--- title: "How do I create dashboard messages?" date: "2025-01-09T14:11:14+00:00" summary: image: type: "page" url: "/acquia-dam/how-do-i-create-dashboard-messages" id: "d37cf271-8600-4586-be9b-f0ee72b45dab" --- Table of contents will be added Dashboard messages are a great way to welcome users to your site, guide them to the right content, notify them about other activities at your organization, promote content for an upcoming campaign, and more. You can create text-based or visual messages with the WYSIWYG editor, including links to important content like portals, advanced and saved searches, and external URLs. If you want to create a personalized dashboard experience, you can tailor messages to display based on user role.  ![dashboard example](https://acquia.widen.net/content/a5ff3c94-2fd2-44a5-9060-612474ab1832/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EMPb000006FdiM.png) Create a message ---------------- If you have the Administrate Dashboard Messages permission, you can create, edit, publish, release, expire, and set permissions for dashboard messages from the Admin app or from the dashboard itself. The process to create a message is the same from either location. To create, publish, release, expire, and set permissions for dashboard messages: 1. Go to the **Admin app**. Note that​​​​ ​​if a message hasn't already been created, you'll see the option to create a new message for your users on the dashboard itself or you can go to the Admin app and follow these instructions. 2. Click **Dashboard messages** under Global Settings. 3. Click **Create new message**. When creating your message, you’ll first choose the column layout. These columns are responsive based on your browser window’s width. ![To get started with creating a dashboard message, select a column size.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/71901778-31f3-497d-acea-9dad14279cee/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvqT.png) You’ll be brought to the WYSIWYG editor to add text and images. Dashboard messages can include one text block and one row of images. The text block always displays above the images. As you work, messages can be drafted and saved for later – they also save automatically, so your progress is retained as you work on them. Previously published messages can be edited in draft form without impact to published content. If you're making updates to the same message someone else is, you'll be notified. ![After selecting a column layout, add images and text to the message.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/af6d4f8c-9675-432c-a88d-99c5d486a32c/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvqJ.png)   Add text -------- To include text in your message, enter it into the WYSIWYG editor and select from different markup tools to format. ![Enter welcome text or other information in the text area of your dashboard message.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/1b660369-910c-4735-acb3-32acdcdd21c4/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvqP.png) To create a header in the message, change the text size from normal text to Heading 1 or Heading 2.    Add images ---------- To add images to your message, select **Add image** and a search window will automatically open. Enter search terms to find and select an asset from the DAM. ![Enter keywords to find images to use in dashboard messages.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/737773fb-d749-42c8-b07e-03c1d24973b6/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvqU.png) The ideal size for dashboard images depends on the column option selected. If you’re creating and uploading images to use in a message, these are recommended sizes.   **Column selected** **Size for each image** One (full) column 2,000 x 800 px Two columns 900 x 200 px Three columns 600 x 200 px Four columns 400 x 200 px Five columns 300 x 200 px 2/3 + 1/3 columns 1,200 x 400 px and 600 x 400 px 1/3 + 2/3 columns 600 x 400 px and 1,200 x 400 px Once you select an asset from search, the cropping tool will open. Choose from the preset aspect ratios, drag the handles to zoom and crop, or enter a custom crop size. ![Select from different sizes or drag to crop an image for your dashboard message.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/23a6603e-c35c-4a7b-878d-73adcff09972/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvqL.png) Add more details by including text on your images. Use quick call-outs or text that points users to new material your marketing team creates, updated employee documents, or new photoshoots. Select **Click to add text** on one or all images in the message. You can change the size, alignment, and color of the text, along with adding an overlay color to the image.  Add links  ---------- After you’ve added a message and images, you can link them to things like portals, searches in DAM, collections, external URLs, and emails. To do this, click the link icon in the WYSIWYG editor or in the toolbar above the dashboard image. The URL link can include up to 255 characters. ![link icon](https://acquia.widen.net/content/902cb110-9830-4e81-bfe1-6ddd0021e696/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EMPb000006FYxC.png) Here’s how to format links to specific things. **Portal**: Copy and paste the [share link](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-share-portal "How do I share a portal?") for a portal.  **Searches in DAM**: If you’re using the [redesigned search experience](/acquia-dam/what-redesigned-asset-search-experience "What is the redesigned asset search experience?"), copy and paste the URL for search results. ![search url](https://acquia.widen.net/content/03f379ae-c25a-4f4b-9585-a73faec622d8/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EMPb000006Fccc.png) If you’re using legacy search, you’ll need to create a [deep link](What-are-deep-links) for a search results page.  **Collections**: Create a [deep link](What-are-deep-links).  **External URLs**: Copy and paste the URL.  **Email**: In the Link field, enter mailto: and the email address without a space between the colon and the email address. For example, mailto:jsmith@gmail.com.  You may want to future-proof your dashboard links in case your DAM URL changes. To do this, use relative links, which do not include the protocol or domain. If the full URL looks like this:  https://eudaimonia.mydam.com/portals/vgwdirt8/BLISSBIKELINE The relative link is: /portals/vgwdirt8/BLISSBIKELINE  Adjust settings  ---------------- To adjust settings for a dashboard message, click the gear icon. If needed, select release and expiration dates for the message. If you don’t select an expiration date, the message will never expire.  ![settings icon](https://acquia.widen.net/content/e580da1d-cd21-41a9-a6fe-98a374eba1c1/web/ka0Pb0000006pe900N6g00000WDN1a0EMPb000006Fh4P.png) If you want to tailor your dashboard messages for specific audiences, you can choose to display the message to only certain roles.    Publish ------- When you’re done editing your message, select to publish it immediately or save it to publish later.