
Use **Custom** when you want full control over the data source structure.

This is the best option when you already know which fields you need and want to build the setup yourself instead of starting from a prebuilt AI template.

## Start a custom data source

1. Open a channel.
2. Click the **Data Sources** tab.
3. Click **Add Data Source**.
4. Choose **Custom**.

![Add Data Source dialog showing Custom as one of the available types.](/docs/data-sources/create-a-data-source/01-create-dialog.png)

## Build the structure

The shared editor opens so you can:

- enter the title
- add a description
- use **Add Field**
- review the preview while you work

![Custom data source editor with title, description, Add Field, and preview.](/docs/data-sources/create-a-data-source/02-custom-data-source-editor.png)

## Review the fields you are creating

As you add fields, the editor shows the field settings on the left and the live result on the right.

![Data source editor showing field settings and the live preview.](/docs/data-sources/custom-data-source/01-editor-fields.png)

This makes it easier to shape the form as you go and confirm that the fields will look right for the people filling it out.

## Use AI if you want a faster first draft

If you do not want to start from a blank structure, open **AI Assist** and describe the data source you want. Zira can draft the first version for you before you refine it.

## Read next

- [Create and Edit](/docs/data-sources/create-and-edit/overview) - Learn the shared editor in more detail.
- [AI Assist](/docs/data-sources/create-and-edit/ai-assist) - Generate a first draft with AI.
- [Fields and Structure](/docs/data-sources/create-and-edit/fields-and-structure) - Add and organize the fields.


Create a custom data source when you want to build the title, fields, and structure yourself.

Custom Data Source

Install the Zira plugin and run Zira from your AI chat — ask about your production data, check your device fleet, build and schedule reports, manage tasks and set up devices, all in plain words.

Zira in Claude and Codex (Beta)


Use **AI Dashboard Builder** when you want to build or change a dashboard in plain language instead of doing each step manually.

You can use it to add a single widget, create a comparison view, reorganize the layout, or update the whole dashboard.

## Open AI Dashboard Builder

1. Open a channel.
2. Click the **Dashboards** tab.
3. Open the dashboard you want to update, or create a new dashboard first.
4. Open the **AI Assistance** panel on the right side of the dashboard.
5. Use the **Build** tab when you want AI to create or change the dashboard.

![Dashboard with the AI Assistance panel open on the right side.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/01-ai-assistance-panel.png)

## Start with a suggestion or your own request

The **Build** tab can suggest common dashboard improvements for you.

![AI build tab showing suggested dashboard improvement prompts.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/02-build-suggestions.png)

## Describe what you want to build or change

You can enter a very specific request or a broad goal.

Examples:

- Build a production dashboard with a KPI, a grouped KPI by line, and a time series for output.
- Create a quality dashboard with drilldown by line then shift.
- Make me a dashboard based on the data.
- Add a side-by-side Bandsaw 1 vs Bandsaw 2 performance view.

![AI build request entered in the dashboard assistant.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/03-build-prompt-entered.png)

The assistant can:

- add widgets to the dashboard
- change the layout
- update the dashboard title or description
- choose **Data Research** widgets such as **KPI**, **Grouped KPI**, **KPI Table**, **Column**, **Bar**, **Pie**, and **Time series**
- add drilldown when it improves the analysis
- organize the result for desktop, tablet, and mobile

You can ask for changes such as:

- add a KPI overview
- add a side-by-side comparison widget
- change this layout to work better on mobile
- add a filter and move it to the top
- reorganize this dashboard so the most important widgets appear first

## See the change before you apply it

While AI is working, the panel shows a short thinking state.

![AI build flow showing the request in progress.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/04-thinking-state.png)

After the change is generated, review:

- the explanation of what AI changed
- the widget list
- the preview that appears on the dashboard
- the updated layout and placement

This gives you a clear view of the result before you apply it.

![AI preview showing the suggested widget and summary before applying.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/05-ai-draft-preview.png)

## Apply the change

When the result looks right:

1. Click **Apply** in the preview.
2. Save the dashboard when you are happy with the result.

The change stays local until you apply it, so you stay in control of what goes onto the dashboard.

## When drilldown is useful

Drilldown works best when the dashboard question has a natural second level.

Examples:

- line, then shift
- site, then device
- product, then sku

If the dashboard only needs a simple summary, a single grouping is usually better.

## See the result on the dashboard

After you apply the change, the new widget or dashboard update appears directly on the page.

![Dashboard showing the AI-generated comparison widget after it was applied.](/docs/dashboards/ai-dashboard-builder/06-applied-widget-result.png)

This makes AI useful both for big dashboard changes and for quick one-off updates.

## Read next

- [Using Dashboards](/docs/dashboards/overview) - Broader dashboard workflow.
- [Data Research Widgets](/docs/dashboards/data-research-widgets) - Refine widget setup after the change is applied.
- [Layout and Editing](/docs/dashboards/layout-and-editing) - Adjust the layout manually after generation.


Use AI Dashboard Builder to add widgets, change layout, and update the dashboard from a plain-language request.

AI Dashboard Builder

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