{"id":14318,"date":"2026-09-17T10:41:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/?p=14318"},"modified":"2026-09-17T11:42:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T11:42:59","slug":"google-sheets-dashboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/work-tools-and-templates\/google-sheets-dashboard\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Build a Google Sheets Dashboard in 2026: A Step-By-Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Do you use Google Sheets to track your monthly sales, team tasks, or top-performing marketing channels, but want to turn that raw data into an easy-to-understand visual?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">This is exactly where Google Sheets dashboards come into play \u2014 to help you get a complete overview of your projects\u2019 progress in a clear visual format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Wanna know how to create a dashboard in Google Sheets? Read on to learn all the steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list key-takeaways\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">A Google Sheets dashboard provides a clear overview of your project progress by summarizing key metrics and KPIs in the form of charts, graphs, and tables in one place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">A good dashboard follows the F-pattern and a 5-second rule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">There are 4 types of dashboards: operational, strategic, tactical, and analytical.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">To create a dashboard in Google Sheets, you need to set up and import your data, summarize data with formulas and pivot tables, build the charts and the dashboard tab, and make a dashboard dynamic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">There are 3 ways to use AI in Google Sheets: built-in Gemini in your Google Workspace, third-party add-ons, and Google Apps Script + API.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Some of the free Google Sheets dashboard templates are: project timeline template, project tracking template, Gantt chart template, and event marketing timeline template.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Performance issues, cell limits, and poor audit trails are some of the challenges users have with Google Sheet dashboards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-a-google-sheets-dashboard-is-and-when-you-need-one\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What a Google Sheets dashboard is (and when you need one)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Google Sheets dashboard provides a visual summary of the selected raw data from your spreadsheet(s).&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">This comes in handy if you\u2019re using Sheets to collaborate with your team, since chances are, you\u2019ll often need to pull out important information to share it with your stakeholders.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">With the use of different charts, graphs, and scorecards, you can present specific KPIs and metrics and provide a bird\u2019s-eye overview of your project performance right in your Google dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">For example, a project manager might include a task status chart, a table listing overdue tasks, and a scorecard for task completion rates. Having important data in one place makes it easier to spot trends, track progress, and share updates at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-makes-a-good-dashboard-before-you-build\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What makes a good dashboard (before you build)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">A good dashboard helps you make quick data-based decisions, while a bad one results in cognitive overload and lacks clear direction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">So, before you build your Google Sheets dashboard, make sure you stick to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>The F-pattern<\/strong> \u2014 According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nngroup.com\/articles\/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content-discovered\/?lm=how-people-read-web-eyetracking-evidence&amp;pt=report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eyetracking study<\/a>, people read in an \u201cF\u201d shape, starting from the top-left. Place your KPIs in the top left corner, so that your team sees critical updates instantly.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>The 5-second rule<\/strong> \u2014 This design principle implies that a good dashboard lets you understand whether your project is on course within 5 seconds of opening a dashboard. When numerical data is easily found, you can discuss future actions straightaway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Another important thing is to choose the right dashboard type. You can opt for one of these 4 options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Operational<\/strong> \u2014 used on a daily basis to present real-time data and give insights into most recent performance (order fulfillment, daily active users, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Strategic<\/strong> \u2014 created for senior management for monthly, quarterly, or yearly reviews with a focus on overall business performance (market position, annual revenue, etc.)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Tactical<\/strong> \u2014 built on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis to obtain data about short-term performance metrics and check whether daily operations follow the long-term strategy (milestones, sales targets, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Analytical<\/strong> \u2014 used when needed by business specialists to track and analyze a large volume of historical data resulting in finding and understanding root causes of certain business trends (system health, conversion data, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-create-a-dashboard-in-google-sheets\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">How to create a dashboard in Google Sheets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the steps to create a dashboard in your Google Sheets:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1-set-up-and-import-your-data\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">#1: Set up and import your data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">You need to have some raw data to work with before you create your dashboard. You can enter data into a dedicated spreadsheet manually or use one of these options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>IMPORT functions<\/strong> \u2014 Sheets have various IMPORT functions you can use to add data to your spreadsheet. For example, you can use IMPORTDATA (to import CSV or TSV data), IMPORTRANGE (to import a range of cells), or IMPORTHTML (to import data from an HTML page).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1211\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data.webp\" alt=\"Using IMPORTRANGE function in Google Sheets to import data\" class=\"wp-image-14341\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4857142857142858;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data-300x202.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data-768x517.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data-1536x1033.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_IMPORTRANGE_function_in_Google_Sheets_to_import_data-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Using IMPORTRANGE function in Google Sheets to import data<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Google Forms<\/strong> \u2014 Forms help you collect a great deal of data that you can transfer to your spreadsheet using the IMPORTRANGE function. With a QUERY function, you can filter, sort, or aggregate specific data you\u2019ll need for your dashboard. Also, if you link your Google Form to a dedicated spreadsheet, Forms send responses directly to the spreadsheet allowing you to collect data easily and manage them as you prefer.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms.webp\" alt=\"Linking a dedicated spreadsheet in Google Forms\" class=\"wp-image-14342\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4.457142857142857;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms-300x67.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms-768x172.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms-1536x343.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Linking_a_dedicated_spredsheet_to_Google_Forms-18x4.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Linking a dedicated spreadsheet in Google Forms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>External data source via an Add-on<\/strong> \u2014 Another way to import data to your spreadsheets is via API connectors. To get an add-on, click on Extensions tab in your Sheet and select the \u201cGet add-ons\u201d option. Once the Google Workspace Marketplace window is opened, search for API connectors, and choose the one that works for you. Keep in mind that any updates to your chosen add-on may affect the way your dashboard works.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1150\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors.webp\" alt=\"Google Workspace Marketplace API connectors\n\" class=\"wp-image-14343\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5639097744360901;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Google_Workspace_Marketplace_API_connectors-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Google Workspace Marketplace API connectors <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"2-summarize-with-formulas-and-pivot-tables\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">#2: Summarize with formulas and pivot tables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">If you find your spreadsheet messy after all the imports, don\u2019t panic, as you still need to organize the data you want to see in your dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you can use some of the functions from the following cheatsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Formula<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>What it does on a dashboard<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=AVERAGE(A1:A10)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Finds the average value in a given range<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=COUNTIF(C2:C30, \u201cDone\u201d)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Counts rows matching one condition<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=COUNTIFS(C2:C30, \u201cDone\u201d, D2:D30, \u201dMarketing\u201d)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Counts against 2+ conditions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=SUM(A1:A10)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Sums the total amount across the selected cells<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=SUMIFS(D2:D5, A2:A5, \u201cAlex\u201d, B2:B5, \u201cIN PROGRESS\u201d, C2:C5, \u201cHIGH\u201d)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Sums values based on multiple conditions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=TODAY()<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Returns the current date<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=UNIQUE(A2:A100)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Provides a list of distinct items<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=SORT(A2:B1000, 2, FALSE)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Sorts the table or cell range values in a descending or ascending order<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=QUERY(A1:G20, \u201cSELECT A, B, WHERE C = \u201cBLOCKED\u201d)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Allows searching, filtering, sorting, and grouping data<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">=CHOOSE(2, \u201cPRIORITY\u201d, \u201cASSIGNEE\u201d, \u201cEND DATE\u201d)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Returns a specific value from a given list based on a numbered index<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Another useful way to organize your spreadsheet data is to select the cells you need and gather them into a pivot table. These are the steps you should follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Select the cells you want to include in a table.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Click \u201cInsert\u201d in the top bar and choose the \u201cPivot table\u201d option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Wait for a new window to pop up, and choose whether you want to create your pivot table in a new sheet or in an existing sheet.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Once you get a new table, use the sidebar editor to customize rows, columns, values, etc.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"778\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Customizing a pivot table in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14344\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.319702602230483;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets-300x130.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets-768x332.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets-1536x664.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Customizing_a_pivot_table_in_Google_Sheets-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customizing a pivot table in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"3-build-the-charts-and-the-dashboard-tab\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">#3: Build the charts and the dashboard tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Google Sheets offer many options for data visualization. You can use different forms and methods to present specific data to your audience in a clear and simple way such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Charts<\/strong> \u2014 Charts are most commonly used in dashboards. You can add charts from the Insert tab in the top bar. Once a blank chart and a sidebar appear on your screen, you can select data range, choose a chart type, and customize each part of your chart per your needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Adding and customizing a chart in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14346\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.2857142857142856;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets-300x131.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets-768x336.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets-1536x672.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_and_customizing_a_chart_in_Google_Sheets-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding and customizing a chart in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Sparkline<\/strong> \u2014 A simple feature that provides data inside a single cell. The basic formula for a sparkline is =SPARKLINE(data, [options]). You can use them to monitor trends, completion percentages, profit\/loss, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1499\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"A basic sparkline in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14347\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.2;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets-300x250.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets-768x640.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets-1536x1279.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_basic_sparkline_in_Google_Sheets-14x12.webp 14w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A basic sparkline in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Conditional formatting<\/strong> \u2014 This feature allows you to format cells, rows, or columns so that they could change color once they meet pre-set conditions. Go to the Format tab in the top toolbar, and select Conditional formatting to open the sidebar with customization options. You can use formatting to track due dates and status, highlight thresholds, find errors, color-code budgets, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Highlighting blocked tasks with conditional formatting feature in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14348\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.319702602230483;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets-300x129.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets-768x331.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets-1536x661.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Highlighting_blocked_tasks_with_conditional_formatting_feature_in_Google_Sheets-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Highlighting blocked tasks with conditional formatting feature in Google Sheets <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Mind you, to avoid having charts and tables in the same spreadsheet that keeps your data, you can create a new sheet for your dashboard. Use a simple copy-paste function to transfer your charts and tables and create a centralized space for your key metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1.webp\" alt=\"A Google Sheets dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-14349\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.337078651685393;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1-300x128.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1-768x328.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1-1536x655.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/A_Google_Sheets_dashboard_-1-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Google Sheets dashboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"4-make-it-dynamic\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">#4: Make it dynamic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">While static dashboards get the job done when you need to present monthly summaries or financial reports, the fast-moving markets often require having real-time data at hand for fast decision-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">So, if your job requires staying up-to-date at all times, you can create a dynamic dashboard in Google Sheets that automatically updates included data. Some of the useful features for such dashboards are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Slicers<\/strong> \u2014 One of the Sheets\u2019 options that helps you organize data by slicing your spreadsheet, in which case only the vital data is displayed. You can add slicers from the Data heading tab by clicking \u201cAdd a slicer\u201d option. Easily filter data by value or condition and customize them in the sidebar.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"781\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Setting up slicer rules in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14350\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.302583025830258;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets-300x130.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets-768x333.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets-1536x666.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_slicer_rules_in_Google_Sheets-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Setting up slicer rules in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Scorecards<\/strong> \u2014 This type of chart is used to track single KPIs by comparing the key and baseline values. To create scorecards, click the Insert tab and select Chart. In the chart type list, you\u2019ll find the Scorecard chart within the Other section.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"751\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Adding a scorecard in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14351\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.4;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets-300x125.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets-768x320.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets-1536x641.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_scorecard_in_Google_Sheets-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding a scorecard in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Dropdowns<\/strong> \u2014 You can create in-cell lists with predefined options that let you choose items with one click. To create a dropdown list, click on the Insert heading tab and select dropdown. This feature helps you prevent spelling mistakes and avoid manual typing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1.webp\" alt=\"Adding a dropdown list in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14353\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.447058823529412;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1-300x122.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1-768x313.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1-1536x625.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Adding_a_dropdown_list_in_Google_Sheets-1-18x7.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adding a dropdown list in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Data validation<\/strong> \u2014 With this feature, you can set boundaries and restrict what your team members or stakeholders can enter in specific cells and rows. Go to the Data tab, and select Data validation. Once the sidebar opens, you can choose cell range, criteria, and more. Keep in mind that Google Sheets only allows one data validation rule per cell.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Setting up data validation rules in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14354\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.4375;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets-300x123.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets-768x314.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets-1536x629.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_data_validation_rules_in_Google_Sheets-18x7.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Setting up data validation rules in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Live-refresh<\/strong> \u2014 This option allows you to set up automatic updates (on change, every minute, or every hour) of specific data without the need to re-enter information or manually reload it. To set up this functionality, go to the Files tab, choose Settings, and then click Calculation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Setting up live-refresh in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14355\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.6108786610878663;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets-300x115.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets-768x293.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets-1536x586.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Setting_up_live-refresh_in_Google_Sheets-18x7.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Setting up live-refresh in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"using-ai-in-sheets-2026\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Using AI in Sheets (2026)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">With all the heavy calculations, tons of formulas, and formatting options used in Sheets, it gets harder to manage data as your spreadsheet grows. AI reduces this burden to a great extent, as now you only need to describe what you want and AI will do it instead of you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the 3 ways to put AI to use in Google Sheets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Built-in Gemini in your Google Workspace<\/strong> \u2014 AI is natively integrated into Sheets in Google Workspace\u2019s higher plans (Business Standard, Business Plus, and all Enterprise tiers, at no extra cost), and you can bring it into play by clicking the Gemini sparkling icon in the top-right corner. From the Gemini side panel, you can auto-generate templates, dashboards, and tables, ask for the summary of spreadsheet data, analyze and categorize data, and much more. This built-in AI also powers Sheets Canvas, allowing you to generate interactive layouts \u2014 like Kanban boards, heat maps, custom calendars\u2014 using simple text prompts.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Third-party add-ons<\/strong> \u2014 From the Extensions top bar tab in your Google Sheets, you can add tools like GPT for Sheets that bring in custom AI functions. You can use many of these add-ons free of charge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Google Apps Script + API<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0 This one requires custom JavaScript in your Sheets and lets you connect to any API such as Gemini, OpenAI, Anthropic, etc. If you&#8217;re not on Business Standard or higher, there&#8217;s still a free path: grab a free API key from Google AI Studio, and connect it via Apps Script.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Using Sheets canvas to create a Kanban board in Google Sheets\" class=\"wp-image-14356\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.7012987012987013;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets-300x111.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets-768x284.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets-1536x567.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Using_Sheets_canvas_to_create_a_Kanban_board_in_Google_Sheets-18x7.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Using Sheets canvas to create a Kanban board in Google Sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"free-google-sheets-dashboard-templates\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Free Google Sheets dashboard templates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">To save your time and avoid starting your dashboard from scratch, you can try out some of the free Google Sheets dashboard templates. If you want to create a spreadsheet from a template, click on the Files tab, select New and pick From template gallery option in the dropdown menu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"project-timeline-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Project timeline template<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Mostly used by project managers, this template gives you a clear overview of your project progress and dependencies in monthly and quarterly intervals. The Gantt-chart-style template allows you to add dates, create tasks, and mark milestones.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_.webp\" alt=\"Project timeline template in Google Sheets Template library\" class=\"wp-image-14358\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.3636363636363638;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_-300x127.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_-768x324.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_-1536x649.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_timline_template_in_Google_Sheets_-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Project timeline template in Google Sheets Template library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"project-tracking-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Project tracking template<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">This template is great for project managers and team leads who prefer having all important project details in one place. Here, you can add project details such as status, priority, duration as well as track deliverables, costs, and hours spent on tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1.webp\" alt=\"Project tracking template in Google Sheets template library\" class=\"wp-image-14359\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.2857142857142856;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1-300x131.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1-768x336.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1-1536x672.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Project_tracking_template_in_Google_Sheets-1-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Project tracking template in Google Sheets template library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"gantt-chart-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Gantt chart template&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">This template offers a clear insight into the project timeline covering all project phases. You can organize tasks by phase, add start and end dates as well as task duration. What\u2019s best, there\u2019s a dedicated column that tracks task completion percentage.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"922\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets.webp\" alt=\"Gantt chart template in Google Sheets template gallery\" class=\"wp-image-14360\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.95;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets-300x154.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets-768x393.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets-1536x787.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Gantt_chart_template_in_Google_Sheets-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gantt chart template in Google Sheets template gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"event-marketing-timeline-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Event marketing timeline template<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">This template covers all segments of your marketing plan, from national and local marketing to social media and sales campaigns. You can track your campaign progress within 12 weeks divided into 4 phases. You can also use the blank parts to add important info such as dates, duration, progress, updates, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2488\" height=\"1258\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery.webp\" alt=\"Event marketing timeline template in Google Sheets template gallery\" class=\"wp-image-14361\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.9746835443037976;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery.webp 2488w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery-300x152.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery-768x388.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery-1536x777.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery-2048x1036.webp 2048w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Event_marketing_timeline_template_in_Google_template_gallery-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2488px) 100vw, 2488px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Event marketing timeline template in Google Sheets template gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>PLAKY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Need some more free Google Sheets project management templates? Find the right one in the article below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/work-tools-and-templates\/google-sheets-project-management-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20 Google Sheets Project Management Templates (Free Download)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"common-mistakes-and-limits-of-a-sheets-dashboard\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Common mistakes and limits of a Sheets dashboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Although Google Sheets dashboards are great to track and manage data, there are certain challenges you may experience as your project or team grows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some Sheets dashboard\u2019s limits and issues you should be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Performance issues<\/strong> \u2014 Sheets can become slow when handling large amounts of data, complex pivot tables, and heavy formulas.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Cell limits<\/strong> \u2014 There\u2019s a 20 million cap on the number of cells in a single spreadsheet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Manual entries<\/strong> \u2014 Updating data in Sheets is error-prone, as manual entries cause broken formulas, inaccurate reports, and formatting inconsistencies.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Poor audit trails<\/strong> \u2014 If you want to find out who changed a cell, formula, or metric in a spreadsheet, you need to dig into its version history.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Accidental edits<\/strong> \u2014 Sheets allow open editing by default meaning that users can accidentally make changes or delete data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Security concerns<\/strong> \u2014 If you share your spreadsheet to \u201cAnyone with a link\u201d or miss to set up access controls, it can often result in a data leak and breach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-to-graduate-to-a-work-tracking-board\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">When to graduate to a work-tracking board&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Google Sheets is well-equipped with features for basic project management, small-scale reporting, and data visualization. Built-in charts and graphs help you create dashboards that display your project progress and current results. But, when large data sets come into play and the team gets bigger, dashboards can hardly keep pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s time to consider whether Sheets can still support your work in the right way in situations when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Your dashboard takes 10+ seconds to load.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Reporting metrics start showing conflicting numbers.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Keeping data up to date gets challenging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Strict access control becomes a must.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">If you need a dashboard that doesn\u2019t require manual updates and can track work progress without complicated formulas, a dedicated project management dashboard is the next level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"have-a-go-with-plakys-dashboards\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Have a go with Plaky\u2019s Dashboards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Plaky is a project management tool that brings all project pieces together in one centralized place. It lets you connect boards from the same workspace and visualize key data with pie and bar chart widgets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">With <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/dashboards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dashboards in Plaky<\/a>, you get a single overview that helps you compare project data from multiple Boards and make decisions based on actual data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Widgets in Plaky\u2019s dashboards automatically refresh every 15 minutes, which keeps your team always in the loop without the need for manual updates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s more, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky<\/a> lets you control access to your dashboards. You can make dashboards private or public and set permissions to define who can view or edit data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Still, your tier plan determines the number of boards you can connect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">The Free plan allows 1 Board per Dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pro-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pro plan<\/a> supports 15 Boards per Dashboard and 30 widgets per Dashboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/enterprise-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Enterprise plan<\/a> offers 30 Boards per Dashboard and 30 widgets per Dashboard.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"877\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky.webp\" alt=\"Dashboards in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-14362\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.0526315789473686;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky-300x146.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky-768x374.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky-1536x748.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Track_your_project_progress_with_Dashboards_in_Plaky-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Track your project progress with Dashboards in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Build your dashboard in Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Now, let\u2019s cover some frequently asked questions about dashboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"can-you-build-a-dashboard-in-google-sheets\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Can you build a dashboard in Google Sheets?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, you can build a dashboard in Google Sheets by organizing your data in charts, graphs, and tables using different formulas, filters, and formatting options. Google Sheets supports a great number of chart types, including column, pie, bar, line, and more allowing you to display data in a practical and easy to understand way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-should-a-good-dashboard-include\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What should a good dashboard include?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">A good dashboard should include a summary of current project data and provide actionable metrics. Also, the data you share in your dashboard should have a clear hierarchy and follow the F-pattern.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">An effective dashboard displays primary metrics on top and applies a 5-second rule, which means your coworkers can understand project status within 5 seconds after you open the dashboard.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-4-types-of-dashboards\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What are the 4 types of dashboards?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">The 4 types of dashboards are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Tactical<\/strong> \u2014 gather data about short-term performance metrics.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Strategic<\/strong> \u2014 focus on whether project performance aligns with long-term goals.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Analytical<\/strong> \u2014 allow deep analysis of business trends across massive amounts of data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Operational<\/strong> \u2014 monitor daily performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-5-second-rule-for-dashboards\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What is the 5-second rule for dashboards?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">The 5-second rule for dashboards states that once a dashboard is opened, users should get the picture of the current status, what needs attention, and what actions need to be taken in the first 5 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-common-mistakes-people-make-when-creating-dashboards\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">What are the common mistakes people make when creating dashboards?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">When creating dashboards people tend to crowd them with a bunch of colorful charts covering all project elements. They rarely pay attention to the dashboard type and who they build them for. Also, dashboard creators often leave charts and widgets in the same size making it difficult to understand what needs attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-do-i-create-my-own-dashboard\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">How do I create my own dashboard?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Firstly, make sure you have enough raw data for analysis and comparison. It\u2019s best to build your dashboard in a clean spreadsheet\/board and decide on the questions your dashboard should answer. Select data ranges and insert relevant charts and tables to a dedicated dashboard while paying attention to place the most important metrics on top.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"take-your-dashboards-to-the-next-level-with-plaky-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading translation-block\">Take your dashboards to the next level with Plaky by CAKE.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Google Sheets can handle basic project management, it can hardly follow workflow coordination. Once several people need to update and act on the same work, a shared project board beats a spreadsheet tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s one of the main reasons people switch to project management tools like Plaky \u2014 to enhance team collaboration and track progress in real-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">With Plaky, you can create a centralized workspace where you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Manage and assign tasks<\/strong> \u2014 invite team members to your project board and assign tasks, set deadlines, and define priority status for each task.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Collaborate with team members<\/strong> \u2014 get <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/notifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">real-time notifications<\/a> about task updates and communicate with your team members through <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in-task Comments<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Automate workflows<\/strong> \u2014 use trigger-based <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/automations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Board automations<\/a> (like subscribing a reviewer when a task status changes to \u201cReview\u201d, or adding a deadline to a task once the status changes from \u201cNo value\u201d to \u201cTo do\u201d, etc.) to reduce manual work and streamline processes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Track progress<\/strong> \u2014 monitor your project workflow using different <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/board-views\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Board views<\/a> such as spreadsheet-like Table view or <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/gantt-chart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gantt chart view<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Store files<\/strong> \u2014 keep important project documentation within dedicated item cards so that everyone can access them.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"823\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky.webp\" alt=\"Automations in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-14363\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.1894736842105265;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky-300x137.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky-768x351.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky-1536x702.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Automatically_assign_reviewers_to_a_task_in_Plaky-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Automatically assign reviewers to a task in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Having all project and task data in one place makes it easy to spot bottlenecks, prevent delays, and make business decisions based on up-to-date information. The best way is to create a Dashboard in Plaky, which allows you to connect several boards and analyze all relevant data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">To create a dashboard in Plaky, take the steps below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Click on the \u201c+\u201d button in the left sidebar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Select <strong>New dashboard<\/strong> option from the dropdown menu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Enter the Dashboard name and toggle the button to make it private (optional).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Click <strong>Create.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">From the list that appears, select the boards you want to connect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Click save to complete the action.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Once Plaky creates your dashboard, start adding pie or bar widgets to visualize data the way you want. Plaky lets you configure each widget allowing you to display the most relevant information.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"820\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard.webp\" alt=\"Connecting Plaky boards\" class=\"wp-image-14364\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.1971830985915495;width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard-300x137.webp 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard-768x350.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard-1536x700.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Select_the_boards_you_want_to_connect_in_your_Plaky_dashboard-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Select the boards you want to connect in your Plaky dashboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Plaky is well-known for its <strong>ease of use<\/strong>, so you won\u2019t need too much time to learn the ropes. Also, you don\u2019t have to worry about the safety of your data thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/user-roles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>User role and permissions<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 with Plaky, you can control who has access to what in your workspace which minimizes accidental changes or deletion of data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>Top-notch security<\/strong> \u2014 your data are completely safe with Plaky thanks to its 24\/7 security audits and penetration tests.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plaky Demo Video\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aHoyPj77TFg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get started with Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to build a Google Sheets dashboard in 3 steps and make it dynamic. Go for free Sheets dashboard templates or try Plaky for easy dashboard set up.   <\/p>","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":14340,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-tools-and-templates"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14318"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14370,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14318\/revisions\/14370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}