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Attaching data files and adding the data to the app

If you want to use data files from your computer, you can upload the data files and attach them to an app.

An attached file is only available in the app that it is attached to. There is no connection to your original data file, so if you update the original file you need to refresh the attached file.

Warning noteAttached files are included when the app is published. If the published app is copied, the attached files are included in the copy. However, if section access restrictions have been applied to the attached data files, the section access settings are not retained when the files are copied, so users of the copied app will be able to see all the data in the attached files.

To avoid exposing restricted data, remove all attached files with section access settings before publishing the app.

See: Managing security with section access

Limitations

  • The maximum size of a file attached to the app is 50 MB.
  • The maximum total size of files attached to the app, including image files uploaded to the media library, is 200 MB.
  • It is not possible to attach files in Qlik Sense Desktop.

Attaching several data files quickly

The quickest and in most cases the easiest way to attach and add a set of data files to your app is to just drop the files in the app.

Do the following:

  • Drop one or more data files in your app.

    The files are uploaded and attached to the app, and added to the data model.

When you attach files this way Qlik Sense will try to select the optimal settings for loading the data, for example, recognizing embedded field names, field delimiters or character set. If a table is added with settings that are not optimal you can correct the settings by opening the table in the table editor, and clicking Select data from source.

Information noteIt is not possible to drop files in the data load editor or in the data model viewer.

See: Editing a table

Attaching a single data file

You can attach data files one by one. This way you gain more control over file import settings, for example, embedded field names, field delimiters or character set used.

Warning note

Do not add a table in Data manager that has already been added as a scripted table with the same name and same columns in Data load editor.

Do the following:

  1. Open an app.
  2. Open the Data manager and then click ú. You can also click Add data in the ¨ menu.
  3. Drop a data file, or click and select a file from your computer to load.

    If you try to attach a file with the same name as an already attached file, you get the option to replace the attached file with the new file.

    Information noteEach attached file needs to have an unique file name.
  4. Select the tables and fields to load.

    See: Selecting data fields

  5. Click Add data to open the data in the Associations view of the data manager. This allows you to continue to add data sources, transform the data, and associate the tables in Data manager.

    Data profiling is enabled by default when you click Add data. Data profiling does the following:

    • Recommends data associations.
    • Auto-qualifies common fields between tables. This adds a unique prefix based on table name.
    • Maps date and time fields to autoCalendar.

    Tables are not associated on common field names automatically. You can associate tables in the Associations view.

    Tip noteIf you want to load the data directly into your app, click ¥ and then disable data profiling. This will also reload all existing data from data sources when you add the data. Tables will be associated on common field names automatically. Date and time fields will not be created.

    See: Managing data associations

  6. Click Load data when you are done preparing the data. If serious problems are detected, you need to resolve the problems in Data manager before you can load data into the app.

    See: Troubleshooting - Loading data

Deleting an attached file

When you delete a table based on an attached file in the data manager, the table is deleted from the data model, but the attached data file remains in the app. You can delete the data file from the app permanently.

Do the following:

  1. Open an app.
  2. Open the Data manager and then click ú.

  3. Click à Attached files.
  4. Delete the appropriate file.

The data file is now permanently deleted from the app.

Warning noteIf you delete an attached file that is used in the app, you will not be able to reload the app until you have removed references to the file in Data manager, or in the load script. You edit load scripts in Data load editor.

Reload data from an attached file

A file that you upload for an app is attached to the app. It is only available to that app.

There is no connection to your original data file. If you update the original file, you need to refresh the file that is attached to the app. You can then load the updated data into the app.

Warning note

Do not add a table in Data manager that has already been added as a scripted table with the same name and same columns in Data load editor.

Do the following:

  1. Open an app.
  2. Open the Data manager and then click ú.

  3. Click à Attached files.
  4. Replace the existing file. The updated file needs to have the same name as the original file. The content of the data file is refreshed.
  5. Click Add data. Ensure that data profiling is enabled by clicking ¥.
  6. In the Associations view or the Tables view, click the table.
  7. Click ô to update the data.
  8. Click Load data to reload the data into the app.
Warning noteIf you have made changes to the field structure of the data file, that is, removed or renamed fields, this can affect the data model in your app, especially if this involves fields that are used to associate tables.

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