Sankey Chart

Overview

The Sankey Diagram extension for Qlik Sense brings powerful flow visualization directly into your dashboards. It shows how values move from one set of categories to another through a series of stages — nodes represent categories and curved links represent the flow between them. The wider the link, the larger the value being transferred. This extension transforms complex multi-stage data into an intuitive, interactive visual story.

Key Features

• Multi-Level Flow Visualization – Support for up to 10 dimensions, each representing a column of nodes. Build deep, multi-stage flow diagrams that reveal how values propagate through an entire process — from source to final destination.
• Dual Data Modes – Use hierarchical mode where each dimension defines a flow level, or link table mode with source/target pairs for custom topologies, including circular flows.
• Gradient Links – Links can blend smoothly from source node color to target node color using SVG gradients, making it easy to trace where flow originates and where it ends up.
• Flexible Node & Link Coloring – Color nodes by dimension level, uniquely per node, or with a single color. Color links by source, target, gradient, or a single color. Full support for master dimension colors.
• Rich Labels & Headers – Display node names, values, and percentages directly on the chart. Level headers above each column show which dimension is represented.
• Detailed Tooltips – Hover over nodes to see total flow, level share, and income/outcome breakdown. Hover over links to see source → target flow with percentage context.
• Interactive Selections – Click a node to filter by that dimension value. Click a link to select both source and target values simultaneously — a unique capability that filters the entire Qlik model to a specific flow path in a single click.
• Configurable Layout – Adjust node width, spacing, and link curvature to fine-tune the diagram’s visual density and readability.
• Seamless Qlik Integration – Fully compatible with Qlik’s associative engine, responding instantly to selections and filters. Supports snapshots, stories, exports, and calculation conditions.

Use Cases

• Budget Allocation – Visualize how a total budget flows from business units through departments to expense categories, instantly revealing the largest cost drivers.
• Supply Chain Analysis – Track product flow from factories through distribution centers to retail locations, identifying bottlenecks and dominant pathways.
• Customer Journey Mapping – Map user paths from acquisition channels through product features to outcomes like conversion or churn.
• Energy & Resource Flow – Show energy conversion from source (coal, solar, wind) through generation stages to end use (residential, industrial, transport).
• Website Traffic Analysis – Trace visitor paths from landing pages through site sections to exit points, identifying the most common navigation patterns.
• Financial Reporting – Break down revenue streams, cost structures, and profit flows across organizational hierarchies.

Why Sankey Diagram?

• Instant Flow Comprehension – The proportional width of links communicates magnitude at a glance — no need to compare numbers in a table.
• Up to 10 Dimensions – Double the 5-dimension limit of the native Qlik Sankey. Build deep, multi-stage visualizations that other tools cannot.
• Dual Data Flexibility – Hierarchical and link table modes accommodate any data shape, from structured hierarchies to flat edge lists.
• Rich Visual Customization – Gradient links, configurable node layout, multiple coloring modes, and detailed labels create publication-quality diagrams.
• Native Qlik Experience – Designed specifically for Qlik Sense with full selection integration, master item support, and standard property panel controls.