The Shells section of the Component Analytics dashboard in Assette provides users with a structured overview of all shell components used across the organization. Shells serve as master layout containers in Monitoring shell usage helps teams ensure visual and structural consistency across deliverables, track content reuse, and maintain brand standards across different output formats.
Accessing the Shells Dashboard #
To view shell analytics:
- Navigate to the top menu and select Analytics → Components.
- Within the Component Analytics dashboard, locate the Shells card.
This view is accessible to all users and supports transparency into the composition and structure of shell components.
Shell Composition and Metrics #
The Shells card summarizes the total number of shell components and organizes them into distinct categories based on type and format. The following classifications are available:
- Smart Shells: These are shell templates built for Smart Docs and support formatting for automated document generation. Smart Shells are further broken down by output format:
- PowerPoint
- Word
- Excel
- Web Shells: Shells designed for web-based documents. These provide structural containers for web presentations and reports.
- Commentary Shells: These shells support narrative-style documents and often contain fixed layout elements suitable for commentary-heavy content.
Each shell entry includes:
- The most recently created shell and its creation date.
- The most recently edited shell and its last modified date.
Hovering over either date will reveal additional metadata, including the name of the user who performed the action and the exact timestamp.
Viewing Shell Usage and Relationships #
To understand how shells are referenced or where they are embedded, use X-Ray. X-Ray is Assette’s traceability feature that shows all dependencies and usage relationships among components, including shells, templates, brand themes, and sections.
To do this, simply click on the X-Ray icon on the right-hand side of the screen, next to the desired component.
Advanced Search and Filtering #
The Advanced Filter option allows you to refine results by applying detailed content classifications. This functionality is available across different component types such as data objects, data blocks, and brand themes. By using these filters, users can quickly narrow down large sets of items to locate specific components that meet defined criteria.
Filters can be applied across multiple dimensions, including:
- Labels: Classify content by categories such as “Consider as” or “Content Bin” to organize and identify items based on purpose or type.
- Limitations: Restrict results based on intended content type, strategy, asset class, account, product, or other relevant attributes.
- Data Ingredients: Identify dependencies or underlying data sources connected to the component.
As filters are applied, a summary panel displays selected classifications, making it easier to review and adjust before confirming. This structured filtering ensures greater efficiency when auditing, troubleshooting, or analyzing how components are used throughout the platform.
Once the desired filters are selected, click Apply to update the view.