A typical Qlik Sense application should always follow the Dashboard Analysis Reporting (DAR) methodology. This methodology focuses on developing a dashboard sheet followed by an analysis sheet and then a reports sheet. The dashboard projects the high-level figures of the business; the analysis sheet gives more control to the end user to filter the data, while the reports sheet has the detailed information at a granular level.

While this concept can be easily implemented within the application, it is easy to forget the best design practices that help in making the applications more engaging for users. An optimal design will convey the right information to the right people at the right time. This will elevate the decision-making process within...

Snapshots are an exciting feature in Qlik Sense that enable users to capture the point-in-time state of the data object. Snapshots work as insights for a story, which will be discussed in later recipes.

For the sake of this exercise, we will make use of the Automotive.qvf Qlik Sense application. This application is downloaded as a sample file with the default Qlik Sense desktop installation and can be accessed through the Qlik Sense hub.

The sample files may differ by region. If the Automotive.qvf application is not available
in the Qlik Sense hub, it can be downloaded from the Packt Publishing website.

Perform the following steps once you download the application from the Packt Publishing...

Qlik Sense introduces the concept of storytelling within the application. The data story interface helps the user to collate all the important observations and insights from the application to create a convincing narrative and present it to the intended audience in the form of a slideshow.

As in the previous recipe, we will again make use of the Automotive.qvf Qlik Sense application.

To create a story, perform the following steps:

1. Open the Automotive.qvf application
2. While you are still on the App overview...

Multiple sheets can be added to the story and the following section deals with the steps involved.

As in the previous recipe, we will again make use of the Automotive.qvf Qlik Sense application:

1. Open the Automotive.qvf application from the Qlik Sense hub.
2. Next, open the Sales Overview story, which was created in the previous recipe, by clicking on the toolbar.

Please follow the steps for adding embedded sheets to the story:

1. In the story view, click on the icon in the bottom-left corner of the storyboard...

One of the essential components of a Qlik Sense dashboard is the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The KPIs indicate the health of the company based on specific measures. The information displayed in the KPI should stand out distinctly and demand attention. For example, one of the key KPIs that a CEO of the company may like to have on his dashboard is Actuals vs Budget. A CEO is mostly interested in knowing whether the company is below or above the budgeted figures. So, it makes sense to highlight the required information inside the visualization object. The following recipe explains and shows you how to do this in a bar chart.

A "Dial Gauge" is quite...

The best practices say that a designer should avoid using bar charts with multi-colored bars or avoid having too many colors in any of your chart objects. But, at times, we need to cater to the demands of the organization and take an uncalled for approach to designing. The following recipe explains how to associate a distinct field value with different colors in the Qlik Sense script.

This recipe serves as a good example to demonstrate the use of the pick function in the script. Perform the following steps to get started:

1. Create a new Qlik Sense application and name it Persistent Colors.
2. Open the Data load editor.
3. Load the following script that contains...

Heat maps are a common requirement in most of the BI implementations. A colormix1 function helps to create a gradient between two colors. Look at the following recipe to understand the use of this function.

We will make use of a simple inline load for this recipe. Perform the following steps to get started:

1. Create a new Qlik Sense application. Name it HeatMaps_Colormix1.
2. Open the Data load editor.
3. Load the following script that gives you information about actuals and budget for products:

Products:
LOAD * INLINE [
Product, Actuals, Budget
Footwear, 100000, 120000
Tyres, 180000, 150000
Mountain Bikes, 250000, 195000
Road Bikes, 200000, 225000
Chains, 80000, 90000
Helmets, 240000,160001
Gloves...

Composition can be defined as looking at a particular measure compared to the whole.

For example, in a "Sales by Region" chart, the sales for each singular region would be a discrete value, while the total sales across all countries would be the "Whole".

Total sales can be divided into "Relative shares" for each region. Having information on "Relative Sales Percentages," as compared to total sales, has a greater impact rather than viewing just the plain sales figures. Eureka moments are much more likely when people use a tool to answer their own questions, which is a core belief behind the design of Qlik Sense.

As with everything else, data composition can be visualized in multiple ways. Understanding what you are trying to achieve will eventually dictate the best choice of visualization.

For example, depending on what matters...