Is it possible to lock or secure a dashboard so that others can read it, interact with it, adds comments, but not change it in any way?
In Cognos 10.2, yes. A new set of sub-capabilities were added in the Admin console to allow this. If a user (or group/role) has been granted access to the high-level "Executive Dashboard" capability, but not the "Use Advanced Dashboard Features" and "Use Interactive Dashboard Features" sub-capabilities within it, the user will be able to consume the dashboard (ie view it, drill down/up, add comments) but not change or move or add or remove any widgets.
The "Use Interactive Dashboard Features" sub-capability allows users to also change display types/colours/add filters/add calculations etc to widgets.
The "Use Advanced Dashboard Features" sub-capability allows users full rights to Cognos Workspace features.
Cheers!
MF.
Thanks for the detailed reply. I've checked it out in 10.2 and can see what you've advised.
Old topic but fitting so I will reuse it...
Is it possible to lock a dashboard in a way that users can view it but not add comments?
I think the answer is "no" but I would be happy to be wrong (http://www-01.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEP7J_10.2.2/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ug_cra.10.2.2.doc/c_reportnetsecuredfunctionsandfeatures.html).