topic Re: Automate QV with Javascript in QlikView

Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:02:13 GMT

I have a C# desktop application the opens a browser and displays my QV app.

I now need that C# app to interact with the QV app, and change filters on the data.

Was hoping that I could call/inject some javascript functions to change the value of a textbox at a minimum.... but alas, now that I've seen what the rendered markup and code looks like - that appears to be a nasty job to say the least.

From what I have seen, there is plenty of support for implementing JS in macros and extensions, but nothing I can get my hands on once the page is rendered client-side.

Any pointers on how feasible this is (without reverse engineering a whole heap of nasty code).

Many Thanks

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

Clever_Anjos — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:40:55 GMT

Would you mind telling us your real purpose?

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

petter — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:09:54 GMT

QlikView can easily be automated directly from a C# Desktop application without going through the browser if you want. If you install the QlikView Desktop on the same computer you will also have QlikView registered as a COM-object. This can be used to automate locally stored QlikView applications or QlikView applications accessible at a QlikView Server.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:12:26 GMT

This looks very interesting Patter.

Not seen anything about that before.

I'm running off to have a play !!

Thank you .. will come back and let you know how I get on ...

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:14:32 GMT

The real purpose is to allow an external app (c# Winforms) control the data that is displayed in the QV.

In context:

The QV app contains data pertaining to many warehouses.

The QV will be displayed on unattended monitors across the world.
The exact filtered data that needs to be displayed for each individual location at any time of day, is decided centrally by another central system.

Our windows app, knows which areas of data is a priority for each location at a any time.

Hence, I was looking for ways for the windows app to tell QV which filters to apply for any particular machine at any particular time.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

petter — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:26:20 GMT

The documentation of the QlikView object model is in a QlikView application called APIguide.qvw. It will be installed in the directory C:\ProgramData\QlikTech\QlikView Documentation\Automation\

You might have to install the "Documentation and Tutorial" that you find as a link on the free download page of QlikView Desktop on qlik.com.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:45:53 GMT

Petter,

Sorry, but now confused: ..... "accessible at a QlikView Server".

Trying to decipher that.

Does that mean that it's designed to manipulate the application on server ?

Thus, affect everyone's view of the data universally ?

My aim is to individually tailor each client's view of the data.

I've got some of the documentation you mentioned .. but there's a lot lacking in a high level explanation of what the API does.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

petter — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 20:29:33 GMT

Well you can do that ... If you connect to a "base" QVW-application at the server you can create Server Objects for each user. I would advise against it though since it will be quite a task to manage, update and handle although it is feasible.

You will not be able to modify the base-application in any way. But you can have just the common objects to all users there.

But what do you want to tailor individually? The UI or the data or both?

The data can be tailored by using Section Access in the application. If you want to tailor some of the UI individually it could be done without resorting to COM Automation - using just standard QlikView development. You can't however move around Sheet Objects. But you can hide or show them depending on the users ID...

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

Clever_Anjos — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 20:38:59 GMT

If you have different users, a Section Access with Data Reduction will do what you want

Please check your manual for "Dynamic Data Reduction"

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 21:03:26 GMT

"individual location at any time of day"

the exact data to be displayed is dynamic

so, Monday, we might want to filter china users by product teddy bears, and French users by 'toy soldiers'.

then Tuesday china will be 'top ten toys' and france will be 'top products in Paris'

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:55:10 GMT

Appears that I need a developers licence to use this, which I will have to sort.

Still, from my other reading on the last many hours ... this does seem the way to go.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

petter — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:21:57 GMT

The QV.EXE (QlikView Personal Edition / QlikView Desktop) can use a license lease from a QlikView Server to allow you to do all development. If you don't have access to any server you would need a standalone license.

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:44:51 GMT

Hey Peter, thank you for sticking with me there

Read a lot about licenses, but it still confuses me.

In the end I am just continuing until it tells me that I cannot.

I am feeling cheeky using you as my personal tutor , but that doesn't mean I won't continue !

So far I have

created a C# winform app in Visual Studio.
Added references to "QlikOCXLib" & "QlikView" (12.0)
Copied "QlikOcx.ocx" into my VS project folder.
Dragged the "QlikOCX Control" onto my form.

Now, when I try a local file it works (yey !) :

axQlikOCX1.OpenDocument("C:\Users\xxxx\Documents\QlikTech\QlikView\QVW\Application\xxxx\xxxx.qvw","","")

However I cannot get any joy with the same item that is published to our server.

http://<server>/opendoc.htm?document=<file>.qvw&host=<host>

This is the URL I would normally use as a standard consumer of the QV.

The result is that my control merely displays : "<filepath> could not be opened"

I tried removing the host parameter, but no joy there either.

Any ideas ?

Your assistance is GREATLY appreciated !

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:53:17 GMT

btw ... to confirm.

I have the DT application, and when developing there, I use leased license, and I believe that uses CAL.
I remember that to initiate my lease, I had to 'open with server' in DT and connect to one of our servers, whereupon the lease was automatically made..

Not sure how the OCX knows about that license when working in VS though - I don't understand license that well.

(can you tell ?)

In VS, I saw on the Form control, that there is a dialog to enter license info, but I do not have any license numbers to give it.
There is also an option for 'license update', but that comes back with a bad checksum message.
I don't even know where to begin or if I actually need to do anything !?

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

petter — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:04:24 GMT

As long as you have QlikView desktop installed on the computer that you will be running your C# app on you don't need to use the OCX at all. The OCX is meant for OEM-customers of Qlik.

You only require this:

And then you get IntelliSense too:

Re: Automate QV with Javascript

simonb2013 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:30:19 GMT

Hi Peter & thanks.

I've been busy reading, playing and experimenting with what you've given me, and a few other options.

Wondered if you help me negotiate the following thoughts ?

My users currently access documents on our QV server via Access Point.
If I use the 'QV COM API' as described, then each user is required to have QV.exe installed. (true ?)
To open server documents with QV.exe; then additional licensing will be required.(true ?)

If the above is true, then I am in effect paying something in the region of $$$$ extra per user.

Considering that they are viewing the exact same documents a they always have, that's quite a steep price to pay for a little automation !

Of course, I am still stumbling thought all of this and could easily of gotten myself confuses !

As always, any clarification appreciated.

Thanks