Associative Search in QlikView v10

One of the great new features in QlikView 10 is the idea of extending the concept of the associate data model.  The embedded search tool now supports the idea of Associative Search.

Click Search Icon In Caption

When you click on the search icon with in the caption of the list box a new 'chevron appears'.  A chevron pointing to the right searches on the field value in your list box.  

Right Pointing Chevron

If you click on this chevron it will change directions and expand the search box (see image to the below/center).


In v10 when you enter a search term in this box you are no longer just searching the field value within the list box but rather searching other field values that may be associated with the values within the list box. 

For example,  If I am on the Customer Name list box I can use other criteria associated with the customer to try and narrow the list of customer names.  Examples could include: a product they may have purchased, a telephone number, a street name, a sales person, etc...


As you enter a search and select a value QlikView will build a list, allowing you to search on many different terms before limiting your data set.  For example:

In the above associative search I entered a product (and selected with a mouse click), then I searched for a month/year, and finally a state.  As I added selections the number of names in the customer list (on the left) grew smaller and smaller.  Finally after all three search terms I was left with 2 potential names.  I then hit 'enter' on the keyboard and I am left with these 2 customers selected:

Notice that while my 2 customer are selected, the search terms used in my associative search are not used to limit my data set.  You can tell this by the fact that I see more products than just the original 'Vest' item I used in my associative search.  


Take Away:
The take away from this feature is that you can use the power of the associative data model by searching for values associated with any entity in your data model without actually using them as 'filters' as we have come to know in QlikView.


-emb