Connecting to data sources

Qlik Sense lets you to connect to your data, wherever it is stored, with a wide range of Qlik Connectors and other data connection types. When you create a data connection it is saved to Qlik Sense, so you can quickly select and load data from the data sources that you commonly use. Connect to databases, social media data, local files, remote files, and web files.

Create a connection

To select data from a data source, you can either create a new data connection or use a saved data connection. You can create data connections and access your saved connections from:

Add data in the data manager.

Add new data to your app quickly and get assistance creating associations.

For more information, see Adding data to the app.
Data connections in the data load editor.

Select data from a new or existing data connection, or use the script editor to load data from a data connection. You can also edit existing data connections.

For more information, see Connect to data sources in the data load editor.

You can only see data connections that you own, or have been given access to, for reading or updating. Please contact your Qlik Sense system administrator to acquire access if required.

Data connection types

Qlik Sense allows you to access your data wherever it resides. The following data connection types are available with Qlik Sense. You can download connectors from the qlik.com download site to use with Qlik Sense.

Many of the connectors that access these data sources are built into Qlik Sense, while others can be added. Each type of data connection has specific settings that you need to configure.

Attached files

Attach data files directly to your app by using drag and drop.

For more information, see Attaching data files and adding the data to the app.

Qlik DataMarket

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Select current and historical weather and demographic data, currency exchange rates, as well as business, economic, and societal data.

To learn more about adding data from Qlik DataMarket, see Adding data from Qlik DataMarket.

Database connectors

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Connect to an ODBC data source with preconfigured ODBC database connectors.

Amazon Redshift
Apache Drill (Beta)
Apache Hive
Apache Phoenix (Beta)
Apache Spark (Beta)
Azure SQL
Cloudera Impala
Google BigQuery
IBM DB2
Microsoft SQL Server
MongoDB (Beta)
MySQL Enterprise
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Presto
Sybase ASE
Teradata

For more information, see Database.

Essbase

Connect to an Essbase dataset.

To learn more about Essbase, see Essbase connector.

Local or network files

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Connect to a local or network file to select and load data.

To learn more about local and network files, see Loading files from local and network file folders.

ODBC connections through DSN

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Connect to a Database Management System (DBMS) with ODBC. Install an ODBC driver for the DBMS in question, and create a data source DSN.

For more information, see ODBC.

REST

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Connect to a REST data source. The REST connector is not tailored for a specific REST data source and can be use to connect to any data source exposed through the REST API.

To learn more about Qlik REST Connector, see REST.

Salesforce

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Connect to your Salesforce.com account.

For more information, see Salesforce connector.

SAP

Qlik Sense Enterprise only.

Load data from SAP NetWeaver.

For more information, see Qlik Connector for use with SAP NetWeaver.

Web files

Qlik Sense Enterprise only

Connect to a web-based data source on a web URL.

For more information, see Loading files from local and network file folders.

Web Storage Provider Connectors

Qlik Sense Enterprise only

Connect to your file-based data from web storage providers.

Dropbox

To learn about more about web storage, see Qlik Web Storage Provider Connectors.

Third-party connectors

With third-party connectors, you can connect to data sources that are not directly supported by Qlik Sense. Third-party connectors are developed using the QVX SDK or supplied by third-party developers. In a standard Qlik Sense installation you will not have any third-party connectors available.

Where is the data connection stored?

Connections are stored in the repository database by the Qlik Sense Repository Service. In a Qlik Sense server deployment, you manage data connections with the Qlik Management Console. The Qlik Management Console allows you to delete data connections, set access rights, and perform other system administration tasks.

In Qlik Sense Desktop, all connections are saved in the app without encryption.

Because Qlik Sense Desktop connections store any details about user name, password, and the file path that you entered when creating the connection, these stored details are available in plain text if you share the app with another user. You need to consider this when you design an app for sharing.

Limitations

It is not possible to name a data connection 'DM'. This name is reserved by the built-in Qlik DataMarket connector.

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