What initial actions should a business analyst take to begin analyzing sales data from an existing QVD file?

To begin analyzing sales data from an existing QVD file, reviewing the data model and ensuring that the Orders table is linked correctly is a crucial initial action. The data model serves as the backbone of the analysis in Qlik Sense, affecting how data is related and displayed. If the Orders table, which likely contains essential sales information, is not linked properly with other relevant tables, this could lead to incorrect associations, inaccurate insights, or misleading visualizations.

By confirming that the Orders table is linked correctly, the business analyst can ensure that the analysis is built on a solid foundation. This process entails checking relationships, examining key fields that establish links, and ensuring that the data model supports the queries that will be run against the sales data.

In contrast, deleting obsolete records from the QVD might not provide immediate value without first understanding the model’s structure, while creating new dimensions or exporting data to Excel may be steps for further analysis but do not address the critical need to confirm the integrity and correctness of the existing data connections before delving deeper. Therefore, verifying the relationships in the data model is a necessary step that sets the stage for effective analysis.