If you've ever tried to keep your team in the loop with real-time data, you know the pain: endless screenshots, outdated reports, or dashboards buried under a pile of logins. Embedding a live dashboard right into your intranet sounds great—until you try it and hit a wall of permissions, iframe errors, or ugly formatting. This guide is for the folks who just want a Geckoboard dashboard, live and up-to-date, right where everyone can see it—without jumping through a million hoops.
Let's cut through the fluff. I'll show you what actually works, what to watch out for, and how to get a Geckoboard dashboard showing up on your intranet with as little hassle as possible.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you dive in, make sure you've got the basics covered:
- Geckoboard account: If you don’t already have one, you’ll need access to Geckoboard and at least one dashboard set up.
- Admin access to your intranet: You’ll need editing rights. If your intranet is locked down, get whoever manages it on board early.
- A browser that isn’t locked down by overzealous IT policies: Embedding often runs into issues with company firewalls or browser settings.
- A clear idea of where the dashboard should show up: Not every intranet page is ideal for a live dashboard. Pick somewhere people actually check.
Pro tip: If your company uses SharePoint, Confluence, or something custom, the steps are mostly the same, but some platforms are pickier than others with embeds.
Step 1: Check Geckoboard’s Sharing Settings
Geckoboard gives you a few ways to share dashboards. Some are live, some aren’t. Here’s what matters:
- Public Sharing Link: This is what you want. It’s a live page anyone with the link can view—no login needed.
- Invite-Only or Private Dashboards: These can’t be embedded directly unless everyone is logged in, which defeats the point.
- Embedding via iframe: Geckoboard supports this, but only for publicly shared dashboards.
How to get your public sharing link:
- Open your dashboard.
- Hit the “Share” button in the top right.
- Turn on “Enable public sharing.” You’ll get a unique URL.
Heads up: Anyone with this link can see your dashboard, so don’t put sensitive stuff on there. If compliance is a big deal for your org, stop here and talk to your security team.
Step 2: Get the Embed Code
You could just paste the public link, but most intranets handle embedded content via something called an iframe. That’s just a fancy word for sticking a live webpage inside another page.
How to get the iframe code:
- Copy your public sharing link.
- Wrap it in a basic iframe. Here’s a template:
html
Replace YOUR_PUBLIC_SHARING_LINK with your actual URL.
- Width and height: Tweak as needed. Geckoboard dashboards are responsive, but give them some room.
- Min-width: Keeps it from getting squished on small screens.
Don’t bother with: - Trying to embed private dashboards. It won’t work. - Adding a bunch of iframe attributes unless your intranet is super locked down. Start simple.
Step 3: Embed in Your Intranet Platform
Here’s where things get fiddly. Every intranet has its own quirks.
For SharePoint
- Modern SharePoint: Use the “Embed” web part. Paste your iframe code. If it complains about the domain, you’ll need your SharePoint admin to whitelist
*.geckoboard.com. - Classic SharePoint: Use the “Embed Code” web part. Same iframe code.
- Watch for mixed content errors if your intranet uses HTTP and Geckoboard uses HTTPS (it does).
For Confluence
- Use the “HTML Macro” (if enabled). This is often restricted for security. If it’s not available, you’re probably out of luck unless your admins loosen up.
- Some folks use the “iframe” macro, but it’s not always enabled by default.
For Google Sites
- Use the “Embed” option, then paste your public sharing link (not the iframe code). Google Sites will auto-embed it if the source allows.
- If it shows a blank box, your company’s Google settings may be blocking it.
For Custom Intranets
- If you control the HTML, just drop in the iframe code.
- If you’re using a CMS (like WordPress or Drupal), use their HTML block/widget. Some plugins might strip iframes for security—test before rolling out.
Common headaches: - “Refused to connect” errors: Your intranet or browser is blocking the iframe source. - Blank iframe: The dashboard is private, or your intranet’s CSP (Content Security Policy) is too strict. - Sizing issues: Stick with 100% width and play with the height.
Step 4: Test and Tweak
Don’t just assume it’s working—test it on the actual intranet, in the browser your team uses.
- Check on different devices: Geckoboard dashboards are responsive, but your intranet theme might not be.
- Try it on your phone: If mobile users matter, make sure it’s usable.
- Ask a coworker to check: Sometimes admins see things differently than regular users.
If something looks off: - Tweak the iframe height. - Try a different browser. - Ask IT if there’s a firewall or CSP rule in the way.
What doesn’t work:
- Embedding with scripts, fancy widgets, or plugins is usually more trouble than it’s worth. Stick to a plain iframe.
Step 5: Share the Dashboard with Your Team
This is mostly about adoption, not tech. If it’s buried in a page nobody visits, it won’t matter.
- Put it somewhere visible: Homepages, team spaces, or wherever people actually look.
- Explain what’s on it: A quick sentence above the dashboard helps.
- Update regularly: If the dashboard changes, the embed will update automatically—as long as you don’t change the sharing link.
Don’t:
- Spam people about it.
- Make dashboards with so many widgets they’re unreadable at a glance.
What to Watch Out For
Let’s be honest—embedding dashboards isn’t always smooth sailing:
- Security trade-offs: Public sharing is easy, but not super secure. Don’t show private data.
- Intranet policies: Some platforms are paranoid about embeds. If you’re blocked, sometimes there’s no workaround.
- Browser weirdness: Some older browsers mangle iframes. If your company is stuck on Internet Explorer, consider alternatives.
Ignore:
- Overcomplicating things with custom scripts or plugins. Nine times out of ten, a simple iframe does the job.
Alternatives If Embedding Doesn’t Work
Sometimes, no matter what you try, embedding just isn’t allowed. You’ve got a few options:
- Direct link to the public dashboard: Not as slick, but at least people can see live data.
- Set up a rotating TV/display: Geckoboard was made for this. If you have a common area, stick a screen there.
- Automated snapshots via email or Slack: Not live, but better than nothing.
If your intranet is really locked down, ask if IT can make an exception, but don’t hold your breath.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t overthink it. Start with a basic embed, see how your team uses it, and adjust. If something’s too much work or gets in the way, skip it. The point is to make data visible without headaches—not to build the world’s fanciest dashboard page.
And if someone tells you there’s a “magic” plugin or a complicated workaround, be skeptical. Nine times out of ten, the plain old iframe does the trick—just keep it clean, public, and visible.