Chapter 7. Using Extensions in Qlik Sense

In this chapter, we will focus on the use of some useful extensions in Qlik Sense, and discuss the following topics:

• Finding extensions on Qlik Branch
• How to import extensions (Desktop and Server)
• Using the variable extension
• Using the Reload button extension
• Using the simple KPI extension
• Using the ShowHide Container extension

Introduction

Qlik Sense has an extensive library of chart objects to display data. However, of late, there has been an increase in the demand for custom visualizations from business users, and such visualizations are used in specific circumstances. The visualization extension objects in Qlik Sense are developed using open standards, such as HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.

There are plenty of useful extensions created by the Qlik Sense community, and most of them available for free.

The following discussed recipes include where to find extensions, how to import and use them in your Qlik Sense environment, and recommendations for the most reliable and useful extensions.

Finding extensions on Qlik Branch

Qlik Branch is a place where developers share and collaborate on open source projects.

It is the starting point for every Qlik Sense developer looking for an extension. Most of the extensions created by the community are published there.

There are thousands of projects published there, but how can you know if the extension is popular and consequently reliable?

In the following steps, I will show you how to identify popular and reliable extensions, and download them to use in your apps.

Getting ready

You just need a web browser to search the website.

How to do it…

1. Open your favorite web browser and go to branch.qlik.com.
2. Once the website successfully opens, select Projects in the menu at top of the page. The page will show a search box and below that a list of recent projects sorted by the most recent updated date.
3. Change the sort order to Most Popular. Now you will see the most popular extensions first.
4. Scroll down until you find the extension with the name qsVariable...

How to import extensions (Desktop and Server)

So, you found a cool extension in Qlik Branch and want to use it in your Qlik Sense app. How should you do this?

This recipe will show you how to do this using Qlik Sense Desktop.

Getting ready

This recipe is a continuation of the previous recipe. So, we will be using the same extension, qsVariable, to show how to import it to your desktop.

How to do it…

1. Open the extension folder located at C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Qlik\Sense\Extensions\.
2. Paste the file variable.zip and unzip it, creating a subfolder named variable.

3. After decompression has finished, check whether the files are stored inside C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Qlik\Sense\Extensions\variable.
4. Now, we will check whether Qlik Sense recognizes the new extension, so open Qlik Sense Desktop.
5. Open an existing app and edit an existing sheet.
6. Select Custom objects in the panel on the left.
7. Search for Variable in the object search box.

The resulting output will be as follows:

How it works...

Using the Variable extension

Qlik sense has the capability to create variables that can be used in the script, and also in the user interface.

As a developer, we can use the variables editor when editing a sheet, but we can change a variable when in view mode.

There will be questions such as the following:

• How to enable the user to choose how many customers to see in a bar chart?
• How to enable end users to input data in a variable to simulate some calculation scenarios?

To answer these questions, we can use the Variable extension.

Getting ready

This recipe is a continuation of the previous recipe. So, we will be using the Variable extension we already downloaded.

The recipe explains how to use the extension to set values in a variable.

How to do it…

1. Open the Automotive.qvf app provided for Chapter 2, Visualizations, and create a new sheet.
2. Create a Bar chart on the sheet.
3. Add Territory as the dimension.
4. Add Total Car Sales as the measure.

5. The resulting chart will look like the following screenshot:

6. Adjust...

Using the Reload button extension

In some use cases, we need to enable the user to reload the app by himself, but we shouldn't let the user open the Data load editor to do this action, or enter edit mode to push the Reload button under the Fields panel.

To solve this, we can use the Reload button extension.

Getting ready

To start this recipe, first you need to download the Reload button extension from Qlik Branch, by searching for the reload button in the search box:

After downloading the extension, install the extension in your Qlik Sense Desktop or server, following the previous recipe about importing extensions.

The recipe explains how to use the extension to set a Reload button in your app.

How to do it…

1. Open an existing app you already have access to the base data you load in the app.
2. Edit an existing sheet.
3. Make some space to add the Reload button.
4. Search for the reload object in the Custom objects panel.
5. Drag and drop the Reload button object to the content area.
6. Add the following text as a footnote...

Using the simple KPI extension

The Simple KPI extension is a great way to create a visualization of several KPIs, broken down by a specific dimension.

Getting ready

To start this recipe, first you need to download the Simple KPI extension from Qlik Branch, by searching for simple kpi in the search box:

After downloading the extension, install the extension in your Qlik Sense Desktop or server, following the previous recipe about importing extensions.

This recipe explains how to use the extension to show several examples of KPI-per-dimension data, without the need to create a separate object for each one.

How to do it…

1. Open the Automotive.qvf app provided for Chapter 2, Visualizations.
2. Look in the Country car sales dashboard sheet.
3. This sheet uses several objects, one for each of the nine top markets, to show market share as a gauge. With Simple KPI, we can a create something similar using one object:

4. Duplicate the sheet and label it as Simple KPI Dashboard.
5. Remove all charts (Line chart and Gauge...

Using the ShowHide Container extension

If you already have a need to conditionally show or hide an object based on specific selections, user login, or creating a drill-down navigation using different objects for each level, this extension is a good choice.

Getting ready

To start this recipe, first you need to download the ShowHide extension from Qlik Branch, by searching for showhide container in the search box:

After downloading the extension, install the extension in your Qlik Sense Desktop or server, following the previous recipe about importing extensions.

The Automotive sample app has information about sales and production of cars around the world. Most of the views are separated into different sheets. This recipe explains how to use the extension to show a Sales overview and Production overview, which are in separate sheets, combined in a single sheet.

You will need to use the variable extension as well to create a button to alternate the visualization of each view.

How to do it…

1. Open the...