# GetAlternativeCount - chart function GetAlternativeCount() is used to find the number of alternative (light gray) values in the identified field. Syntax: GetAlternativeCount (field\_name) Return data type: integer Information note The colors used in the selection bar, and for each selection state, can be modified with a custom theme. If you are working with an application that uses a custom theme, you might notice that your selections do not display with the same colors that are described in this help topic. Arguments | Argument | Description | | --- | --- | | field\_name | The field containing the range of data to be measured. | The following table lists other functions that are related to this function. Related functions | Function | Interaction | | --- | --- | | [GetStateCounts - chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getstatecounts.htm) | Using GetStateCounts(), you can combine the calculation of the following counts using a single function call:

| | [GetSelectedCount - chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getselectedcount.htm) | Returns the count of selected included values. | | [GetPossibleCount - chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getpossiblecount.htm) | Returns the count of possible values. | | [GetAlternativeCount - chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getalternativecount.htm#) | Returns the count of excluded values, not including alternative and selected excluded values. | Example: Chart expressions | Example | Result | | --- | --- | | `GetAlternativeCount ([First name])` | Returns `0` if no selection has been made on the `First Name` field. If selections have been made, then the value returned is the total number of distinct available values less the number of values selected. | ## Example - GetAlternativeCount fundamentals [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getalternativecount.htm) #### Chart expression Overview Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section. The load script contains: * A dataset which is loaded into a data table called `Example`. * The following fields in the data table: * `FirstName` * `LastName` * `Initials` * `HasCellphone` Load script ``` Example: LOAD * inline [ FirstName|LastName|Initials|HasCellphone John|Anderson|JA|Yes Sue|Brown|SB|Yes Mark|Carr|MC|No Peter|Devonshire|PD|No Jane|Elliot|JE|Yes Peter|Franc|PF|Yes ] (delimiter is '|'); ``` Results Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new filter pane and add this field as a dimension: * `FirstName` Add a KPI, and then create the following measure: * `=GetAlternativeCount (FirstName)`, to find the number of alternative values in the `FirstName` field. The KPI with the `GetAlternativeCount` function appears with a value of `0`. If you select `Jane` from the `FirstName` filter pane, the KPI returns the value `4` because there are four unique and excluded (gray) values. Now select `Mark`, so both `Jane` and `Mark` are selected. The KPI value for the `GetAlternativeCount` measure returns `3` because there are 3 unique and excluded values, `John`, `Peter`, and `Sue`. KPI results showing 3 unique and excluded values after selecting Jane and Mark from the FirstName filter pane KPI results showing 3 unique and excluded values after selecting Jane and Mark from the FirstName filter pane KPI results showing 3 unique and excluded values after selecting JaneJane and Mark Mark from the FirstNameFirstName filter pane ![The filter pane shows two selections so the GetAlternativeCount KPI returns 3, because there are 3 alternative values that are unique and excluded from the selection.](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Resources/Images/scripting-functions-GetAltCnt-example.png) You can see how the values returned by the `GetAlternativeCount` function change as additional selections are made. ## Example - GetAlternativeCount scenario [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getalternativecount.htm) #### Chart expression Overview Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section. The load script contains: * A dataset which is loaded into a data table called `CustomerTypeData`. * The following fields in the data table: * `CustomerID` * `CustomerType` Load script ``` CustomerTypeData: LOAD * INLINE [ CustomerID, CustomerType C001, Retail C002, Wholesale C003, Distributor C004, Retail C005, Wholesale ]; ``` Results Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new filter pane and add this field as a dimension: * `CustomerType` Add a KPI, and then create the following measure: * `=GetAlternativeCount (CustomerType)`, to find the number of alternative values in the `CustomerType` field. The KPI with the `GetAlternativeCount` function appears with a value of `0` because no values are selected in the `CustomerType` field. Select `Retail` from the `CustomerType` filter pane. The `GetAlternativeCount` returns the value `2` because there are two unique and excluded (light gray) values in the `CustomerType` field. . KPI results showing 2 unique and excluded values after selecting Retail from the CustomerType filter pane KPI results showing 2 unique and excluded values after selecting Retail from the CustomerType filter pane KPI results showing 2 unique and excluded values after selecting RetailRetail from the CustomerTypeCustomerType filter pane ![The filter pane shows one selection so the GetAlternativeCount KPI returns 2, because there are 2 alternative values that are unique and excluded from the selection.](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Resources/Images/scripting-functions-GetAltCnt-example2.png) The results show that although there are multiple values, the `GetAlternativeCount` function displays only the unique count of the items not selected. ## Example - GetAlternativeCount scenario with available values [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getalternativecount.htm) #### Chart expression Overview This example builds on the previous scenario. The dataset includes a second data table to demonstrate how selections in each field change the results returned by the `GetAlternativeCount` function. Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section. The load script contains: * A dataset which is loaded into the following 2 inline data tables and corresponding fields: * `CustomerTypeData`: Includes the fields `CustomerID` and `CustomerType`. * `CustomerSegment`: Includes the fields `CustomerType` and `Segment`. Load script ``` CustomerTypeData: LOAD * INLINE [ CustomerID, CustomerType C001, Retail C002, Wholesale C003, Distributor C004, Retail C005, Wholesale ]; CustomerSegment: Load * Inline [ CustomerType, Segment Retail, Fashion Retail, Home Wholesale, Fashion Wholesale, Drinks Distributor, Food ]; ``` Results 1. Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new filter pane and add these fields as dimensions: * `CustomerType` * `Segment` 2. Add a KPI, and then create the following measure: * `=GetAlternativeCount (CustomerType)`, to find the number of alternative values in the `CustomerType` field. The KPI with the `GetAlternativeCount` function appears with a value of `0` because no values are selected in the `CustomerType` or `Segment` fields. 3. Select `Drinks` and `Fashion` from the `Segment` filter. The KPI still returns `0` because no value is selected in the `CustomerType` field. KPI results show zero unique and excluded values after selections in the `Segment` filter KPI results show zero unique and excluded values after selections in the `Segment` filter KPI results show zero unique and excluded values after selections in the `Segment`Segment filter ![The GetAlternativeCount KPI returns 0 because no value is selected in the CustomerType filter.](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Resources/Images/scripting-functions-GetAltCnt-example3.png) 4. Select `Retail` in the `CustomerType` field and keep the selections in the `Segment` filter. The `GetAlternativeCount` function now returns `1` because there is only one unique and excluded (light gray) value in the `CustomerType` field, `Wholesale`. KPI results show there is 1 unique and excluded value after selections in the `CustomerType` and `Segment` filters KPI results show there is 1 unique and excluded value after selections in the `CustomerType` and `Segment` filters KPI results show there is 1 unique and excluded value after selections in the `CustomerType`CustomerType and `Segment`Segment filters ![The GetAlternativeCount KPI returns 1 because there is only one alternative value that is unique and excluded from the selections in the CustomerType and Segment filters.](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Resources/Images/scripting-functions-GetAltCnt-example4.png) Although two values, `Wholesale` and `Distributor`, are not selected in the `CustomerType` field (these appear light gray and dark gray), only one value, `Wholesale`, is available to select in `CustomerType` due to selections in the `Segment` filter.