QlikView variables are useful as they provide ease of future script maintenance. A variable holds either a single numeric or string value.

Back to basics

You can define a QlikView variable by using SET or LET keywords in your script.

SET assigns a string on the right-hand side of the equal to the variable

LET evaluates string on the right-hand side of the equal sign and assigns resulting value to the variable

For example, if you want to limit fact table with rolling 3 years of data, you can use a calculation and store that as a variable.

LET vYears  =AddYears(today(), -3);

Now, you can use the variable in the where clause…

Fact:

Load

OrderDate,

….

from …

where OrderDate >= ‘$(vYears)’

;

If you are using same expression in multiple charts within your document then you may want to store that expression in a variable and instead use the expression using dollar-sign expansion in those charts that share same expression.

Variables with Dollar-sign Expansion

You can use dollar-sign expansion allows you to replace text in an expression with a variable. You can use dollar-sign expansion within Set Analysis syntax.

For example, you can define a variable in the variable overview to get max year.

vMaxYear = max(Year)

Now, this variable can be used with dollar-sign expansion within Set modifier.

sum({<Year = {$(vMaxYear)}>} Sales)

Conditional show

You can use a variable to show or hide a sheet or an object.

You can also enable/disable expression or show/hide column using a variable.