Alternate Dimensions and Measures

[Jennell_McIntire]

In Qlik Sense, alternate dimensions and measures are available providing users the option to change the dimensions and/or measures being used in a chart.  Alternate dimensions and measures are defined in advance and provide users with different views of the data all in one chart.  Alternate dimensions and measures can be added to a visualization in the Properties panel.  In the image below, there is a bar chart with Product Sub Group as the dimension and Sales $ as the measure.  There are also two Alternative dimensions: Product Group and Product.  Alternate dimensions and measures can be added by clicking the Add alternative button and selecting or entering the new dimension or measure.

By default, the bar chart above shows the Sales $ by the main dimension for the chart, Product Sub Group.  Since there are alternative dimensions set up, the user can also view the Sales $ by Product Group or Product by simply clicking the arrow next to the dimension name on the y-axis and selecting either Product Group or Product.

In Qlik Sense 3.0, the ability to change the dimension from the axis was added.  Users can also change the dimension or measure by opening the Exploration Menu and changing the dimension or measure.

Adding alternate measures is just as easy.  In the image below, two alternate measures were added to the Margin Amount Over Time line chart: Sales $ and Budget $.

A few things to be aware of when using alternate dimensions and measures:

• In bar, line and combo charts, the title needs to be visible on the axis of the alternate dimension/measure so the user can see the arrow to click on to change the dimension/measure.  If you prefer not to show the title, then the user can still change the dimension/measure by going into the Exploration Menu.
• Alternate dimensions and measures can be added to all chart types but they can only be changed in the visualization (via the axis) in bar, line and combo charts.  In other chart, they can be changed in the Exploration Menu.

If you are familiar with QlikView, you may find alternate dimensions and measures to be similar to the cyclic group that is available in QlikView.  They are both great features because it allows the user to have one visualization with numerous views.  This is ideal in keeping your sheets uncluttered.  Instead of having the same visualization repeated using different dimensions or measures, you can now have one chart with alternate dimensions and/or measures.

Thanks,

Jennell

[agigliotti]

Definitely yes it's great and useful feature.

[paulyeo11]

‌HI Jennell

thank very for your sharing , this feature is very good , because in some case I need one chart able display different Diamension and measure.

I notice that alternative Diamension does not support in iCloud , may I know in future any plan to make it also work in cloud ?

PAul

[kfsjostrand]

Great post! I've created a Qlik Sense extension that brings customizable straight tables to Qlik Sense. Inspired by one of my favorite blog posts, Customizable Straight Table of yours.

Here is a link to the extension on Qlik Branch.

Feedback or maybe even a blog post about it would be much appreciate.

[sarahplymale]

Great post (and nice feature)!  Do you know if there a way to have the title change dynamically based on the alternate dimension/measure chosen?

[Jennell_McIntire]

Hi Sarah,

No, not at this time but I will update my blog if I hear of a solution.

Jennell

[Anonymous]

Jennell,

Thanks for this - very useful feature.

However, is there a way of referencing the dimension in use?  I have two use cases - potentially the sort order might be different for different measures, or alternatively I am trying to make a % staked bar chart, and therefore the dimension I am totalling will need to change in the calulcations - so for example TOTAL<Region> might need to become TOTAL<Product> if I change the dimension from Region to Product.

Otherwise it will limit the use of this feature a little.

Many thanks

Chris

[sarahplymale]

Chris,

I don't think there is a way to reference the dimension being used at this time.  However, you can modify the sort order depending on the dimension.  For each alternate dimension you have to first make it the primary dimension, change the sort order for it, and then drag it back down to be an alternate.  The new sort order will 'stick' when you do this.

I don't think there is a way to change the calculation based on the dimension selected.

Best,

Sarah

[colinodonnel]

Hello Jennell,

Thank you for this post.

I was not aware that Qlik Sense had a "drop down" menu but not I am. Brilliant.

My graphs were being shown as Label only, but when this is changed under Appearance / X Axis to Labels and Title, hey presto, the drop down menu appears saving the need to open the Exploration Menu.

An instant new view.

Best Regards,

Colin

[sunny_talwar]

Is there a GetCurrentField() equivalent to determine the alternate dimension?

[b_garside]

Hi Karl,

This link to your extension no longer seems to work?

http://branch.qlik.com/?&_ga=2.17251769.1682143129.1522074393-685718757.1520868217#!/project/57cd3f8...