There is one thing that is different about QlikView and one thing that is unique. The thing that is different is that QlikView runs entirely in memory. This is not unique but does give it a significant performance advantage over its most common competitors. And, of course, the recent introduction of 64-bit Windows support (QlikView is only available on Windows) means that the product is now highly scalable. However, this is interesting but it isn't wildly exciting. What is exciting is that QlikView does not use an OLAP technology. And it's not a spreadsheet either (in any case Excel has OLAP embedded into it to support pivot tables, so you get OLAP with Excel even if you don't see it). The way that QlikView works is that it reads through your data and automatically discovers all the relationships that exist in the database, by means of what QlikTech calls Associated Query Logic. In other words it recognises all the primary key, foreign key and other relationships that are already defined in the database. Consider what this means: it means that you do not have to define drill-down paths. It means that you do not have to define dimensions or hierarchies. And the consequence of not having to do all this stuff is that if you think of a new query that you want to run then you don't have to go back to the IT department to re-design your OLAP cube for you, since all your data relationships are already known. You simply write your new query (using SQL, either directly or via a wizard). QlikTech does not major on all this technology stuff, except of course for the fact that running in RAM makes it much faster. No, what it focuses on is how simple the product is to use. And it is: very, very easy to use. A quick practice with a demo version of the product and you're away. However, the truth is that anyone can build a product that is easy to use, given one proviso. And that proviso is that the infrastructure of the product supports ease of use. All too often it is just the GUI that is easy to use, but not the product as a whole. QlikView makes a refreshing change, since the infrastructure genuinely does support an easy to use product rather than just an easy to use interface. EMail: Send mail to Webmaster@QFxSolutions.com with questions or comments about this web site. QFx Solutions Ltd is a company registered in the UK.
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