Many teams still rely on Excel because it is familiar, flexible, and fast for ad-hoc analysis. But when spreadsheet work happens outside Qlik, it often means extra exports, duplicate files, and numbers that can drift away from what your dashboards show.

This tutorial shows how to create an Excel-style spreadsheet directly inside Qlik Sense using the Spreadsheets extension, so users can work in a familiar spreadsheet interface without leaving the app.

Prefer watching instead of reading? The video version is right here:

Add Blank Excel-Style Spreadsheet

Start by adding the extension object to a Qlik sheet. This gives you a spreadsheet canvas inside your app that you can configure and build on.

  1. Open your Qlik app.
  2. Go to the Assets panel.
  3. Open Custom Objects.
  4. Under AnyChart 4, find AnyChart Spreadsheets Table and drag it onto the sheet.

You now have an empty spreadsheet canvas.

Enable Autosave

Before adding data and formulas, tweaking layout and formatting, and making any other changes, enable autosave so your work is not lost while you are iterating.

  1. Select the spreadsheet object and open the properties panel.
  2. Go to Settings.
  3. Open Autosave.
  4. Select Browser IndexedDB storage.

Now your spreadsheet changes are recorded automatically after 3 seconds of inactivity, and stored locally in your browser.

Add Data

Next, connect your Qlik data to the spreadsheet so you get a data-populated sheet.

  1. In the properties panel, go to the Data section.
  2. Click the Add button.
  3. Select the new data section and click Edit Data.
  1. Add the columns you want.

As you see, there are two sheets within the spreadsheet:

  • "Sheet1" — a default empty sheet.
  • "DataSheet1" — populated with the data you selected.

You now have a data-backed sheet to work with.

Turn Data Range into Table

With data visible on “DataSheet1”, convert the range into a table. This turns a plain grid range into a structured table you can work with more comfortably.

  1. On the data sheet, select your table area.
  2. Go to the INSERT tab.
  3. Click Table.
  4. In the pop-up window, click OK.

This provides a structured table based on the selected data range.

Adjust Formatting

Use quick formatting to make the table easier to read. It works as intuitively as in Excel. For example:

  • Resize columns and rows as needed.
  • Change alignment from the HOME tab.

At this point, your table layout should match how you want it to look on the sheet.

Insert Chart

Now add a chart from the same data so the spreadsheet includes both the grid and a visual summary. This is also done just like in Excel.

  1. Select the data.
  2. Go to the INSERT tab.
  3. Choose Insert Chart.
  4. Pick a chart type and click OK.

You now have a chart placed on the spreadsheet canvas and can reposition it where you want it.

Save Configuration

Once the spreadsheet looks the way you want, save the current state so the configuration is preserved.

  1. Enter edit mode.
  2. Select the extension.
  3. Click Apply in the Apply Changes? pop up.

Use Qlik Selections

Now, validate the key behavior: the spreadsheet is connected to Qlik’s associative engine.

Make selections, apply filters... You should see the spreadsheet update instantly. Charts, tables, and even formulas react to the selected data in real time.

You have confirmed that the spreadsheet is responding to live Qlik selections.

Export to Excel

If you ever need to continue working outside of Qlik, export the workbook to XLSX.

  1. Open the FILE tab.
  2. Choose Export.
  3. Select the Excel format.
  4. Click Export Excel File.
  1. Give the file a name and click OK.

The download starts immediately, ready to open in Excel or any compatible software.

Result: Spreadsheet Like Excel in Qlik

You now have an Excel-style spreadsheet right inside your Qlik Sense app. This is a quick foundation that can be expanded with additional formatting, charts, formulas, and more, while keeping all the work inside your Qlik environment.