QlikView Reference Manual.pdf - QlikCommunity - QlikView

38 Input Box
The input box is a sheet object that is used for entering data into QlikView variables and displaying their
values.
Right-click on the input box to display the Input Box: Object Menu (page 519). It can also be accessed
from the Object menu, when the input box is the active object.
38.1 Using the Input Box
An input box consists of three columns in a multi box like layout. The first column shows a list of variables.
The second column equal signs '=' and the third column the values of the variables. It can contain one or
many variables, each one on a separate row.
Variables in QlikView are named entities containing a single data value, unlike fields which can (and normally
do) contain multiple values. Also, whereas fields get their values from load and select statements in
the script, variables get their values from let and set statements in the script, via Automation calls, or by the
help of input boxes in the layout. For more information on variables and fields, see chapter Fields (page
169).
Variables can contain numeric or alphanumeric data. If the first character of a variable value is an equal sign
'=' QlikView will try to evaluate the value as a formula (QlikView expression) and then display or return the
result rather than the actual formula text.
In an input box the current value of the variable is shown. By clicking on a value in the input box, the cell
will turn into edit mode, so that a new value can be entered or the old one modified. If the variable contains
a formula, that will now be shown rather than its result. The cell in edit mode will normally contain a ... button
which opens up a full editor window to facilitate creation of advanced formulas. The function of a variable
value cell in an input box could very well be compared to that of a cell in a spreadsheet.
Sometimes the input box variable value cell will contain a drop-down icon, giving fast access to recently
used values or predefined values. A variable may have input constraints attached to it, barring input of all
values which do not meet certain criteria. In certain cases a variable in an input box may be read-only, in
which case it is impossible to enter edit mode.
38.2 Input Box: Object Menu
By clicking once with the right mouse button while pointing on an input box, a float menu appears. This
menu can also be found under Object in the Main menu when an input box is active. The menu contains
the following commands:
Properties... Opens the Input Box Properties page where its parameters can be set.
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