a dashboard from a Look or an Explore

To create a dashboard from a [Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/saving-and-editing-looks.md.txt) or an [Explore](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-and-editing-explores.md.txt), follow these steps:

1. Navigate to a Look or an Explore.
2. If you're creating a dashboard from an Explore, click **Save to new dashboard** from the **Save or Share** menu to open the **Save as a new Dashboard** dialog.

   If you're creating a dashboard from a Look or a classic Explore, click **Save** from the **Explore Actions** menu, and then select **As new dashboard** to open the **Save as a new Dashboard** dialog.
3. In the **Title** field, enter a name for your new dashboard.

   The name that you enter applies to both the tile and the dashboard. You can modify title names at any time. To change the tile name for a query tile, see the [Editing a query tile title](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#editing_a_query_tile_title) subsection on the **Editing user-defined dashboards** documentation page. To change the dashboard name, enter [edit mode on the dashboard](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#entering_edit_mode_in_dashboards).
4. On the **Settings** tab, click the folder where you want to save your dashboard. You must have the [**Manage Access, Edit**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt#folder_access_levels) access level for the folder.

5. On the **Filters** tab, click whether to use the Look's or Explore's filters as the dashboard filters. Custom filters can't become dashboard filters, but they do remain as tile filters.

6. Click **Save**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Any sorting that is applied in the **Visualization** pane (and not in the **Data** pane) of an Explore is a temporary client-side operation and won't persist when an Explore is [saved as a Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/saving-and-editing-looks.md.txt#saving_looks_from_an_explore) or [as a dashboard tile](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#creating_a_dashboard_from_a_look_or_an_explore).

The Look or Explore will be saved as a query tile on the dashboard.


## Adding tiles and text to a dashboard

Once you've created a dashboard, the next step is to add tiles and text to the
dashboard. You can also organize dashboard content by
[adding tabs to dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt#add-tabs) or, if the
[**Dashboard Tile Groups** preview feature](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-general-preview-features.md.txt#dashboard-tile-groups)
is enabled, by [adding tile groups](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups).

The first tile that you add to a dashboard takes up the entire width of the
dashboard. Additional tiles that you add are sized to one-third of the
dashboard's width and are added horizontally under the first tile.
Looker adds additional rows of tiles as necessary. [Tile groups](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups) always take up the entire width of the
dashboard, and new tiles that you add within a tile group are sized to
one-third of the group's width. You can
[move and resize tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles)
and
[tile groups](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#managing_tile_groups)
however you like. You can also
[edit tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#editing_tiles) once
you've created them to adjust the names of the tiles, the visualizations, or the
underlying queries or Looks.

For any new tiles that are added to a dashboard, if they were created from the same Explore as a dashboard filter, the dashboard filter is automatically applied to that tile.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Think about the number and complexity of tiles and other elements that you add to a dashboard. More elements require more browser resources, which increases dashboard rendering time. If rendering becomes an issue, consider creating multiple dashboards with fewer elements on each. Find more recommendations about building performant dashboards in the [Considerations when building performant Looker dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/best-practices/considerations-when-building-performant-dashboards.md.txt) Best Practices page.


### Types of dashboard tiles

You can add four kinds of tiles to a dashboard:

- [Query tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#query_tiles)
- [Look-linked tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#look-linked_tiles)
- [Text tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#text_tiles)
- [Extension tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#extension_tiles)

#### Query tiles

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** If you're using Looker's [new Explore experience](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/retrieve-and-chart-data.md.txt), see the [Viewing and interacting with Explores](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-and-interacting-with-explores.md.txt#save-or-share-menu) documentation page.

Query tiles can be built [directly within a dashboard](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#building_query_tiles_within_a_dashboard_(beta)) or added to a dashboard [from a Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_query_tiles_from_a_look) or [from an Explore](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_query_tiles_from_an_explore).

A query tile is based on an independent query, one that is not linked to a Look. The query underlying a query tile belongs to the dashboard. Even if you use an existing Look to create a query tile, the Look is used only during the creation of the query tile. The tile is unaffected by any later changes to that Look and still exists on the dashboard even if the Look is deleted.

When possible, use query tiles to avoid cluttering your folders with unnecessary Looks.

#### Look-linked tiles

Look-linked tiles are added to a dashboard [from a Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_look-linked_tiles_from_a_look).

A Look-linked tile links the tile's underlying query to a Look. That Look is used when creating the tile and every time the dashboard is refreshed. The Look and the dashboard must be in the same [folder](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt). If you want to add Looks from a different folder, first [copy](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt#copying_and_moving_looks_and_dashboards) the Look into the same folder as the dashboard.

A Look-linked tile is a good choice if you want to create, change, and test a query in one place but use it in multiple dashboards. If the Look changes, any tiles linked to that Look change. If the Look is deleted, dashboards show an error for the tile.

#### Text tiles

Text tiles are [built directly within a dashboard](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_text).

You can use text tiles to define visual sections on a dashboard and to add descriptions. Text tiles in dashboards are designed to have flexible formatting and to default to look more like headings and descriptions than tiles.

There are two types of text tiles, each of which offers a different editing experience but results in the same kind of tile:

- [**Text**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_text_tiles): A dashboard text tile that provides a visual editing experience
- [**Markdown**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_markdown_tiles): Looker's pre-existing text tile option, which lets you use [some HTML](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/html-sanitization.md.txt) and [a subset](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/using-markdown-in-text-tiles.md.txt) of the Markdown markup language to style the output of the tile

#### Extension tiles

Extension tiles are custom applications called [extensions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/extension-overview.md.txt) that are added to a dashboard and run from inside a dashboard tile.


### Building query tiles within a dashboard

If you're in a dashboard, you can build a [query tile](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#query_tiles) from inside the dashboard.

Once you're in the dashboard's [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode), you can add a query tile in one of the following ways:

- Click the **Add** button in the top toolbar of the dashboard, and then select **Visualization**.
- If the dashboard is blank, select the **Add** button in the center of the dashboard pane, and then select **Visualization**.
- If the dashboard contains a [tile group](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups), click the **Add Tile to Group** icon in the group header, and then select **Visualization**.

Next, Looker displays a menu of Explores. Choose an Explore to begin building your query.

Looker opens the [Explore](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-and-editing-explores.md.txt) window to let you build your query. To build a query, follow these steps:

![](https://docs.cloud.google.com/static/looker/docs/images/browse-dashboard-new-tile-explore-2302.png)

1. In the top left title field, enter a name for your query. This will be the name of the tile on the dashboard.
2. [Select the fields](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-and-editing-explores.md.txt#field_picker) and [filters](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/filtering-and-limiting.md.txt) from the field picker.
3. [Configure your visualization options](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-visualizations.md.txt) in the **Visualization** pane.
4. Once you have set up your query, click **Run**.
5. Click **Save** to save the query as a tile on your dashboard.

If your dashboard has tabs, you can also [move the tile to a different dashboard tab](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt#move-tiles).

For any new tiles that are added to a dashboard, if they were created from the same Explore as a dashboard filter, the dashboard filter is automatically applied to that tile.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** When adding a dashboard tile that contains a funnel chart or a timeline chart, you may notice that the charts look different on the dashboard tile than they do in the Explore window. Additionally, map charts' [tooltips](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#drilling_into_data_points) function differently when viewed on dashboard tiles. For more information, visit the [funnel chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/funnel-options.md.txt#stepped_funnel_and_funnel_styles), [timeline chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/timeline-options.md.txt#viewing_timeline_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience), and [map chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/map-options.md.txt#viewing_map_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience) documentation pages.

### Adding query tiles from an Explore

You can save a [query tile](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#query_tiles) to a dashboard directly from an [Explore](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-and-interacting-with-explores.md.txt). Once you're in an Explore and have a query that you want to add to the dashboard, follow these steps:

1. Click **Save to existing dashboard** from the [**Save or Share** menu](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-and-interacting-with-explores.md.txt#save-or-share-menu) to open the **Add to a Dashboard in this folder** dialog.

   If you're using a classic Explore, click **Save** from the **Explore Actions** menu, and then select **To an existing dashboard** to open the **Add to a Dashboard in this folder** dialog.
2. From the list of folders, select the folder where the dashboard is located.

3. From the list of dashboards, select the dashboard name, or type a dashboard name in the **Filter by title...** search bar to narrow the results.

4. Optionally, if the selected dashboard [has tabs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt), choose a tab for the tile from the **Tab** menu.

5. Click **Save to Dashboard**.

A confirmation message appears at the top of the Explore once you have added it as a tile on a dashboard. If you click the title of the dashboard in the confirmation message, Looker takes you directly to the dashboard in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode). From there, you can [move and resize](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles) tiles however you like.

For any new tiles that are added to a dashboard, if they were created from the same Explore as a dashboard filter, the dashboard filter is automatically applied to that tile.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** When adding a dashboard tile that contains a funnel chart or a timeline chart, you may notice that the charts look different on the dashboard tile than they do in the Explore window. Additionally, map charts' [tooltips](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#drilling_into_data_points) function differently when viewed on dashboard tiles. For more information, visit the [funnel chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/funnel-options.md.txt#stepped_funnel_and_funnel_styles), [timeline chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/timeline-options.md.txt#viewing_timeline_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience), and [map chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/map-options.md.txt#viewing_map_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience) documentation pages.


### Adding tiles from a Look

You can add both query tiles and Look-linked tiles to dashboards from a [Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/saving-and-editing-looks.md.txt).

#### Adding query tiles from a Look

To add query tiles from a Look, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to a Look.
2. From the [**Explore Actions** gear icon menu](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-looks.md.txt#the_look_explore_actions_gear_menu) , select **Save** . This action opens a submenu.
3. Select **To an existing dashboard** from the submenu.

   This action opens an **Add to a Dashboard in this folder** window.
4. When you add a query tile from a Look, the tile is given the same title as the name of the Look in the **Title** field (which can be [edited](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#editing_a_query_tile_title) later).

5. From the list of folders, select the folder where the dashboard is located.

6. From the list of dashboards, select the dashboard name, or type a dashboard name in the **Filter by title...** search bar to narrow the results.

7. Click **Save to Dashboard**.

Any tiles that you add to a dashboard through this method are not connected to the Look you created them from. You can edit the tiles without affecting the Look. You can edit or delete the Look without affecting the tiles.

A confirmation message appears at the top of the Look once you have added it as a tile on a dashboard. If you click the title of the dashboard in the confirmation message, Looker takes you directly to the dashboard in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode). From there, you can [move and resize](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles) tiles however you like.

For any new tile that is added to a dashboard, if the Look it was based on was created from the same Explore as a dashboard filter, the dashboard filter is automatically applied to that tile.

#### Adding Look-linked tiles from a Look

You can save a [Look-linked tile](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#look-linked_tiles) to a dashboard directly from a [Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/saving-and-editing-looks.md.txt). However, the Look and the dashboard must be in the same [folder](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt).

To add a Look-linked tile to a dashboard (see the [Adding query tiles from a Look](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_query_tiles_from_a_look) section for visuals), follow these steps:

1. Make sure the dashboard and the Look are in the same folder, or [copy](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/organizing-spaces.md.txt#copying_and_moving_looks_and_dashboards) the Look into the same folder as the dashboard.
2. Select **To an existing dashboard** from the submenu. This opens an **Add to Dashboard** window.
3. Make sure the folder that contains the Look and dashboard is selected.
4. Select the dashboard.
5. Click **Add Look to Dashboard**.

Any tiles that you add to a dashboard through this method are connected to the Look that you created them from and have the same title as the Look. If you edit the tile, the Look and any other tiles that are linked to that Look are affected. If you edit or delete the Look, the tiles are affected.

A confirmation message appears at the top of the Look once you have added it as a tile on a dashboard. If you click the title of the dashboard in the confirmation message, Looker takes you directly to the dashboard in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode). From there, you can [move and resize](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles) tiles however you like.

For any new tile that is added to a dashboard, if the Look it was based on was created from the same Explore as a dashboard filter, the dashboard filter is automatically applied to that tile.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** When adding a dashboard tile that contains a funnel chart or a timeline chart, you may notice that the charts look different on the dashboard tile than they do in the Look. Additionally, map charts' [tooltips](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#drilling_into_data_points) function differently when viewed on dashboard tiles. For more information, visit the [funnel chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/funnel-options.md.txt#stepped_funnel_and_funnel_styles), [timeline chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/timeline-options.md.txt#viewing_timeline_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience), and [map chart](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/map-options.md.txt#viewing_map_charts_in_the_new_dashboard_experience) documentation pages.

### Adding text

Once a dashboard is in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode), you can add text tiles to it by clicking the **Add** button in the top toolbar of the dashboard, or by clicking the **Add Tile to Group** icon in a [tile group](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups) header.

There are two types of text tiles, each of which offers a different editing experience but results in the same kind of tile:

- **Text** : A dashboard text tile that provides a [visual editing experience](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_text_tiles)
- **Markdown** : Looker's pre-existing text tile option, which lets you use [some HTML](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/html-sanitization.md.txt) and [a subset](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/using-markdown-in-text-tiles.md.txt) of the Markdown markup language to format the tile

Once you save your **Text** or **Markdown** tile, you will see it at the bottom of the dashboard (or inside the tile group). You can then [move and resize](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles) your text tile just as you would move and resize other tiles. If your dashboard has tabs, you can also [move the tile to a different dashboard tab](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt#move-tiles).

![A Business Overview dashboard displays a text tile at the top of the page that provides context and information about the dashboard to users.](https://docs.cloud.google.com/static/looker/docs/images/add-text-results-2218.png)


#### Adding Text tiles

**Text** tiles are dashboard text tiles that provide a visual editing experience.

To format the tile's text, follow these steps:

1. Highlight the text in the tile that you want to format.
2. Click the text style icons at the top of the tile.

   As you edit the text tile, it will change to show you how it will appear when you save it.
3. To save your tile, click **Save** on the dashboard.

To edit an existing tile, or enter edit mode, click the tile text to make your changes and save the dashboard. If your dashboard has tabs, you can also [move the tile to a different dashboard tab](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt#move-tiles).


#### Adding Markdown tiles

**Markdown** tiles are dashboard text tiles that can be formatted using HTML and Markdown.

Once you select **Markdown**, a window appears where you can add a title, subtitle, and body. These elements are optional.

Titles and subtitles support some HTML, including links and images. You can also use some HTML in the bodies of **Markdown** tiles. To understand how Looker renders HTML, see the [HTML sanitization](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/html-sanitization.md.txt) documentation page.

Body text supports a subset of the [Markdown markup language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown). See the [Using Markdown in Markdown tiles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/using-markdown-in-text-tiles.md.txt) documentation page for more information about which Markdown syntax is supported in the body text.

### Adding buttons

The **Button** option in the **Add** menu lets you add custom buttons to your dashboard. You can assign the button a link to either a Looker URL or an external URL. Then, when a dashboard viewer selects the button, they are taken to the URL.

To add a button to your dashboard, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the dashboard is in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#entering_edit_mode_in_dashboards).
2. From the **Add** button menu in the top toolbar of the dashboard (or the **Add Tile to Group** menu in a [tile group](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups) header), select **Button**.

   A new button appears on the dashboard (or inside the tile group) with an open button edit window.
3. In the **Content** tab of the button edit window, complete the following fields:

   - **Label** : This text will appear on the button. The button expands its width to accommodate the label until the label reaches the width of its [tile box](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#tile-box). Once the label reaches that limit, it will be truncated. If the label is truncated, it can be repeated in the **Description** field.
   - **Links to** : This option sets the button's destination. You can choose the **Hyperlink** option to add a link; or, if your dashboard [has tabs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt), you can select a tab name from the menu.

     > [!NOTE]
     > **Note:** In an [embedded experience](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/private-embedding.md.txt#embedding_a_dashboard), links to dashboards should contain `embed/` in the link URL.

   - **Hyperlink** : If you have selected **Hyperlink** from the **Links to** menu, enter the link that the button takes viewers to.

   - **Description**: This description will appear when you hold the pointer over the button. If you don't enter a value, the description defaults to the link.

   - **Open in a new browser tab**: Select this option to automatically open the link in a new browser tab rather than navigating away from the dashboard. This option defaults to enabled.

4. In the **Design** tab of the button edit window, you can customize the appearance of the button:

   - **Button Style**: Select one option:

     - **Filled**: Button has a colored background and white text.
     - **Outlined**: Button has an outline and colored text.
     - **Transparent**: Button has no outline or background. It has only colored text.
   - **Color** : Select a color from one of Looker's [color collections](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/color-collections.md.txt) in the **Themes** tab, or customize a color in the **Custom** tab. Then select **Save**.

   - **Button Size** : Choose **Small** , **Medium** , or **Large** to set the size of the button text. The height of the button adjusts to fit the text. The default size is medium.

   - **Alignment** : Choose **Left** , **Center** , or **Right** to horizontally align the button within its tile box. The button's tile box defaults to full width, and the alignment defaults to center.

5. Click **Save** to save your changes.

#### Moving and resizing buttons

Once added, a button can be [moved](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#rearranging_and_resizing_tiles) and its tile box can be resized just as with any other tile. If your dashboard has tabs, you can also [move the button to a different dashboard tab](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt#move-tiles).

By default, a new button is placed at the top of a dashboard within a tile box that is set to the full width of the dashboard.

Resizing a button's tile box may affect the placement of other dashboard elements, and it may affect a button's width. However, you can only adjust a button's text size or height through the **Button Size** option in the button edit window.

### Adding extensions

If you have the [Looker Admin role](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#default_permission_sets) or the [`develop` permission](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#develop), or if you have been granted access to one or more extensions, you will see the **Extension** option in the **Add** menu. The **Extension** option lets you add a custom [extension](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/intro-to-extension-framework.md.txt) as a tile to your dashboard.

To add an extension as a tile, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the dashboard is in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#entering_edit_mode_in_dashboards).

2. From the **Add** button menu in the top toolbar of the dashboard (or the **Add Tile to Group** menu in a [tile group](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#adding_tile_groups) header), select **Extension**. The Extensions panel appears, listing all available extensions that can be installed as a tile on your dashboard.

   ![](https://docs.cloud.google.com/static/looker/docs/images/dashboard-extension-panel-2400.png)
3. In the **Extensions** panel, in the section of the extension that you want to install, click **Add to tile**. The selected extension is installed in the new tile on your dashboard (or inside the tile group).

### Adding tile groups

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Preview**
>
>
> This feature is
>
> subject to the "Pre-GA Offerings Terms" in the General Service Terms section of the
> [Service Specific
> Terms](https://docs.cloud.google.com/terms/service-terms#1), and the
> [Additional Terms for Generative AI
> Preview Products](https://cloud.google.com/trustedtester/aitos).
>
> Pre-GA features are available "as is" and might have limited support.
>
> For more information, see the
> [launch stage descriptions](https://cloud.google.com/products/#product-launch-stages).

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Use the [Looker Tile Groups - Preview Issues form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqtRfbUyyIhZqKkyfsEJyVhJ83sGG58-t1sAssvZ3V_ruUrw/viewform) to provide feedback or report issues with this preview feature.

If the
[**Dashboard Tile Groups** preview feature](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-general-preview-features.md.txt#dashboard-tile-groups) is enabled,
you can add [collapsible group containers](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#tile_groups) to dashboards that use the default grid
layout. Grouping tiles lets you visually organize related content and move,
duplicate, or delete multiple tiles as a single unit.

To add a tile group to your dashboard, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the dashboard is in [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode).
2. Click the **Add** button in the toolbar at the top of the dashboard (or in the center of the dashboard pane if the dashboard is blank), and then select **Group** . A new full-width group container appears on the dashboard canvas with a default title (such as **My group 1**).
3. Optional: Click the group title in the group header and enter a new title for the group.
4. Add tiles to the group in either of the following ways:
   - **Create a new tile inside the group** : In the group header, click the **Add Tile to Group** icon, and then select **Visualization** , **Text** , **Markdown** , **Button** , or **Extension**. By default, new tiles within a group are sized to one-third of the group's width and are placed from left to right as new tiles are added.
   - **Move an existing tile into the group** : In the group header, click the **Add Existing Tile to Group** icon, and then click the ungrouped tile on the dashboard canvas that you want to move into the group.
5. Click **Save** in the blue toolbar to save your changes.

For more information about rearranging, resizing, duplicating, ungrouping, or
deleting tile groups, see the
[Organizing tiles into groups](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#organizing_tiles_into_groups)
section on the **Editing user-defined dashboards** documentation page.

### Adding data actions to tiles

If you have the [`develop`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-users-roles.md.txt#permission_sets) permission for the [model](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/model-and-view-files#model_files) that a tile is based on, you can add data actions to that model. Data actions let dashboard viewers perform tasks with other tools directly from the dashboard tile, such as sending an email or setting values in other applications. These data actions appear in the [drill menu **Actions** section](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-and-interacting-with-explores.md.txt#using_data_actions).

See the [`action`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/reference/param-field-action.md.txt) parameter documentation page for more information.


## Adding dashboard filters to a dashboard

The queries that underlie dashboard tiles may include filters, but you can also add filters to a dashboard itself, which can affect all tiles or just select tiles. Dashboard filters let users narrow a dashboard's results to only the data they are interested in.

To add dashboard filters, you must have at least one query tile or Look-linked tile on the dashboard. Then, you can add filters by entering [edit mode](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/creating-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#edit_mode) and selecting **Filters** from the top toolbar.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Important:** If you edit a [dashboard with tabs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt), every filter will appear on every tab in edit mode. Once you exit edit mode, a filter will only appear on a tab if it is applied to at least one tile on that tab.

To learn more about building standard dashboard filters, visit the [Adding and editing user-defined dashboard filters](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/filters-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt) documentation page.

To learn about turning on dashboard cross-filters, visit the [Cross-filtering dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/cross-filtering-dashboards.md.txt) documentation page.


## Configuring dashboard settings

You can access the dashboard settings at the upper left of the dashboard in the blue toolbar. The default settings when you create a dashboard are as follows:

- [**Timezone**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#time_zone): Each tile's time zone
- [**Run on load**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#run_on_load): Enabled
- [**Default filters view**](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#default_filters_view): Expanded

See the [Editing user-defined dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/editing-user-defined-dashboards.md.txt#editing_dashboard_settings) documentation page for more information about editing these settings.

## Adding a description to a dashboard

To add a description to a dashboard, make sure that the dashboard is in edit mode, and then select **Show dashboard details** from the [**Dashboard actions** menu](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#three-dot_dashboard_menu).

The **Description** field will then become editable.

Once you've added a description, click **Save** to save the change.

## Applying a theme to a dashboard

A theme is a set of predefined visual elements, such as background color, text color, and font family, that you can apply to your dashboard.

If your Looker admin has enabled the [**Internal Dashboard Theming** preview feature](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/admin-panel-general-preview-features.md.txt#internal_dashboard_theming), you will see the **Style** option in the blue toolbar when you're in edit mode.

To apply a [theme](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/themes-for-internal-dashboards.md.txt) to a dashboard, make sure that the dashboard is in edit mode and click **Style** to open the **Style** panel. Select a theme from the **Theme** field, and the theme will be applied to your dashboard. If you select **None** , and your instance has a [default theme](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/themes-for-internal-dashboards.md.txt), the default theme will be applied.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** If your [dashboard has tabs](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/tabbed-dashboards.md.txt), the theme will apply to all tabs. Setting themes for individual tabs is not supported.

If you're a Looker admin or have the `manage_internal_themes` permission, you will see the **Manage Themes** button, which opens the **Admin \> Themes** page, where you can [create and edit dashboard themes](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/themes-for-internal-dashboards.md.txt).

Once you've selected a theme, click **Save** to save the change.


## Improving dashboard performance using aggregate awareness

LookML developers may be able to improve dashboard performance by using [aggregate awareness](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/aggregate_awareness.md.txt). With aggregate awareness, developers can create [aggregate tables](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/aggregate_awareness.md.txt) under LookML `explore` parameters, which can optimize queries for one or more tiles in a dashboard. The first step is to [get the aggregate table LookML](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/viewing-dashboards.md.txt#getting_aggregate_table_lookml_from_a_dashboard_(beta)), which appears under the **Get LookML** option in the **Dashboard actions** menu. For more information, see the [`aggregate_table`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/reference/param-explore-aggregate-table.md.txt#getting_aggregate_table_lookml_from_a_dashboard) parameter documentation page.

Find other information and recommendations about building performant dashboards in the [Considerations when building performant Looker dashboards](https://docs.cloud.google.com/looker/docs/best-practices/considerations-when-building-performant-dashboards.md.txt) Best Practices page.