Basic Knowledge of Qlik Sense

1. Qlik Sense Tutorial

In our quest to find out new data analysis tools we shall learn a really potent tool called Qlik Sense. So, during this Tutorial, we'll discuss the architecture, features, and key capabilities. Also, we'll check out its editions, value-added products, and customer service. At last, we'll see a comparison with QlikView and Tableau.

It has emerged within the market of Business Intelligence tools as a new-age technology that offers many user-friendly features. So, it's loaded with advanced data analysis and visualizations services.

2. What is Qlik Sense?

Qlik Sense may be a data analysis and visualization software. It operates with an associative QIX engine that enables the user to link and associate data from varied sources and carries out dynamic searching and selections. It is a knowledge analytics platform for a good range of users i.e. from non-technical to technical users. As against QlikView, It is more about data visualization because it has augmented graphics. Whereas in QlikView, you'll manipulate the info during a lot of technical ways through scripting. Nevertheless, if your motive of using Qlik Sense is showing and analyzing data in the best possible graphical ways, then you have made the right choice.

So, It as a tool provides a great deal of flexibility to the users as they can carry out completely independent operations with the self-service visualizations and analysis or be guided by the automated machine-guided analysis by the cognitive engine. As opposed to the traditional query-based model, It can be used an Associative Model in which users are free to explore the vast and complex labyrinth of data in whichever direction and ways they please to and draw intuitive insights from it. Also, it is possible to integrate large data files from varied sources without any issues. The collaborative properties also aid to the users’ capabilities to draw ingenious inferences from the info. The client team can share data applications and reports on a centralized hub, share secure data models, export the info stories to reinforce and flourish the business.

3. Key Capabilities

Given below are some key capabilities which we will discuss in detail in another lesson.

• Self-service capabilities
• Augmented visualizations and smart searches/explorations
• Associative model
• Centralized sharing and collaboration
• Hybrid multi-cloud architecture
• Interactive analysis
• Interactive storytelling and reporting
• Mobility and multiple device support
• Big and small data integration
• Enterprise management and scalability
• Robust security
• Geographic and advanced analytics
• Qlik Insight Advisor (AI supported)
• Scalability across on-premise, private, and public cloud environments

4. Architecture

The architecture of Qlik Sense is meant in order that it can provide a scalable, secure and simply manageable work environment to the user. The architecture is comprised of a variety of components that add tandem to hold out services and supply users with visual analytics and data management tools. Before we start with understanding the components of architecture intimately, we must first know two other components that are linked to the architectural components.

Qlik Sense Hub is that the platform where the user performs operations on the info and creates applications with required visualizations. It is the platform where users interact with the software and create dashboards for their business analysis. It provides easy drag-and-drop functionality, associative data model, the range of visualization, etc. The viewing of final dashboards is flexible as the screen and it’s contents are automatically adjusted according to the screen size of the device such as a laptop, desktop, tablet, mobile. This hub is developed using HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript etc.

Qlik Sense Management Console is the management platform that lets the administrator centrally manage all the operations taking place. The services managed by the management console are,

• Data connectivity
• Application management
• Task management
• Security administration
• Data monitoring
• Auditing

So, let us discuss the architectural components now.

i. Qlik Sense Proxy (QSP)

The QSP serves as the entry point for both users and administrators via sources like hub and management console. The QSP serves many purposes like,

• Session management
• License provisioning
• Handling load balancing
• Connecting with user identity providers like SAML, Active directory, etc.

ii. Qlik Sense Engine (QIX)

It is the main interactive/associative engine that facilitates all the major functionalities of Qlik Sense. The functions of QIX are,

• In-memory data indexing and calculations (the engine is RAM-based)
• Smart searching
• Interactive and self-service interactions
• Corresponds with Scheduler, repository, and applications

iii. Qlik Sense Schedule (QSS)

The QSS, as the name suggests, schedules and coordinates the data loads and application reloading.

iv. Qlik Sense Repository (QSR)

The repository is the place where all the data and information regarding the configuration and management of other Qlik Sense services. The main areas of work of QSR are,

Managing user definitions

Security

v. Qlik Sense Applications (.QVF)

This is the final layer where the user uses the data to create visualizations and sheets. The application may have one or more sheets and a complete set of those makes an application.QVF file. Such files contain data in compressed form, a data model pertaining to the data loaded into the Qlik Sense’s in-memory and a final presentation layer.

5.Features

Associative model

• Smart visualization and analytics
• Self-service creation
• Centralized sharing and collaboration
• Data storytelling and reporting
• App Mobility
• Data preparation and integration
• The QIX engine
• Enterprise governance and scalability