The autonumber() function in QlikView converts unique expression values passed to it into integer values by looking them up in an internal table. If a value is not found, it is added to the table and assigned the next integer. This allows non-integer fields to be used as efficient keys. The autonumberhash128() and autonumberhash256() functions work similarly but store hashed values of the expression rather than the full value. All three functions are useful for improving efficiency but their tables are cleared each time the script runs, so they cannot be used for keys in incremental loads.

1. 9/9/2016 QlikView Addict: QlikView Functions: autonumber()
http://www.qlikviewaddict.com/2014/01/qlikview­functions­autonumber.html 1/1
QlikView Functions: autonumber()
Having our new baby (AKA the mini QlikView addict) around has meant very little time for anything, let
alone blogging. So in order to ensure I at least manage the odd post or 2 I thought it would be good to
start a new series of short posts on different qlikview functions and their uses. To kick things off I have
decided to take a look at the autonumber() function and the closely related autonumberhash128() and
autonumberhash256(). All 3 functions do a very similar thing so let's look at autonumber() first and then
consider how the other 2 functions differ.
Autonumber() can be considered a lookup function. It takes a passed expression and looks up the value in
a lookup table. If the expression value isn't found then it is added to the table and assigned an integer
value which is returned. If the expression value is found then it returns the integer value that is assigned
against it. Simply put, autonumber() converts each unique expression value into a unique integer value.
Autonumber() is only useful within the QlikView script and has the following syntax:
autonumber(expression [, index])
The passed expression can be any string, numeric value or most commonly a field within a loaded table.
The passed index is optional and can again be any string or numeric value. For each distinct value within
the passed index, QlikView will create a separate lookup table and so the same passed expression values
will result in a different returned integer if a different index is specified.
So how exactly are the 3 autonumber functions different? Autonumber() stores the expression value in its
lookup table whereas autonumberhash128() stores just the 128bit hash value of the expression value. I'm
sure you can guess therefore, autonumberhash256() stores the 256bit hash value expression value.
Why on earth would I want to use any of these functions? Well the answer is quite simply for efficiency.
Key fields between two or more tables in QlikView are most efficient if they contain only consecutive
integer values starting from 0. All 3 of the autonumber functions allow you to convert any data value and
type into a unique integer value and so using it for key fields allow you to maintain optimum efficiency
within your data model.
A final word of warning. All 3 of the autonumber functions have one pitfall, the lookup table(s) exist only
whilst the current script execution is active. After the script completes, the lookup table is destroyed and so
the same expression value may be assigned different integer values in different script executions. This
means that the autonumber functions can't be used for key fields within incremental loads.