Sidebar Navigation

The InsightLens sidebar is your primary navigation tool, providing quick access to all features and functionality. This guide explains each section and how to use them effectively.

The sidebar is organized into logical sections for easy navigation:

┌─────────────────┐
│   InsightLens   │ ← App Header
│ Survey Analysis │
├─────────────────┤
│ Quick Insights  │ ← Quick Actions
│ • Trending Up   │
│ • Need Attention│
├─────────────────┤
│ 🏠 Dashboard    │ ← Main Navigation
│ 📊 Units        │
│ 🤖 Ask Insight  │
│ 📤 Import       │
│ ⚙️  Settings    │
├─────────────────┤
│ InsightLens     │ ← App Info
│ v1.0.0          │
└─────────────────┘

App Header

Logo and Title

  • InsightLens icon - Click to return to dashboard
  • App name and tagline - Shows current application
  • Collapse button - Hide/show sidebar for more screen space

Version Information

  • Current version number displayed
  • Click for about page with full details
  • Update notifications appear here when available

Quick Insights Section

Located at the top for immediate access to important trends:

  • Units with improving scores over recent periods
  • Positive sentiment growth indicators
  • Response rate improvements worth celebrating
  • Success stories to share with colleagues

How to Use:

  1. Click “Trending Up” to see detailed breakdown
  2. Review which units are performing well
  3. Identify successful practices to replicate
  4. Generate reports for positive recognition

Need Attention

  • Units with declining satisfaction scores
  • Concerning sentiment trends requiring action
  • Low response rates that may indicate problems
  • Early warning indicators for proactive intervention

How to Use:

  1. Click “Need Attention” for immediate review
  2. Prioritize units by severity of decline
  3. Investigate root causes through detailed analysis
  4. Plan intervention strategies

Customizing Quick Insights

  • Threshold settings in preferences
  • Time period adjustments for sensitivity
  • Alert frequency configuration
  • Notification preferences for important changes

🏠 Dashboard

Your central hub for overview and quick analysis.

When to Use:

  • Starting your analysis session
  • Getting overall health snapshot
  • Checking recent activity
  • Quick trend identification

Key Features:

  • Overview cards with key metrics
  • Interactive charts and visualizations
  • Recent imports and activity
  • Quick action buttons

📊 Units

Detailed view of individual unit performance.

When to Use:

  • Analyzing specific unit performance
  • Comparing units within disciplines
  • Investigating detailed feedback
  • Preparing unit-specific reports

Key Features:

  • Searchable unit list
  • Filter by campus, discipline, level
  • Individual unit detail pages
  • Comparative analysis tools

🤖 Ask InsightLens

AI-powered natural language analysis.

When to Use:

  • Exploring data with questions
  • Generating custom charts quickly
  • Getting interpretation help
  • Discovering unexpected insights

Key Features:

  • Natural language query interface
  • Automatic chart generation
  • Smart recommendations
  • Conversation history

📤 Import

Data import and management tools.

When to Use:

  • Adding new survey data
  • Managing import history
  • Checking data quality
  • Troubleshooting import issues

Key Features:

  • Drag-and-drop file import
  • Bulk processing options
  • Import status tracking
  • Error handling and recovery

⚙️ Settings

Application configuration and preferences.

When to Use:

  • Setting up AI providers
  • Configuring database location
  • Adjusting display preferences
  • Managing privacy settings

Key Features:

  • Database management
  • AI service configuration
  • Display customization
  • Privacy and security settings

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Tab - Navigate between sidebar items
  • Enter - Select highlighted item
  • Esc - Close sidebar (when collapsed)
  • Alt + Number - Quick navigation (Alt+1 for Dashboard, etc.)

Visual Indicators

  • Active page highlighted with different background
  • Badge notifications show pending items
  • Loading indicators during data processing
  • Status icons for connection and sync status

Responsive Behavior

  • Auto-collapse on smaller screens
  • Touch-friendly sizing on tablets
  • Keyboard accessible for accessibility
  • High contrast mode support

Expanded State (Default)

  • Full labels and icons visible
  • Quick Insights section displayed
  • App information shown at bottom
  • Optimal for desktop use

Collapsed State

  • Icons only for space saving
  • Tooltips show full labels on hover
  • Quick Insights hidden
  • More screen real estate for data

How to Toggle

  1. Click collapse button in header
  2. Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + \
  3. Setting preference for default state
  4. Auto-collapse on narrow screens

Context-Sensitive Features

Page-Specific Actions

Each main page adds relevant quick actions to the sidebar:

Dashboard Page:

  • Quick filter buttons
  • Recent analysis shortcuts
  • Export dashboard option

Units Page:

  • Advanced search options
  • Filter presets
  • Bulk actions menu

AI Chat Page:

  • Conversation history
  • Saved queries
  • Model selection

Import Page:

  • Recent imports list
  • File format help
  • Batch operations

Smart Suggestions

Based on your current activity:

  • Related analyses you might want to run
  • Similar units for comparison
  • Follow-up questions for deeper insights
  • Export options for current data

Accessibility Features

Screen Reader Support

  • Proper labeling of all navigation elements
  • Semantic structure for logical navigation
  • Focus indicators clearly visible
  • Skip links for efficient navigation

Keyboard Navigation

  • Tab order follows logical flow
  • Arrow keys for menu navigation
  • Spacebar/Enter for activation
  • Escape for closing menus

Visual Accessibility

  • High contrast theme option
  • Scalable fonts up to 200%
  • Clear focus indicators for keyboard users
  • No color-only information

Customization Options

Layout Preferences

  • Sidebar width adjustment
  • Icon size scaling
  • Label display options
  • Quick Insights positioning

Personal Organization

  • Favorite pages pinning
  • Custom Quick Insights rules
  • Personal dashboard layouts
  • Workflow shortcuts

Mobile Navigation

On mobile devices, the sidebar transforms:

Hamburger Menu

  • Tap menu icon to open navigation
  • Overlay style doesn’t consume screen space
  • Swipe gestures for quick access
  • Touch-optimized button sizes

Bottom Navigation (Alternative)

  • Tab bar at bottom of screen
  • Quick access to main sections
  • Badge indicators for notifications
  • Thumb-friendly positioning

Troubleshooting Navigation

Common Issues

Sidebar Not Responding

  • Refresh the application
  • Check for JavaScript errors
  • Clear application cache
  • Restart if necessary

Missing Navigation Items

  • Check user permissions
  • Verify data availability
  • Review filter settings
  • Contact support if persistent

Performance Issues

  • Reduce number of open tabs
  • Clear browser cache
  • Check system resources
  • Consider data archiving

Getting Help

  • Hover tooltips explain each feature
  • Context help available on each page
  • Video tutorials show navigation in action
  • Support documentation covers advanced topics
Previous: Dashboard Overview Next: Essential Workflow