---
schema_version: "1"
id: b96ee92449181fa9880800d002534789418a236eeef0b2a803140d27f5f15cd4
title: Create a Lens
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/analytics/264-0-0/bi_explorer_view_lens.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_explorer_view_lens.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 51fb95567f13c297348046b68ed61e32437534afe65a96909432f5854a2f667e
description: "When you look at data in an exploratory mode, you do so in a lens. A lens has several aspects: it’s how you view data in a dataset, it’s the place where you explore the data graphically, and it’s the basis for building any dashboard."
products:
  - CRM Analytics
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Create a Lens

When you look at data in an exploratory mode, you do so in a lens. A lens has several aspects: it’s how you view data in a dataset, it’s the place where you explore the data graphically, and it’s the basis for building any dashboard.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience.</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available with CRM Analytics, which is available for an extra cost in <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and <strong>Unlimited</strong> Editions. Also available in <strong>Developer</strong> Edition.</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d173463e73">User Permissions
              Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d173463e73 ">To view visualizations:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d173463e73 ">Use Analytics or Analytics Templated Apps</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d173463e73 ">To create a lens:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d173463e73 ">Use CRM Analytics</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

1. From the App Launcher, find and select **Analytics Studio**.
2. Click **Browse**, and then click **Datasets**.
3. Select a dataset.
    
    A new lens tab is created for the dataset. The total row count of the dataset is shown in a bar chart.
4. In the Bar Length section, click **Count of Rows**, and select a new measure, such as Sum, Count, or Average to use for the visualization. To add more measures, click the **+**.
5. To add a field for grouping your data, click the **+** in the Bars section. To add more fields, click the **+**.
6. To sort the data, click the measure at the top of the lens. To change the chart type, click the Charts icon ![Charts icon](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_chart_mode_button.png) in the right panel.
7. Click **Save**.
8. Enter a title, description, lens version, then select the App to save your lens to.
9. Click **Save**.

To add the lens to a dashboard, click the Clip to Designer icon ![Clip to Designer icon](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_icon_clip_lens.png).

- **[Navigating the Query Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_explorer_search_focus.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Efficiently manage your data queries by applying the search-first focus design.

#### See Also

- [_External Link:_ Trailhead - Create an App and a Lens](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/projects/quick-start-einstein-analytics/create-an-app-and-lens)
- [_Salesforce Help:_ Navigating the Query Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_explorer_search_focus.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Efficiently manage your data queries by applying the search-first focus design.")