How to Import an Excel Template

anychart — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:19:15 GMT

This guide walks you through importing an existing Excel template using the Spreadsheets extension in Qlik Sense (presented at Qlik Connect 2025).

Check it out as a video tutorial or keep reading:

Step 1: Import Data

Start by loading the data into your Qlik app. First, upload the Excel template to Attached Files.

In this tutorial, we use the file personal-budget.xlsx, which has two tables on two sheets. One contains budget categories and the other contains transaction records. We'll import both.

Here’s the sample loading script used in this example:

LOAD
Category,
Budget
FROM [lib://AttachedFiles/personal–budget.xlsx]
(ooxml, embedded labels, header is 3 lines, table is Budget)
Where Upper(Trim(Category)) ‹› 'TOTAL';

LOAD
"Date",
Description,
Category,
Amount
FROM [lib://AttachedFiles/personal–budget.xlsx]
(ooxml, embedded labels, header is 1 line, table is Transactions);

Step 2: Add the Spreadsheets Extension

Create a new sheet in your Qlik app and open it in Edit mode.

Drag the AnyChart Spreadsheets extension from Custom Objects > AnyChart onto the canvas.

You’ll now see the familiar Excel-like UI with an empty spreadsheet.

Step 3: Import the Template

Open the FILE tab, click Import Excel File and select the template file.

The template is added to your Qlik sheet and brings in its own (sub)sheets, just like in Excel: one for budget summaries and one for transactions.

Step 4: Create Data Sections

Next, we need to connect the Qlik data.

In the properties panel, we open the Data section and create two data sections, one for each sheet:

For the Budget sheet, we add the Category dimension and the measures: Sum(Budget), Sum(Amount), and a calculated measure Sum(Budget) - Sum(Amount).
For the Transactions sheet, add the dimensions Date, Description, Category, and the measure Sum(Amount).

Tip: Review and adjust the measure labels if necessary to keep the spreadsheet clean and easy to read.

Step 5: Clean Up Cells

Now, let's prepare the cells so formulas work correctly once data is injected.

In our case, first, we set the relevant cell types to General.

Second, we clear the cells where Qlik data will be populated.

Step 6: Use QLIK.DATA to Populate Sheets

Now it's time to connect the data sections to the spreadsheet.

In the Budget sheet, we enter the QLIK.DATA formula with index 0 in the first cell of the data table. We pass TRUE to both the Show Label and Show Total parameters. Then we set the number format of the corresponding cells to Currency.

In the Transactions sheet, we use index 1 in the QLIK.DATA formula and pass TRUE only to the Show Label parameter. Additionally, we format the Date column as Short Date and the Amount column as Currency.

Step 7: Add Final Formatting

Now that the template is imported and connected to live Qlik data, feel free to apply any finishing touches: editing text, formatting cells, and so on. When you are done, click Save to app to save the changes.

Step 8: Apply Selections

Powered by Qlik's associative model, the spreadsheet will update instantly as you apply filters and selections. Give it a try to see how charts, tables, and formulas all respond in real time.

Done

You’ve successfully integrated an Excel template into Qlik, connected it to live data, and made it interactive using Qlik formulas.

Check out the video version of the tutorial to see the entire process in action, step by step.

Helpful Links

Download the extension
Explore the demo app (view live or download QVF)
See the documentation
Schedule a personalized live demo

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How to Import an Excel Template