QlikView for UltraEdit now on Branch and GitHub

I have now moved the QlikView language definition for UltraEdit to GitHub and have added a project for it on branch.qlik.com also. Unlike the language definition for Notepad++, I haven't made any changes to the UltraEdit version but am working on a couple of minor bugs so a new version should be available soon.

If anyone is a regular user of the UltraEdit version and would like to help test future versions then please get in touch using the Contact Me link at the top of the page.

Before the move I totted up the number of times both versions have been downloaded and am amazed at the result. A wopping 5,423 times! I'm glad there are lots of "Qlikers" out there making good use of it.

QlikView Notepad++ Language Definition v2.3

I've just released a new version of the QlikView Notepad++ Language Definition. Version 2.3 contains the following minor fixes/functionality:

• Solved an issue with correct highlighting of nested function calls. Added comma "," as an operator to correct issue with function names not being highlighted correctly when it immediately follows a comma inside another function call. 
• Added missing function tool tips. All functions should now provide both auto completion and tool tips.
• Removed the ability to fold IF statements because of an issue where Notepad++ tries to collapse if() functions which causes the collapsing to fail.  

Additionally, I have moved the project to GitHub and have added it to http://branch.qlik.com/ too. As always, head over to the Notepad++ Language Definition page (or Branch) for the download link and instructions.

Getting Started with Qlik Sense

Yer yer I know, its about time I put together my first post about Qlik Sense. Better late than never hey. As a starting point, I thought I'd post the below video "Qlik Sense Desktop - quick build tutorial" from Qlik. It is the best "get started guide" I've found so far. It walks you step-by-step through getting Qlik Sense installed to creating your first visualisations and answering business questions. And you don't need to be a coding whiz either, not a single line of script was hurt during the making of this video.

QViewer v2 Released

Some time ago now I reviewed QViewer, a great little tool that allows you to view the contents of a QVD without having to load it into a QlikView app. This can be a really useful thing to do when working with complex ETL solutions in QlikView. Since then it has become a firm favourite in my QlikView development toolbox.

Dmitry originally created QViewer as a tool for himself, only later releasing it to other QlikView developers. Because of it's humble origins, it was never the most polished of software tools, but the fact that it has been downloaded more than 10,000 times speaks for itself.

This week Dmitry has released a v2 of QViewer. As well as a new, cleaner user interface, the engine has been rewritten to give huge performance improvements. And best of all, if you already have a license for QViewer then you can download v2 for free here http://easyqlik.com/download.html.

Grab yourself some cheap QlikView ebooks

The guys over at Packt Publishing are marking their 10th birthday with a sale. You can grab any ebook or educational video on their site including their full array of 6 QlikView books for just $10 USD (about £5.90 GBP) each. Click the banner below to find out more.

QlikView Funtions: today() and now()

In this post I want to take a look at two very closely related functions, today() and now(). Many of the more advanced calculations that we want to perform with dates and times require us to know what date it is, and what time it is.

First things first, let us take a look at what the help says about these two functions:

today([timer_mode] )

Returns the current date from the system clock. The timer_mode may have the following values:
0 Date at script run
1 Date at function call
2 Date when the document was opened
Default timer_mode is 2. The timer_mode = 1 should be used with caution, since it polls the operating system every second and hence could slow down the system.

now([timer_mode] )

Returns a timestamp of the current time from the system clock. The timer_mode may have the following values:
0 Time at previously finished reload (not currently ongoing reload)
1 Time at function call
2 Time when the document was opened
Default timer_mode is 1. The timer_mode = 1 should be used with caution, since it polls the operating system every second and hence could slow down the system.

Review of QlikView for Developers Cookbook

Packt Publishing have been slowly but surely securing themselves as the one stop publishing house for QlikView books. With no less than 6 titles now available and more in the pipeline, there can be no doubt they've been busy, but are they worth spending your hard earned cash on?

Some time ago I reviewed their first QlikView book QlikView 11 for Developers which was written by Miguel Garcia and Barry Harmsen and released back in November 2012. The subject of this review is the next book released, QlikView for Developers Cookbook written by Stephen Redmond. I confess I've had this book since it's release, but with a baby QlikView addict at home and endless work commitments, time really hasn't been on my side lately. And as with my previous book reviews, I like to ensure I've not just skimmed through the book but given it a thorough read. There isn't much point in me spouting opinion, and I certainly wouldn't recommend a book unless I honestly knew it's contents in detail. So here goes...