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“Supermetrics is a Bitter Experience! We can pull data from nearly any tool, schedule updates, manipulate data in Sheets, and push data back into our systems.”
The “Unable to run source report because its definition is invalid” error happens because Salesforce dashboard components require all fields to be accessible to every potential viewer, unlike reports that hide restricted fields dynamically.
Here’s how to bypass this validation issue entirely and create flexible dashboards that work with any permission setup.
Skip Salesforce dashboard validation using Coefficient
CoefficientDashboard components fail when they contain fields that some users can’t access due to permission restrictions.solves this by pulling your Salesforce report data directly into spreadsheets, completely avoiding Salesforce’s dashboard validation system.
Instead of fighting permission conflicts, you control field visibility at the spreadsheet level. This means your report works even when the dashboard component fails, and you can create multiple views for different user groups without duplicate Salesforce assets.
How to make it work
Step 1. Import your failing Salesforce report using Coefficient’s “From Existing Report” feature.
Connect to your Salesforce org and select the report that’s causing dashboard issues. Coefficient can import this report even when it fails as a dashboard component because it connects directly to Salesforce’s API rather than going through dashboard validation.
Step 2. Create separate sheet tabs for different user groups.
Set up tabs like “Sales_Team,” “Finance_Team,” and “Executive_Team.” Each tab pulls the same source report but displays only the fields appropriate for that group’s permission level. Use Coefficient’s filtering to show different field sets on each tab.
Step 3. Configure automated refreshes to keep data current.
Schedule hourly, daily, or weekly refreshes so all your user groups stay synchronized with live Salesforce data. This maintains the real-time aspect you’d expect from a dashboard without the validation headaches.
Step 4. Apply spreadsheet-level sharing controls.
Use Google Sheets or Excel sharing settings to grant each user group access only to their designated tab. This respects your permission structure while eliminating the field access conflicts that cause dashboard errors.
Get your Salesforce data working again
Try CoefficientThis approach eliminates permission validation errors while giving you more flexibility than native Salesforce dashboards. You maintain data security and get the reporting functionality you need.to bypass these dashboard limitations.
