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Create a report dashboard for review and approvals

Last update: Fri Jul 25 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

CREATED FOR:

  • User

You can create a report dashboard in the Canvas Dashboards area to display both high-level and detailed information about reviews and approvals with Unified Approvals functionality.

IMPORTANT
This functionality is available only for customers using Unified Approvals service and enrolled in the Canvas Dashboards beta. For more information, see Canvas Dashboards beta information.

example dashboard

Create a dashboard

  1. Click the Main Menu icon Main Menu in the upper-right corner of Adobe Workfront, or (if available), click the Main Menu icon Main Menu in the upper-left corner, then click Dashboards.

  2. In the left panel, click Canvas Dashboards.

  3. Click New Dashboard.

  4. Name your dashboard.

  5. (Optional) Add a description.

  6. Click Create.
    add dashboard name and description

Once you create a dashboard, you can start adding KPIs, Charts, and Tables. See the following sections for more information:

Add high-level review and approval information with KPIs and Charts

You can view high-level information about document approvals with KPIs and charts.

For more information, see Build a KPI report and Build a chart report.

KPIs

KPI examples

Pending approvals

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select KPI.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Pending in the Name field.
    2. Type Pending approvals in the Description field. This displays as a caption below the KPI value.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build KPI section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build KPI Build KPI icon .

    2. Click Select field.

    3. Locate and select the Document approval folder.

    4. Select Status.

    5. In the Aggregation type drop-down, select Count.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter Filter icon icon.

    2. Select Edit filter.

    3. Click Add condition.

    4. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field, then choose Status.

    5. Leave the operator as Equal, then type pending review in the textbox.
      pending kpi filter example

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Overdue approvals

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select KPI.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Overdue in the Name field.
    2. Type Approval Stage Deadline in the Past in the Description field. This description displays as a caption below the KPI value.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build KPI section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build KPI Build KPI icon .

    2. Click Select field.

    3. Locate and select the Document approval folder.

    4. Select Status.

    5. In the Aggregation type drop-down, select Count.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter Filter icon icon.

    2. Select Edit filter.

    3. Click Add condition.

    4. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    5. Select Approval Stage > Deadline.

    6. Change the operator to Less Than.

    7. Toggle Set relative date to ON, then type $$TODAY in the textbox.
      overdue kpi filter example

    8. Click Add condition.

    9. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    10. Select Status.

    11. Change the operator to Not Contains, then type approved in the textbox.
      overdue kpi filter example 2

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Completed approvals

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select KPI.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Completed in the Name field.
    2. Type Approval Status Count in the Description field. This description displays as a caption below the KPI value.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build KPI section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build KPI Build KPI icon .

    2. Click Select field.

    3. Locate and select the Document approval folder.

    4. Select Status.

    5. In the Aggregation type drop-down, select Count.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter Filter icon icon.

    2. Select Edit filter.

    3. Click Add condition.

    4. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    5. Select Status.

    6. Change the operator to Contains, and type approved in the textbox.
      completed kpi filter example

    7. Click Add condition.

    8. Click And to change it to Or.

    9. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    10. Select Status.

    11. Change the operator to Equal, then type reviewed in the textbox.
      completed kpi filter example

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Abandoned approvals

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select KPI.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Abandoned in the Name field.
    2. Type Approval deadline over 2 weeks past in the Description field. This description displays as a caption below the KPI value.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build KPI section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build KPI Build KPI icon .

    2. Click Select field.

    3. Locate and select the Document approval stage folder.

    4. Select Deadline.

    5. In the Aggregation type drop-down, select Count.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter Filter icon icon.

    2. Select Edit filter.

    3. Click Add condition.

    4. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field.

    5. Select Status.

    6. Change the operator to Not Contains, and type approved in the textbox.
      abandoned kpi filter example

    7. Click Add condition.

    8. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    9. Select Deadline.

    10. Change the operator to Less Than, then toggle Set relative date to ON.

    11. Type $$TODAY-2w in the textbox.
      abandoned kpi filter example

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Charts

Chart examples

Approvals by decision bar chart

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select Chart.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Approvals by decision in the Name field.
    2. (Optional) Type a description in the Description field. This text displays as a tooltip next to the chart name.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build chart section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build chart Build chart icon icon.

    2. In the Chart type drop-down menu, leave Bar selected.

    3. In the Bar type drop-down menu, leave Simple selected.

    4. Click Update field for the Bottom (X) axis, then select Document Approval > Status.

    5. Set the Aggregation type to Count.

    6. Click Update field for the Left (Y) axis, then select Status.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter filter tab icon icon.
    2. Click Edit Filter, then Add condition.
    3. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.
    4. Select Document Version > Version.
    5. Change the operator to Is Not Null.
      filter example

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Revisions bar chart

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select Chart.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Revisions in the Name field.
    2. Type Number of revisions for documents with incomplete decisions planned before the end of this month in the Description field. This text displays as a tooltip next to the chart name.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build chart section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Build chart Build chart icon icon.

    2. In the Chart type drop-down menu, leave Bar selected.

    3. In the Bar type drop-down menu, leave Simple selected.

    4. Click Update field for the Bottom (X) axis, then select Document Approval > Document Version > Version.

    5. Set the Aggregation type to Count.

    6. Click Update field for the Left (Y) axis, then select Document Approval > Document Version > Document > Name.

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter filter tab icon icon.

    2. Click Edit Filter, then Add condition.

    3. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    4. Select Approval stage > Approval stage participants > Decision Date.

    5. Change the operator to Is Null.
      revisions chart filter example

    6. Click Add condition.

    7. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.

    8. Select Approval stage > Deadline.

    9. Change the operator to Less Than or Equal, then toggle Set relative date to ON.

    10. Type $$TODAYem in the textbox.
      Revisions chart filter example

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Add detailed review and approval information with Tables

For more information on building a table report, see Build a table report.

table example

Pending approvals list

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select Table.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Pending approvals in the Name field.
    2. Type a description in the Description field. This text displays as a tooltip next to the chart name.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build table section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Table columns Table columns icon icon.
    2. Click Add column.
    3. Scroll down and select Document Approvals > Status.
    4. Add the following columns:
    table 0-row-2 1-row-2 2-row-2 3-row-2 4-row-2 5-row-2 6-row-2 html-authored no-header
    Project name Document Version > Document > Project > Name
    Document name Document Version > Document > type Name in the search box.
    Document version Document Version > Document > Version
    Deadline Document Approval > Approval Stage > Deadline
    Requested by Document Approval > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Requester > type Name in the search box.
    Requested date Document Approval > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Created at
    Approver Document Approval > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Participant User > type Name in the search box.

    *Approval Stage Participants is truncated to Approval Stage Pa…

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter filter tab icon icon.
    2. Click Edit Filter, then Add condition.
    3. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.
    4. Select Status.
    5. Change the operator to Equal, then type pending approval in the textbox.
      pending approval table filter example
    6. (Optional) Add additional filters as described in the Optional filters section below.

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Optional filters

To view more specific information depending on your use case, you can add additional filter conditions. You may want to recreate the table and add new filter conditions per use case.

Expand to view additional filter options

My Projects

  1. Click Edit Filter > Add condition:

    1. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.
    2. Select Document version > Document > Project > Owner > type Name in the search box.
    3. Change the operator to Equal, then choose Me (Logged in user) to display projects in Workfront where you are marked as the project owner.
      pending approval table filter example

  2. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Approvals I’ve submitted

  1. Click Edit Filter > Add condition:

    1. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field.
    2. Select Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants > Requester > type Name in the search box.
    3. Change the operator to Equal, then choose Me (Logged in user) to display projects in Workfront where you are marked as the project owner.
      pending approval table filter example

  2. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Overdue approvals list

  1. Create a dashboard as described in the section above.

  2. In the top-right corner of the dashboard details page, click Add report.

  3. In the Add report box, select Create report.

  4. On the left side, select Table.

  5. In the upper-right corner, click Create report.

  6. Follow the steps below to configure the Details section:

    1. Type Overdue approvals in the Name field.
    2. (Optional) Type a description in the Description field. This text displays as a tooltip next to the chart name.

  7. Follow the steps below to configure the Build table section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Table columns Table columns icon icon.

    2. Click Add column.

    3. Scroll down and select Document Approvals > Status.

    4. Add the following columns:

      table 0-row-2 1-row-2 2-row-2 3-row-2 4-row-2 5-row-2 6-row-2 html-authored no-header
      Project name Document Version > Document > Project > Name
      Document name Document Version > Document > type Name in the search box.
      Document version Document Version > Document > Version
      Deadline Document > Approval Stage > Deadline
      Requested by Document > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Requester > type Name in the search box.
      Requested date Document > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Created at
      Approver Document > Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants* > Participant User > type Name in the search box.

      *Approval Stage Participants is truncated to Approval Stage Pa…

  8. Follow the steps below to configure the Filter section:

    1. In the left panel, click the Filter filter tab icon icon.
    2. Click Edit Filter, then Add condition.
    3. Click into the empty condition filter, then click Pick a Field.
    4. Select Approval Stage > Deadline.
    5. Change the operator to Less than, then toggle Set relative date to ON.
    6. Type $$TODAY in the text field.
      overdue approval table filter example
    7. (Optional) Add additional filters as described in the Optional filters section below.

  9. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Optional filters

To view more specific information depending on your use case, you can add additional filter conditions. You may want to recreate the table, and add new, optional filter conditions per use case.

Expand to view additional filter options

My Projects

  1. Click Edit Filter > Add condition:

    1. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field.
    2. Select Document version > Document > Project > Owner > type Name in the search box.
    3. Change the operator to Equal, then choose Me (Logged in User) to display projects in Workfront in which you are marked as the project owner.
      pending approval table filter example

  2. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

Approvals I’ve submitted

  1. Click Edit Filter > Add condition:

    1. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field.
    2. Select Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants > Requester > type Name in the search box.
    3. Change the operator to Equal, then choose Me (Logged in User) to display projects in Workfront in which you are marked as the project owner.
      pending approval table filter example

  2. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

My team

  1. Click Edit Filter > Add condition:

    1. Click into the empty condition filter, click Pick a Field.
    2. Select Approval Stage > Approval Stage Participants > Participant Team > type Name in the search box.
    3. Change the operator to Equal, then choose My default teams (Logged in User) or My other teams (Logged in User) to display projects assigned to either your default team or other teams you are on.
      pending approval table filter example

  2. Click Save in the top-right corner of the screen.

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