Create a dashboard using an SPL2 search

Create visually polished and interactive dashboards by saving SPL2 searches as panels to be used in Dashboard Studio.

A dashboard is a user interface that is associated with an app and contains one or more panels. A panel can show search results in tables or in graphical visualizations. You can save a search as a dashboard panel, and then work with it in Dashboard Studio to design a visually polished and interactive dashboard for presenting your search results and data insights.

Dashboards are available on the Dashboards page in the Search & Reporting app.

For complete information about dashboards, see the following documentation:

Splunk Cloud Platform

See the Dashboard Studio manual in the Splunk Cloud Platform documentation.

Splunk Enterprise

See the Dashboard Studio manual in the Splunk Enterprise documentation.

The exact workflow for creating a dashboard panel from an SPL2 search varies depending on whether you are working with searches in the Search bar or the SPL2 module editor, and depending on whether you are creating a new dashboard or adding a panel to an existing dashboard. For detailed instructions, see the following sections on this page:

Save a search from the Search bar as a new dashboard

You can save a search from the Search bar as a new dashboard.

On the Search page of the Search & Reporting app, after running a search, you can use the Save As menu located above the Search bar to save your search as a new dashboard.

This image shows the Search bar after a search has been run. The "Save As" menu is highlighted by a red box.
  1. On the Search page of the Search & Reporting app, set the language picker to SPL2. Then, enter an SPL2 search in the Search bar and select the Search icon (This image shows an icon with a magnifying glass.) to run it.

    For more information about navigating to and using the Search bar, see Search page overview for SPL2 and Run an SPL2 search in the Search bar.

  2. Select Save As, then New Dashboard.
  3. Configure your dashboard using the options in the Save Panel to New Dashboard dialog box:
    1. In the Dashboard Title field, enter a name for the dashboard.

      A dashboard ID is automatically generated based on the name that you specify.

    2. (Optional) To change the dashboard ID, select Edit ID and then enter a different value in the Dashboard ID field.
    3. (Optional) In the Description field, enter a description for the dashboard.
    4. Use the Permissions drop-down list to specify whether to keep the dashboard private or share it with other users in the Search & Reporting app.
    5. Set the Dashboard type to Dashboard Studio.
    6. Choose whether to use the Absolute layout mode or the Grid layout mode when editing this dashboard.

      For more information, see the following:

    7. (Optional) In the Panel Title field, enter a name for the dashboard panel.
  4. Select Save to Dashboard.

The Search & Reporting app returns a message confirming that your dashboard panel has been successfully created, and provides an option to open the dashboard for viewing.

To see a list of all your dashboards, navigate to the Dashboards page of the Search & Reporting app.

This image shows the navigation bar of the Search & Reporting app with the Dashboards page highlighted.

Save a search from the Search bar as a panel for an existing dashboard

You can save a search as a panel for an existing dashboard from the Search bar.

On the Search page of the Search & Reporting app, after running a search, you can use the Save As menu located above the Search bar to save your search as a panel to add to an existing dashboard.

This image shows the Search bar after a search has been run. The "Save As" menu is highlighted by a red box.
  1. On the Search page of the Search & Reporting app, set the language picker to SPL2. Then, enter an SPL2 search in the Search bar and select the Search icon (This image shows an icon with a magnifying glass.) to run it.

    For more information about navigating to and using the Search bar, see Search page overview for SPL2 and Run an SPL2 search in the Search bar.

  2. Select Save As, then Existing Dashboard.
  3. Configure your dashboard panel using the options in the Save Panel to Existing Dashboard dialog box:
    1. From the Select an Existing Dashboard drop-down list, select the dashboard that you want to add the new panel to.
    2. (Optional) In the Panel Title field, enter a name for the dashboard panel.
  4. Select Save to Dashboard.

The Search & Reporting app returns a message confirming that your dashboard panel has been successfully created, and provides an option to open the dashboard for viewing.

To see a list of all your dashboards, navigate to the Dashboards page of the Search & Reporting app.

This image shows the navigation bar of the Search & Reporting app with the Dashboards page highlighted.

Save a search from the SPL2 module editor as a new dashboard

You can save a search as a new dashboard from the SPL2 module editor.

The following instructions assume that you have already created an SPL2 module containing the search that you want to save as a dashboard panel. For detailed information on how to navigate to the SPL2 module editor and create a module, see SPL2 module editor overview and Create an SPL2 module.

In the SPL2 module editor, after writing a search, you can use the options in the Outline panel to export the search and then save it as a new dashboard.

This image shows the SPL2 module editor after a search has been exported and the module has been saved. The options menu in the Outline panel is highlighted by a red box.
  1. Open your SPL2 module for editing in the SPL2 module editor.
  2. In the Outline panel, select the Options icon (This image shows an icon with 3 dots in a vertical orientation.) beside the name of the search that you want to save as a dashboard panel, and then select Export.
  3. Select Save to save your changes to the module.
  4. In the Outline panel, select the Options icon (This image shows an icon with 3 dots in a vertical orientation.) beside the name of the search, and then select Use in new dashboard.
  5. Configure your dashboard using the options in the Save Panel to New Dashboard dialog box:
    1. In the Dashboard Title field, enter a name for the dashboard.

      A dashboard ID is automatically generated based on the name that you specify.

    2. (Optional) To change the dashboard ID, select Edit ID and then enter a different value in the Dashboard ID field.
    3. (Optional) In the Description field, enter a description for the dashboard.
    4. Use the Permissions drop-down list to specify whether to keep the dashboard private or share it with other users in the Search & Reporting app.
    5. Choose whether to use the Absolute layout mode or the Grid layout mode when editing this dashboard.

      For more information, see the following:

    6. (Optional) In the Panel Title field, enter a name for the dashboard panel.
  6. Select Save to Dashboard.

The SPL2 module editor returns a message confirming that your dashboard panel has been successfully created, and provides an option to open the dashboard for viewing.

To see a list of all your dashboards, navigate to the Dashboards page of the Search & Reporting app.

This image shows the navigation bar of the Search & Reporting app with the Dashboards page highlighted.

Save a search from the SPL2 module editor as a panel for an existing dashboard

You can save a search as a panel for an existing dashboard from the SPL2 module editor.

The following instructions assume that you have already created an SPL2 module containing the search that you want to save as a dashboard panel. For detailed information on how to navigate to the SPL2 module editor and create a module, see SPL2 module editor overview and Create an SPL2 module.

In the SPL2 module editor, after writing a search, you can use the options in the Outline panel to export the search and then save it as a panel to add to an existing dashboard.

This image shows the SPL2 module editor after a search has been exported and the module has been saved. The options menu in the Outline panel is highlighted by a red box.
  1. Open your SPL2 module for editing in the SPL2 module editor.
  2. In the Outline panel, select the Options icon (This image shows an icon with 3 dots in a vertical orientation.) beside the name of the search that you want to save as a dashboard panel, and then select Export.
  3. Select Save to save your changes to the module.
  4. In the Outline panel, select the Options icon (This image shows an icon with 3 dots in a vertical orientation.) beside the name of the search, and then select Use in existing dashboard.
  5. Configure your dashboard panel using the options in the Save Panel to Existing Dashboard dialog box:
    1. From the Select an Existing Dashboard drop-down list, select the dashboard that you want to add the new panel to.
    2. (Optional) In the Panel Title field, enter a name for the dashboard panel.
  6. Select Save to Dashboard.

The SPL2 module editor returns a message confirming that your dashboard panel has been successfully created, and provides an option to open the dashboard for viewing.

To see a list of all your dashboards, navigate to the Dashboards page of the Search & Reporting app.

This image shows the navigation bar of the Search & Reporting app with the Dashboards page highlighted.

See also

For more information about working with dashboards:

Splunk Cloud Platform

See the Dashboard Studio manual in the Splunk Cloud Platform documentation.

Splunk Enterprise

See the Dashboard Studio manual in the Splunk Enterprise documentation.