What is QlikView?

QlikView is one of the leading BI tools, according to the Gartner Magic Quadrant. It helps collect data from various sources and analyze the reports created using QlikView features. The tool offers in-memory storage, making data collection, integration, and processing very fast.

Reports are automatically generated using the tool, and relationships between data are derived by QlikView software. Decisions are then made based on these insights to improve business outcomes. Overall, QlikView is a data discovery tool that facilitates the creation of dynamic apps for data analysis.

Pros and Cons of QlikView

This tutorial is designed for anyone interested in working with QlikView, whether to create or modify reports. Having basic programming knowledge and familiarity with SQL will help in learning QlikView more efficiently.

QlikView Tutorial – History

QlikView was developed by Qlik, originally known as QlikTech, founded in 1993 in Sweden. Before 1996, it was named "Quik View," a PC-based software. The name "quik" was derived from Quality, Understanding, Interaction, and Knowledge. Today, Qlik’s headquarters is in Radnor, Pennsylvania, USA, while the research and development division remains in Sweden. Qlik has over 45,000 customers across 100 countries.

In addition to QlikView, Qlik offers other BI tools like Qlik Sense, Qlik Core, Qlik NPrinting, Qlik GeoAnalytics, and more.

How is QlikView Different from Other BI Tools?

QlikView is unique because it is primarily a data discovery tool, which sets it apart from traditional BI tools. Data discovery allows users to search for patterns and trends in data sets using visual aids like graphs, tables, and maps. The flexibility and in-memory features of QlikView make it stand out.

An analogy to explain this: traditional BI tools follow a structured path, like searching for an employee's dashboard step by step (region > country > department > employee). In contrast, QlikView allows users to search independently, offering flexibility and speed.

Components of QlikView

The main components of QlikView include:

Dashboard – A platform to create reports.

QlikView Server (QVS) – Interfaces between the client and QlikView apps or backend systems.

QlikView Developer (QVD) – A desktop tool for creating QlikView documents.

QlikView Publisher (QVP) – Responsible for data loading and distribution.

Management Console – Manages all aspects of QlikView’s environment via a web-based interface.

QlikView Architecture

QlikView architecture is divided into three parts for clarity:

Front End – A browser-based platform where apps visualize documents sent by the backend publisher and server. The QlikView Server (QVS) mediates the communication.

Back End – The platform where QlikView documents are created using the QlikView Developer. The documents are passed to the front end via QVS. QlikView Publisher handles data loading and distribution.

Infrastructure Resource – The data access layer that connects to sources like Microsoft Excel, Word, SAP, Oracle, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Features of QlikView

Data Discovery and Global Search – QlikView can connect to a wide range of databases and performs advanced searches for faster data discovery.

Collaboration – Data insights can be shared in real time via cloud or enterprise server.

Control Over Data – Users can create models and receive guidance from the tool on ideal data interpretation.

Secure Environment – Ensures the security of sensitive corporate data.

Flexibility and Integrations – Offers flexibility in dashboard creation and data processing. QlikView supports integrations with other apps via APIs.

Consistent Reporting – Offers various templates for report generation, which can be shared in multiple formats.

QlikView Flavours

QlikView comes in three versions based on the user base:

QlikView Enterprise

QlikView Professional

QlikView Analyzer

Impact of QlikView

QlikView has had a significant impact on both corporate and non-corporate sectors. For example, the police department has used QlikView to analyze criminal records and trends. Companies like Swedbank and Genzyme have also shared positive reviews about the tool.

QlikView Applications

Data Analysis and Discovery – For exploring patterns and trends in data.

Business Intelligence – Creating dashboards and reports for in-depth analysis.

Data Integration – Connecting to various data sources for comprehensive analysis.

Conclusion

In this QlikView tutorial, we covered the history, components, features, architecture, and flavors of QlikView. We also explored its applications and impact. We hope this tutorial has been helpful in understanding the role of QlikView in data analysis and business intelligence.