Management and generation of dashboards
A dashboard manager can be used to create, manage and deploy dashboards. Each dashboard can include one or more user interface elements (“widgets”). The dashboard manager can be invoked for providing a variety of management functions. In another aspect, dashboards, widgets and other content can be bundled together and distributed to users over a distribution channel. Users can created custom bundles using a tool that is provided for such purpose.
1. A method comprising:
identifying, by a computing device having a desktop, a plurality of widgets for installation in a dashboard environment based on a user selection of widgets, where the plurality of widgets comprise separate applications, an installed widget presently executes an associated function including providing a presentation aspect associated with the executing function, and the desktop is inactive when the dashboard environment is active;
determining whether installing any of the plurality of widgets in the dashboard environment violates any rules that prevent installation of at least one of a specific widget or widgets that provide access to a specific type of information;
associating the plurality of widgets with the dashboard environment;
installing the dashboard environment in a display environment including displaying the plurality of widgets executing in the dashboard environment, wherein, when the dashboard environment is active, a desktop environment is temporarily inactive; and
wherein determining rules includes:
determining a rule for managing the dashboard environment;
evaluating the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and
installing only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.
3. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:
identifying, by a computing device having a desktop, a plurality of widgets for installation in a dashboard environment based on a user selection of widgets, where the plurality of widgets comprise separate applications, an installed widget presently executes an associated function including providing a presentation aspect associated with the executing function, and the desktop is inactive when the dashboard environment is active;
determining whether installing any of the plurality of widgets in the dashboard environment violates any rules that prevent installation of at least one of a specific widget or widgets that provide access to a specific type of information;
associating the one or more widgets with the dashboard environment;
installing the dashboard environment in a display environment, wherein, when the dashboard environment is active, a desktop environment is temporarily inactive; and
wherein determine rules includes:
determine a rule for managing the dashboard environment;
evaluate the identified widgets to determine if each satisfies the rule; and
install only identified widgets in the selected dashboard environment that satisfy the rule.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the determination includes receiving a user selection of the rules for installing a widget.