What is QlikView ?

In today’s data-driven world, businesses need tools that can transform raw data into meaningful insights. QlikView, developed by Qlik, is a leading Business Intelligence (BI) tool that enables organizations to visualize and analyze data efficiently. This post provides a comprehensive overview of QlikView, covering its features, architecture, benefits, and use cases in detail.

What is QlikView?

QlikView is a powerful Business Intelligence (BI) and data visualization tool designed to help businesses create interactive dashboards and perform in-depth data analysis. It enables organizations to convert large volumes of raw data into meaningful insights that can drive strategic decisions and improve operational performance. QlikView provides a user-friendly platform where data from various sources can be combined, visualized, and explored without requiring advanced technical expertise. This makes it an invaluable tool for both technical and non-technical users across departments.

Unlike traditional BI platforms that depend on slow, query-based data retrieval methods, QlikView employs in-memory data processing technology. This means that all data is loaded directly into the system’s RAM, allowing for rapid data manipulation and instant responses to user queries. As a result, users can interact with large datasets seamlessly, filter information in real-time, and view updated results immediately. This speed advantage eliminates the delays often experienced with conventional BI tools, where users may need to wait for database queries to complete.

Another standout feature of QlikView is its associative data model, which enables intuitive data exploration. Instead of being restricted to linear, predefined query paths, users can click on any data point and instantly see all related information. This approach mirrors how people naturally think and analyze data, encouraging users to discover connections and insights that might otherwise remain hidden. For example, a sales manager can explore how product sales vary by region, customer segment, and time frame with just a few clicks.

By enabling users to explore data freely and intuitively, QlikView supports informed decision-making processes across various business functions such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations. Executives can quickly identify trends, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and respond to market changes with agility. QlikView’s ability to provide comprehensive and interactive data visualizations ensures that decision-makers have the information they need to act confidently and strategically.

Key Features of QlikView

QlikView offers a range of features that set it apart from other BI tools. Below are the primary features explained in detail:

Associative Data Model
QlikView’s associative data model allows users to navigate data without being restricted to predefined queries. Users can explore various data connections and uncover hidden insights by simply clicking on data points. This model mirrors human associative thinking, making data analysis more intuitive and less time-consuming.
In-Memory Technology
The in-memory processing capability ensures that data is loaded into the system’s RAM, providing quick access to datasets. This technology eliminates the need for constant database queries, resulting in faster response times when generating reports or exploring data. It significantly enhances user experience by providing real-time analytics.
Interactive Dashboards
QlikView enables the creation of interactive and visually appealing dashboards. These dashboards display key performance indicators (KPIs) and vital metrics through charts, graphs, and gauges. Users can interact with the data by filtering and drilling down into specific details, which helps in making well-informed decisions.
Data Integration
One of QlikView’s strengths is its ability to integrate with multiple data sources. Whether it’s databases, spreadsheets, or cloud-based services, QlikView can consolidate data from various platforms. This comprehensive data integration ensures that users have access to complete and consistent information.
Advanced Analytics
QlikView supports complex calculations, predictive analytics, and data mining. With built-in scripting and visualization capabilities, users can perform sophisticated analyses to forecast trends, identify risks, and optimize business processes.
Security Features
Data security is a top priority for QlikView. The platform provides robust security mechanisms such as role-based access control and document-level security, ensuring that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized users.
Mobility
With QlikView’s mobile compatibility, users can access dashboards and reports from smartphones and tablets. This feature is particularly beneficial for executives and field personnel who require data insights while on the move.

QlikView Architecture

Understanding QlikView’s architecture is crucial for effective implementation. It consists of several components:

QlikView Server (QVS): Acts as the backbone, handling client communications, data processing, and user sessions. It ensures efficient data distribution to connected users.
QlikView Publisher: Responsible for scheduling and distributing updated reports to users. It manages tasks like data extraction and document reloading.
QlikView Desktop: A development environment where users can create data models, design dashboards, and script data transformations.
QlikView AccessPoint: A web-based interface where users can securely access dashboards and analytical reports.

Benefits of Using QlikView

Implementing QlikView provides several advantages for organizations:

Faster Decision Making: With real-time data analysis, organizations can quickly respond to market changes and business challenges.
Cost-Effective Solution: Reduces dependency on IT for report generation, saving time and resources.
Enhanced Data Visualization: Interactive visualizations simplify complex data, making it easier for users to interpret information.
User-Friendly Interface: Minimal training is required to navigate and use QlikView, promoting widespread adoption.
Scalability: Suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to large corporations, allowing growth without compromising performance.

qlikview
A general reference or tag for QlikView, the business intelligence and data visualization tool. Clicking this link likely leads to resources, dashboards, or reports related to QlikView.
qliktech qlikview
QlikTech was the original company name behind the QlikView product. This link probably points to content that involves both the company (QlikTech) and its QlikView product, possibly documentation or company-related resources.
qlikview qlikview
This could be a duplication in tags or refer to resources where both the tool and a specific QlikView-related project or dashboard are mentioned. It might be related to a categorized system that uses repetitive keywords.
qlik qlikview
Qlik is the parent company, and this link seems to reference both the company and its product, likely leading to combined information about Qlik as an organization and QlikView as its software solution.
kumc qlikview
KUMC possibly refers to an organization, such as the University of Kansas Medical Center or another entity with the acronym KUMC, using QlikView. This link might provide access to QlikView dashboards, reports, or projects specific to that organization.

Who owns QlikView?

QlikView is owned and developed by Qlik, a global data analytics and business intelligence company. Founded in 1993 in Sweden, Qlik initially launched QlikView as its flagship product. Over the years, Qlik expanded its offerings to include Qlik Sense, a more modern and self-service BI platform.

In 2016, Qlik was acquired by Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm, but Qlik continues to operate independently under its name.
QlikView remains a key part of Qlik’s product portfolio, especially for organizations that rely on guided analytics and pre-built dashboards.

Do while QlikView

This phrase refers to the use of a “Do While” loop in QlikView’s scripting environment. QlikView uses a scripting language to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources.

A Do While loop executes a block of code repeatedly as long as a specified condition is true.
It’s particularly useful when you need to process data iteratively, such as looping through months in a calendar or fetching paginated API data.

				
					Let i = 1;  
Do While i <= 5  
    Trace Iteration $(i);  
    Let i = i + 1;  
Loop

This script prints messages for iterations 1 to 5.

Using loops like this helps automate data processing tasks in QlikView, reducing manual efforts and improving efficiency.

How does QlikView work?

QlikView operates on an in-memory data processing architecture, enabling rapid data analysis and visualization. Here’s how it works:

Working Mechanism:

Data Extraction: QlikView connects to various data sources like databases, spreadsheets, and web services to extract data.
Data Loading: Data is loaded into RAM, allowing faster access and instant data retrieval.
Data Modeling: Users build associative data models that show relationships between different datasets.
Visualization: Interactive dashboards and reports are created using charts, tables, and graphs.
User Interaction: Users can click on data points to filter information dynamically and explore insights instantly.

The associative model allows users to explore data from multiple perspectives without needing predefined queries, making QlikView intuitive and flexible.