Dashboard query types, row limits and widget parameters
Which dashboard query type fits a requirement (aggregateflex in compact or SAQL form, grain, saql, soql through Salesforce Direct, and custom static queries), the row limit each one starts with, and the widget-level settings that show or hide fields without changing the shared query.
Given business requirements, configure dashboards using accurate query types and widget level parameters.
~8 min read · 11 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Choose the query type from the data source: dataset aggregate, record list, hand-written SAQL, live Salesforce object or user-defined values.
- Know how compact form and SAQL form differ inside an
aggregateflexquery, and which properties each form ignores. - Predict how many rows a query returns by default, what happens when no limit is set, and how to return more.
- Show, hide and reorder fields per widget when widgets share one query, including through the dashboard JSON.
- Make global filters reach queries written in SAQL.
- Decide when a SQL query can replace SAQL, and when it can't.
Key terms: query (step) (the calculation behind a widget; the JSON calls it a step); compact form (the designer's structured query with measures, groups, filters, order and limit properties); SAQL form (an aggregateflex query whose logic sits in the pigql string); Salesforce Direct (a SOQL query on a Salesforce object, run by Salesforce); custom query (a staticflex step of user-defined values); projection (which of a query's fields a given widget displays).
Key facts
aggregateflex query- Detail
- Limit set to 2,000
soql row maximum- Detail
- Set by the SOQL query limit
soql fields- Detail
- Each listed in
strings,numbersorgroups
- Detail
filters,limit,orderoutsidepigql
- Detail
- Needs
useGlobalandautoFiltertrue
grain step- Detail
- One dataset, compact form only
- Detail
- Up to 20 columns
- Detail
- Only
aggregateflexandsaql; others usecolumns
- Detail
- Datasets only; no cogrouping, sampling, casting or relative dates
- Detail
- Created from the label; can't be changed
Sources for this section (7)
- aggregateflexdeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- soqldeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- graindeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Custom Queryhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Projectionhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- SQL vs SAQLdeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Query Editorhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why can't a values table step combine two datasets?
- When does a custom query need two extra text columns?
- What field name does an unnamed SOQL count expression produce?
- Why must a SAQL-form measure appear twice in the JSON?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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