LogAlto in 10 steps

If you have just configured your brand new LogAlto platform and wonder where to start and how to achieve your data management goals: this article summarizes everything you need to know to get started!

1. Meet your new BFF: LogAlto's knowledge base
2. Modify your dropdown lists
3. Create your first project
4. Create your first activity
5. Create your first logframe (result matrix)
6. Track indicators
7. Create your first form
8. Add records or Import data into a form
9. Analyze your data
10. Customize your dashboard

LogAlto's knowledge base contains many articles and video tutorials to help you achieve your data management goals using LogAlto.

You can access the Knowledge base (Help pop-up) by clicking the " ? " icon in the top menu.

This will open a pop-up, allowing you to search for articles or contact our friendly helpdesk support staff.

2. Modify your dropdown lists

When you first completed the subscription, you were probably excited to launch your LogAlto platform and maybe forgot to add some items to your various dropdown lists. Don't worry: you can improve those lists once the system is launched!

Most dropdown lists are "System lists" and can be modified. For instance, if you are using the "Free Trial," "Starting plan," or "LogAlto out-of-the-box" versions, those lists are Donors, Sectors, Activity types, Cross-cutting issues, and Implementing partners.

Some lists are also related to the project, and their content will change depending on the project. If you are using the "Free Trial," "Starting plan," or "LogAlto out-of-the-box" versions, it is the case with the Responsibles list. This list can be edited via the project dashboard. 1) go to a project dashboard; 2) in the Projects menu, click "Responsible."

3. Create your first project

Once you know how to use the Help pop-up (knowledge base and helpdesk) and have tweaked your dropdown lists, you can add projects to your project portfolio.

In the main menu (left), click " Project." You will access your project portfolio (which is empty for the moment). Click the "+" button to create your first project.

4. Create your first activity

Click on the project you have just created to access its dashboard. In the project menu, click "Activities." You will access this project's activities list (which is empty now). Click the "+" button to create your first activity.

5. Create your first logframe (result matrix)

Click on the project you have just created to access its dashboard. In the project menu, click "Logframe."

You will be redirected to a form allowing you to create your project's logframe. You can either directly click " Save," or you can first edit the logframe levels by checking the "Customize logframe levels" checkbox (by default, it will be Goals, Outcomes and Outputs).

6. Track indicators

Once you have created the logframe and added goals, outcomes, outputs and indicators, you can enter actual data for your indicators.

On the logframe page, click " Data entry" (top right corner, in the logframe menu)

You will access the Data entry table. You can either enter the progress for that period OR the overall cumulative (current) value.

7. Create your first form

The Forms module allows you to create surveys or manage any data that would be otherwise managed with Excel.

In the main menu (left), click " Custom forms." You will access the list of forms (which is empty for the moment). Click the "+" button to create your first form. Enter a title to speed up the process and click "Save." (You don't need to worry about the other fields for now.)

You will be redirected to the form design page. At first, you will see the panel to rename the first section of your form. But you can ignore this for now and directly click " Save."

You can now "drag-and-drop" various fields, like Number, Text, Date fields, etc., from the left to the right to create your survey or form. For each area, you can enter the label (name) of the field where it says "Field name."

8. Add records or Import data into a form

Now that you have created your first form (or survey), it is time to populate it with some data. Access your form (By clicking " Custom forms" in the main menu, then clicking the name of your state).

You can add data by:

• Adding records using the "Record" form,
• Importing data (Excel file),
• Sharing a link to the form,
• Giving access to other LogAlto users.

To add a record using the "Record" form, click "Add record." 

A side panel will appear, allowing you to enter the record. 

To import data using an Excel file, click "Import." 

Then, click " Generate template" and click "Download." Open the generated Excel file and copy-paste data from your source file to the template file.

Be careful with "yes-no," dropdown lists, and locations fields: the data that will be imported must match the available options in LogAlto.

When you are finished copy-pasting data in the template file, you can go back to your form and click " Import," + click "Import template."

LogALto will display "Importation was successful' when the import is successful. Click the "Refresh" icon to display the imported data.

LogAlto will display "Error while importing" when the import is unsuccessful. Click the "Details" link and "Download the file" to view the imported file with highlighted erroneous cells. Correct the highlighted cells and try to import again.

To share a link to the form, click "Share."

You can create a link that can later be sent by email (the recipients will be able to fill the form without login into LogAlto).

To share the form with other LogAlto users, click "Share." You can select specific users, projects, countries (org. units) or profiles with access to the form. You can give different access rights to each one and specify whether they will see confidential fields.

9. Analyze your data

To analyze your data, click " Analytics" in the main menu (left). Then click the "+" button.

Enter the name of your report (or chart), and select a dataset and an output type (grid, chart, map, etc.). Click " Save".

You will be redirected by a default table or chart containing the selected dataset. Click on the configuration icon (upper right).

A side panel will open, allowing you to configure your report. The configuration options vary depending on the output type (for example, a bar chart will have different options than a radar chart or distribution map).

Once configuring the report to your satisfaction, click " Save."

10. Customize your dashboard

There are various types of dashboards in LogAlto: 

• The global dashboard 
• The user dashboard ("My dashboard") 
• Project dashboards

You first need to share the reports to display reports on project dashboards or the global dashboard.

To display an Analytics report on your personal dashboard, you first need to go to your dashboard by clicking "Dashboard" in the main menu (left) and clicking "My Dashboard."

Then click "Add report" and select the report you want to display.

When multiple reports are displayed on a dashboard, you can reorder them by drag-and-drop and resize them using the mouse.

Don't hesitate to reach out!

You can email us at support@logalto.com or ask a question through the chat if we are online. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!