Alternative State Use Cases

[MattSmart]

The purpose of this blog is to provide users with a few potential use cases for the ‘Alternative States’ feature within Qlik sense. For a full introduction and explanation of the feature please see Ouadie Limouni’s blog on the subject here.

[MattSmart]

Alternate states in Qlik Sense allow users to make different selections on the same dimension throughout their app. This feature can be helpful when comparing data or displaying only the selected information needed.  

Recently, while working on my college football app, I found a need for using alternative states. In one sheet of the app, two teams are being pitted against each other, showing information based around the team’s stats. With alternative states, I was able to assign each a state of ‘Team 1’ and ‘Team 2’ so that users could select which teams will be displayed and compared.

In this example, we have created a few KPI’s to display the various data points that were found relevant to a team’s success. In the image above, we have chosen alternative states for Team 1 and Team 2 for each of the filter panes on either side of the sheet. Likewise, we have assigned those states to the KPIs as well. This allows the user to choose a team from each filter pane and receive the data relevant to only those teams.

Additionally, these states can be used in conjunction with expressions to calculate needed information. For example, our chances of winning are calculated by dividing Team1’s Overall Points by the sum of both teams. The Overall Team Points are automatically factored into the expression when selected in the filter panes.

In a different use case, we could take on the mindset of a high-level manager of a sales team. In this instance we have two salespersons being compared in various metrics. This could be used to see who is deficient in some areas, and who is leading in others. Maybe these two salespeople could help each other, assisting where one is thriving, where the other may need some help.

With a change in the filter pane field, we can do the same for a city, comparing two cities’ metrics against one another. In the mind of our sales team manager, the ability to compare cities could show how different geological factors affect sales trends. Maybe more camping equipment is sold in one area than another, so those products could be allocated there instead to further sales.

There are only a few use cases for alternative states, and there are many more that you can use within your own apps. How do you plan to use alternative states?