Circular Reference occurs when we can traverse from one table to another using two or more different paths. This means you can join Table1 with Table2 directly using a column or you can also first join Table1 with Table3 and then table3 with Table2. This can lead to incorrect result in the output formed by a data model, which loads all these three tables. QlikView prevents the load of such data into its memory once it recognizes a circular reference.

Input Data

Let us consider the following three CSV data files, which are used as input for further illustrations.

SalesCountries:
ProductID,ProductCategory,Country,SaleAmount
1,Outdoor Recreation,Italy,4579
2,Clothing,USA,4125
3,Costumes & Accessories,South Korea,6521
4,Athletics,Japan,4125
5,Personal Care,Brazil,5124
6,Arts & Entertainment,China,1245
7,Hardware,South America,456
8,Home & Garden,Peru,241
9,Food,India,1247
10,Home & Garden,Singapore,5462
11,Office Supplies,Hungary,577

ProductCountry:
ProductID, Country
3,Brazil
3,China
2,Korea
1,USA
2,Singapore
7,Sri Lanka
1,Italy

Load Script

We load the above input data using the script editor, which is invoked by pressing Control+E. Choose the option Table Files and browse for the Input file.

Data Load

After creating the above script, we load the data to QlikView’s memory using the command Control+R. This is when we get the error prompt mentioning the presence of circular loop in the tables getting loaded.

Data Model

To find the exact cause of the above warning we can look at the data model by using the menu command for table viewer – Control+T. The following screen comes up, which clearly shows the circular reference. Here the join between RegionCountry and SalesRegion can be directly achieved using the field Region. It can also be achieved by first going to the table ProductCountry, using the field Country and then mapping ProdcutID with Salesregion.

Resolving Circular Reference

The above circular reference can be resolved by renaming some of the columns in the data sets so that QlikView does not form an association between the tables automatically using the column names. For this, we will rename country column in RegionCountry to SalesCountry. In the data set ProdcuCountry, we rename the Country column to ProductCountry.

Rectified Data Model

The Rectified data model after renaming the column above can be seen using the command Control+T. Now we can see that the relationship between the tables does not form a loop.

Pressing Control+R to reload the data does not give us the warning anymore and we can use this data to create reports.
So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘Circular Reference in QlikView’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in QlikView BI. If you wish to learn QlikView and build a career in Business Intelligence domain, then check out our interactive, QlikView Certification Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

Qlik View Certification Training

QlikView Certification Training

About the Course

Tecklearn’s QlikView Certification Training will help you become an expert in Data Visualization with QlikView. Learn all the basics and advanced features of QlikView such as data modelling, reports and dashboards, visualization, object formatting, system table etc. Along with this, you will be given hands-on working experience on real-time projects that will help you pass the QlikView certification exam. You also get hands-on experience in QlikView applications.

Why Should you take QlikView Training?

• The average annual pay for a QlikView Professional is $122,000. -PayScale.com.
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What you will Learn in this Course?

Introduction to QlikView

• Concept of Business Intelligence
• Features and components of QlikView
• Comparison with other BI tools
• Architecture
• Installation & Navigation
• QVS, QVW and .log files
• Sheet Objects
• Dimensions and Expressions
• Various file types and extensions

Various QlikView Products

• Overview of the various QlikView products

Introduction to Data and Scripting

• Structuring the Script
• Create tabs in the scripts, Debugging of scripts
• Hands On

Data Model

• QlikView Data File Types: QVD, QVX
• System fields
• Star schema
• Synthetic Key Tables
• Data Modelling Considerations
• Straight and Pivot Table
• Hands On

Components of Qlik View

• Sheets and Sheet Objects
• The List Box
• The Table Box
• The Multi Box
• The Button & Text Object
• Basic Charts
• Hands On

Set Analysis

• Set analysis
• Working with modifiers, identifiers, operators, example of expressions,
• Indirect set analysis
• YTD & MTD

QlikView Functions, Reports and Charts

• Uses of Expressions
• Chart Properties: Dimensions
• Qlikview Functions
• Adhoc Reports
• Incremental Load using QVD Files
• Bookmarks
• Hands On

Data Analysis

• What-if Analysis
• Comparative Analysis
• Dynamic Reporting or Ad-hoc Reporting
• Document Analyzer

QlikView Security

• QlikView security
• Defining the access controls and levels of access
• Maintaining the access control database

QlikView Administration

• QMC (QlikView Management Console)
• Server Installation & Deployment
• QlikView Project

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