Dynamic grid and fixed canvas

QV2QS supports two layout modes that control how QlikView object positions translate into Qlik Sense sheet layouts. The mode applies once per conversion to every sheet in the app.

Dynamic grid

Dynamic grid is the default layout mode. QV2QS maps each QlikView object into the Qlik Sense responsive grid, which organizes a sheet into 84 columns by 42 rows. Overlapping objects are grouped into layout containers automatically. A layout container is a Qlik Sense object that holds one or more child visualizations within a defined region of the sheet. The resulting sheets reflow when the browser window is resized, matching standard Qlik Sense behavior.

When the QlikView sheet is taller than the base canvas, QV2QS extends the sheet height automatically so that objects are not compressed. Disable this behavior with --noAutoExtendDynamicSheet.

Dynamic grid produces output that behaves like a native Qlik Sense app and typically requires the least manual adjustment.

Fixed canvas

Fixed canvas mode preserves the exact pixel positions and sizes from QlikView. Each sheet becomes a single layout container sized to the pixel dimensions of the original QlikView sheet. Objects are placed at percentage-based coordinates within that container, maintaining precise spatial relationships.

To enable fixed canvas mode, use --fixedSheetCanvas on the command line or enable Fixed sheet canvas in the user interface.

Fixed canvas mode preserves the original layout at the cost of responsive behavior. The output does not reflow when the browser window is resized.

Choosing a layout mode

In simple terms: choose Dynamic grid to let dashboards resize with the browser window (standard Qlik Sense behavior), or choose Fixed canvas to keep the exact pixel layout from QlikView.

Many QlikView applications use background images as sheet wallpapers. These images often contain reserved blank areas where objects are positioned. A typical example is a branded dashboard template with a header bar, a sidebar, and designated regions for charts and tables. In these cases, fixed canvas mode is the recommended choice. Fixed canvas preserves the pixel-level alignment between objects and the background image, maintaining the intended visual design.

Dynamic grid mode repositions objects based on screen size and orientation. Background images remain anchored to the top-left corner, but objects shift to fill the responsive grid. The repositioning breaks the spatial relationship between objects and the reserved areas in the background image. A chart that was precisely aligned with a labeled region in the wallpaper may appear offset or overlapping after the grid repositions the objects.

For applications without background images or with simple grid-based layouts, dynamic grid mode produces output that behaves like a native Qlik Sense app. Objects reflow naturally with the browser window, and no manual sizing adjustments are needed.

• Fixed canvas — Applications with background images, pixel-aligned dashboards, or layouts where spatial relationships between objects are critical.
• Dynamic grid — Applications with standard grid-based layouts, no background images, or where responsive behavior on different screen sizes is preferred.

Learn more

• Scaling and sizing
• Sizing scenarios
• Mockup Studio