> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.msportal.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Create and edit a dashboard
> Create a personal dashboard, choose widgets and summary cards, rename it, and save your changes.
Create a personal dashboard from **Dashboards**, then add the charts and summary cards you need. The initial creation saves a dashboard immediately. Later editor changes require **Save** in the page header.
**Audience:** MSP staff with dashboard authoring access. Company users should start with [Read and filter a dashboard](/user-guides/dashboards/read-a-dashboard) and ask their MSP for configuration or user-permission changes.
## Before you begin
* You need the applicable dashboard write access. Seeing a dashboard does not automatically allow editing or deletion.
* Start with a custom dashboard. Built-in system dashboards do not offer Edit through the normal reader.
* Available widgets depend on module permissions, connected integrations, and available company data. Your library may differ from another user's.
* A personal dashboard is associated with its owner. Creating one does not automatically share it with Company users. Sharing and access are managed separately in **Settings > Dashboards**.
## Create a personal dashboard
1. Open **Dashboards**.
2. Select the **+** creation control in the dashboard icon rail when available.
3. Enter a **Name**, up to 100 characters. Add an optional **Description**, up to 500 characters.
4. Choose an **Icon** to identify the dashboard in navigation.
5. Select **Create Dashboard**. The portal creates the personal dashboard and opens its editor.
The screenshot shows the blank MSP creation form. **Cancel** before creation returns to the previous page. After creation, leaving the editor does not remove the new dashboard; it can remain empty until you save some content.
## Add widgets and summary cards
In the editor, use the **Widget Library** on the left:
1. Select a widget to add it to the canvas. Choose from the categories available in your portal.
2. Under **Summary Cards**, select the ticket cards you want to show above the reader's charts. Clear a selection to remove that card.
3. Review the canvas and select **Save** in the page header.
4. Select **Back** to open the saved dashboard and check the result.
The summary choices are **Current Open Tickets**, **Entered Prev Month**, **Closed Prev Month**, **Entered Prev 3 Months**, and **Closed Prev 3 Months**. They retain their own metric periods; they do not all follow the reader's date menu. See [Inspect tickets behind a dashboard metric](/user-guides/dashboards/inspect-dashboard-tickets) for counting and drilldown limitations.
Summary-card selections are saved with the layout, but the editor canvas does not display those summary cards above the widgets. Review them in the saved reader.
The editor is for arranging content. Its chart preview can use a different date range and company context from the dashboard reader. After saving, use **Back**, select the intended company and dates, and check the displayed labels and values before using the dashboard with a client.
## Rename a dashboard
1. In the editor, select **Rename**.
2. Enter the new name and select **Save** in the rename dialog.
3. Select **Save** again in the page header to persist the renamed dashboard.
The dialog's Save only applies the name to your current editing session. It does not finish the dashboard save. **Cancel** in that dialog keeps the previous name.
## Understand Save and Back
| Action | What happens |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Create Dashboard** | Creates a personal dashboard immediately and opens its editor. |
| Add a widget or change Summary Cards | Changes the current editing session; use header Save to persist it. |
| **Save** in Rename | Applies the name within the editor; header Save is still required. |
| **Save** in the page header | Saves the layout and any changed name. Wait for success before leaving. |
| **Back** | Opens the saved reader. It does not save pending edits or delete a newly created dashboard. |
| Width **½**, **⅓**, **¼** | Changes the editor's displayed column count. Do not treat it as a saved default width for readers. |
The editor indicates **Unsaved changes** when its content has changed. Do not rely on Back to warn you before discarding edits. After saving, reopen the editor if you need to confirm persistence.
## Troubleshooting
| Problem | Next step |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Creation or Edit is missing | Ask an MSP administrator to check your authoring permissions and the dashboard type. |
| Save is disabled | Make a content or name change. The width display control alone does not make a saved layout change. |
| A widget is missing from the library or reader | Check the module, integration, role access, company scope and available data. |
| A chart is empty | Check its company and printed dates in the saved reader. Empty results do not establish integration health. |
| Changes disappeared after Back | Reopen the editor and make the changes again, then use header Save. |
| Save reports an error | Keep the editor open, record the message, and verify the saved state before retrying. Do not assume the change persisted. |
Company administrators ask the MSP to change user permissions. Sharing a dashboard does not itself grant access to every underlying module or record.
## Related guides
* [Manage dashboard settings and access](/user-guides/dashboards/manage-dashboard-settings)
* [Dashboards and access types](/user-guides/dashboards/index)
* [Read and filter a dashboard](/user-guides/dashboards/read-a-dashboard)
* [Inspect dashboard tickets](/user-guides/dashboards/inspect-dashboard-tickets)
* [Export a dashboard to PDF](/user-guides/dashboards/export-dashboard)
## Frequently asked questions
Open Dashboards and use the plus creation control in the dashboard icon rail, with the applicable authoring permission. Enter a name, optional description and icon, then choose Create Dashboard.
Yes. It creates a personal dashboard immediately. Leaving the editor afterward does not remove that dashboard, even if it is empty.
No. Sharing and access are separate settings managed by the MSP in Settings > Dashboards.
Open the custom dashboard editor, select a widget in the Widget Library, and use Save in the page header. Use Back afterward to review the saved reader.
Select the required Summary Cards in the Widget Library, then use header Save. Review the cards in the saved reader; the editor canvas does not show the summary-card row.
Not by itself. Save in the dialog applies the name within the editor. Use Save again in the page header to persist it.
No. Back opens the saved reader. Use header Save and wait for success before leaving; do not rely on an unsaved-change warning.
The width button changes the displayed column count. It is not a saved default width for readers and does not by itself mark content as changed.
The editor preview can use a different date range and company context. Save, open the reader with Back, select the intended company and dates, and check each chart's labels.
Widget availability depends on module permissions, integrations and available company data. Ask the MSP to check those prerequisites.
The normal reader does not offer Edit for system dashboards. Use a custom dashboard for this workflow.
No. This workflow saves dashboard configuration. Record changes happen in their respective modules through separately authorized actions.
Company administrators ask the MSP to change user permissions or dashboard configuration.
No. Ticket summary cards retain their own current or monthly periods. Check each card and chart label separately.