Component properties (text, boolean, instance swap) in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Component properties (text, boolean, instance swap)

Dashboard Goal

Understand how to use component properties in Figma to build interactive BI dashboards. Learn how text, boolean, and instance swap properties help customize dashboard elements for clear data presentation.

Sample Data

Month	Sales	Profit	Region
Jan	1000	200	North
Feb	1500	300	South
Mar	1200	250	East
Apr	1700	400	West
May	1600	350	North

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card - Total Sales
  Text property: Displays total sales sum.
  Formula: SUM(Sales) = 1000+1500+1200+1700+1600 = 7000
• KPI Card - Show Profit?
  Boolean property: Toggle to show or hide profit KPI.
  If true, shows total profit; else hides it.
  Formula: SUM(Profit) = 200+300+250+400+350 = 1500
• Bar Chart - Sales by Month
  Instance swap property: Swap chart style between bar and line.
  Default: Bar chart showing sales per month.
• Region Filter
  Text property: Select region to filter data.
  Filters all components to show only selected region's data.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
|      Total Sales      |     Show Profit?     |
|       (KPI Card)      |     (Toggle Bool)    |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                                              |
|           Sales by Month Chart                |
|          (Bar or Line - Instance Swap)       |
|                                              |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                 Region Filter                 |
|               (Text Selector)                 |
+----------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

The Show Profit? toggle controls visibility of the profit KPI card. When ON, the profit KPI appears showing total profit; when OFF, it hides.

The Region Filter lets users pick a region (North, South, East, West). Selecting a region filters the sales and profit KPIs and updates the sales chart to show only data for that region.

The Instance Swap on the sales chart lets users switch between bar chart and line chart styles for better visual preference.

Self Check

If you toggle Show Profit? OFF, which components update?
Answer: The profit KPI card hides; other components remain unchanged.

If you select Region = North in the filter, which components update?
Answer: Total Sales KPI updates to 2600 (1000+1600), Profit KPI updates to 550 (200+350), and the sales chart shows only Jan and May data.

If you swap the sales chart instance to line chart, what changes?
Answer: The sales chart changes from bar style to line style, data remains the same.

Key Result

A Figma dashboard demonstrating text, boolean, and instance swap properties to customize KPIs, charts, and filters for sales data.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using component properties in Figma?

easy

A. To export components as images

B. To customize parts of a component without creating new components

C. To change the color of the entire Figma file

D. To delete unused components automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand component properties

   Component properties allow you to change parts inside a component without making a new one.

2. Step 2: Identify the main benefit

   This saves time and keeps designs consistent by reusing the same component with variations.

3. Final Answer:

   To customize parts of a component without creating new components -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Component properties = customize parts [OK]

Hint: Think: change parts, not whole component [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing properties with exporting features
• Thinking properties change whole file colors
• Assuming properties delete components

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a boolean property in a Figma component?

easy

A. Use the boolean property type and toggle it on or off

B. Add a text field and type 'true' or 'false'

C. Swap the instance with another component

D. Change the component's fill color

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify boolean property usage

   Boolean properties in Figma are toggles that switch between true or false states.

2. Step 2: Recognize correct creation method

   You create a boolean property by selecting the boolean type and toggling it on or off, not by typing text or swapping instances.

3. Final Answer:

   Use the boolean property type and toggle it on or off -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Boolean property = toggle true/false [OK]

Hint: Boolean means toggle on/off, not typing text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Typing 'true' or 'false' in text instead of using boolean
• Confusing instance swap with boolean property
• Changing colors instead of property type

3. Given a component with a text property named Label set to "Submit", what will happen if you change the Label property to "Send" in an instance?

medium

A. The text property will be removed from the instance

B. The main component's text changes to "Send" for all instances

C. The text inside the instance changes to "Send" without affecting the main component

D. The instance will break and show an error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand text property behavior

   Text properties allow instances to override text without changing the main component.

2. Step 2: Apply to the example

   Changing the Label property in an instance updates only that instance's text to "Send".

3. Final Answer:

   The text inside the instance changes to "Send" without affecting the main component -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Text property override = instance text change only [OK]

Hint: Instance text changes, main stays same [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking main component text changes
• Expecting errors on property change
• Assuming property gets deleted

4. You tried to swap an instance property with another component, but the swap option is grayed out. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The components are not from the same component set or variant group

B. You forgot to select the boolean property first

C. Text properties cannot be swapped

D. You need to restart Figma to enable swapping

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand instance swap rules

   Instance swap works only between components in the same set or variant group.

2. Step 2: Identify cause of grayed swap

   If swap is disabled, it usually means the components are unrelated or not grouped properly.

3. Final Answer:

   The components are not from the same component set or variant group -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Swap enabled only in same variant group [OK]

Hint: Swap only works within same variant group [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to swap unrelated components
• Confusing boolean property with instance swap
• Restarting app unnecessarily

5. You have a button component with a boolean property IsDisabled that toggles the button's color and disables clicks. How would you set up the component properties to allow instance users to swap the icon inside the button easily?

hard

A. Change the main component's icon directly for all instances

B. Add a boolean property for the icon and toggle it on/off

C. Add a text property and type the icon name manually

D. Add an instance swap property linked to a set of icon components

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand instance swap property

   Instance swap lets users replace parts like icons by choosing from predefined components.

2. Step 2: Apply to icon swapping

   To let users swap icons easily, add an instance swap property linked to icon components.

3. Step 3: Avoid incorrect methods

   Boolean toggles can't swap icons; text properties require manual typing; changing main affects all instances.

4. Final Answer:

   Add an instance swap property linked to a set of icon components -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Instance swap = easy icon replacement [OK]

Hint: Use instance swap for easy icon changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using boolean for icon swap
• Typing icon names instead of swapping
• Changing main component icon directly