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Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Build powerful, robust, and scalable extensions customized for your business requirements , Seventh Edition

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Profile Icon Marije Brummel Profile Icon Christopher D. Studebaker Profile Icon Natalie Karolak Profile Icon David Studebaker
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NZ$65.99
Paperback Oct 2024 466 pages 7th Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Marije Brummel Profile Icon Christopher D. Studebaker Profile Icon Natalie Karolak Profile Icon David Studebaker
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NZ$65.99
Paperback Oct 2024 466 pages 7th Edition
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Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Tables

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

– Steve Jobs

The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He therefore approaches his task with full humility, and avoids clever tricks like the plague.

– Edsger Dijkstra

The foundation of any system is the data structure definition. In Business Central, the building blocks of this foundation are the tables and the individual data fields that the tables contain. Once the functional analysis and process definition have been completed, any new design work must begin with the data structure. For Business Central, that means the tables and their contents.

A Business Central table includes much more than just the data fields and keys. A Business Central table definition also includes data validation rules, processing rules, business rules, and logic to ensure referential integrity. These rules are in the form of properties and AL code.

Note...

An overview of tables

There is a distinction between the table (data definition and data container) and the data (the contents of a table). The table definition describes the identification information, data structure, validation rules, storage, and retrieval of the data that is stored in the table (container). This definition is defined by its design and can only be changed by a developer. The table data is the variable content that originates from user activities. The place where we can see the data being explicitly referenced, independent of the table as a definition of structure, is in Permission Sets. In the following screenshot, the data is formally referred to as Table Data:

Figure 2.1 – Permission Set showing Table Data Object Type

Figure 2.1 – Permission Set showing Table Data Object Type

The table is not the data – it is the definition of data contained in the table. Even so, we commonly refer to both the data and the table as if they were the same. That is what we will do in this book...

Enhancing our sample application

Now, we can take our knowledge of tables and expand our WDTU application. Our base Radio Show table needs to be added to and modified. We also need to create and reference additional tables.

Although we want to have a realistic design in our sample application, we will focus on changes that illustrate features in the Business Central table design that this book’s authors feel are among the most important. If there are capabilities or functionalities that you feel are missing, feel free to add them. Adjust the examples as much as you wish to make them more meaningful to you.

Creating and modifying tables

In Chapter 1, Introduction to Business Central, we created the Radio Show table for the WDTU application. At that time, we used the minimum fields that allowed us to usefully define a master record. Now, let’s set properties on existing data fields, add more data fields, and create an additional data table to which the Radio Show...

Functional table types

For this discussion, we will first divide tables into two parent categories, depending on whether they are extensible by code, or not. Let’s take a closer look.

Extensible tables

As developers, we can change both the definition and the contents of extensible tables. Those tables reside in the Base Application, Business Foundation and System Application modules of Business Central.

The following table types are included in the extensible tables category, and are part of the Base Application module:

  • Master data
  • Journal
  • Template
  • Entry tables
  • Subsidiary (supplementary) tables
  • Register
  • Posted document
  • Singleton
  • Temporary

Let’s look at these in detail.

Master data

The master data table type contains primary data (such as customers, vendors, items, and employees). In any enhancement project, these are the tables that should be designed first because everything else will be based on these tables...

Summary

In this chapter, we focused on the foundation level of Business Central data structure: tables and their internal structure. We worked our way through the hands-on creation of a number of tables and their data definitions in support of our WDTU application. We briefly discussed field groups and how they are used. We also discussed how we used pages to view and maintain the data stored in tables. We will discuss pages in more detail in Chapter 4.

We identified essential table structure elements, including properties, object numbers, triggers, keys, and SumIndexFields. Finally, we reviewed the various categories of tables that can be found in Business Central. Now, you can identify what tables are used in standard functionality, locate what properties and AL procedures are used to accomplish business logic and start to create your own.

In the next chapter, we will dig deeper into the Business Central data structure to understand how fields and their attributes are assembled...

Questions

  1. Which of the following is a correct description of a table in Business Central? Choose two:
    • A Business Central table is the definition of data structure
    • A Business Central table includes a built-in data entry page
    • A Business Central table can contain AL code, but that should be avoided
    • A Business Central table should implement many of the business rules of a system

    ANSWER: A Business Central table is the definition of data structure, and a Business Central table should implement many of the business rules of a system

  2. All PKs should contain only one data field. True or false?

    ANSWER: False

  3. System tables cannot be extended. True or false?

    ANSWER: True

  4. Which of the following are table triggers? Choose two:
    • OnInsert
    • OnChange
    • OnNewKey
    • OnRename

    ANSWER: OnInsert and OnRename

  5. In a table extension, a single key can contain fields from both the base and extension object. True or false?

    ANSWER: False

  6. Because setup tables only contain one record, they do not need to have...
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Key benefits

  • Work with the new additions to the AL Language, Visual Studio Code, and Business Central
  • Enhance your AL programming skills through real-world examples and best practices curated by industry experts
  • Implement updated best practices for development to build efficient, reliable, and maintainable extensions
  • Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Description

Business Central opens a world of endless possibilities for custom business logic and functionality through extensions and customizations. For beginners in the AL language, navigating the vast landscape can feel overwhelming. It’s challenging to know where to start and what’s essential to learn. This updated edition offers a concise and well-organized guide, featuring hands-on exercises to support a successful learning journey. You’ll get to grips with the basics of Business Central and how to create your first Visual Studio Code project with the AL language. As you learn about the table data structure, simple and complex data types, relationships, validation, and data flow, you’ll be able to add and extend tables to your project. Progressively, you'll uncover the intricacies of user interfaces with pages, create advanced Excel report layouts, and harness the power of data queries. Immersing yourself in the AL language syntax, you’ll start with variables, methods, procedures, and statements. You'll explore advanced topics to create business logic such as FlowFields, filtering, CRUD methods, interactions between object types, and different API interfaces that can be created using the AL language. By the end of this book, you’ll be equipped to build fully featured, robust extensions and custom capabilities for Business Central.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who wants to learn about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central's powerful and extensive development capabilities. ERP consultants and managers of Business Central development will also find this book helpful. Although you aren't expected to have previously worked with Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, having a basic understanding of programming and familiarity with business applications software will help you understand the concepts covered in this book.

What you will learn

  • Set up your first AL development environment with Visual Studio Code
  • Understand the data structure and flow of Business Central
  • Design, build, and extend Table, Page, Report, Codeunit, Query, and XMLport objects in Business Central
  • Develop AL code for business logic and data manipulation in Visual Studio Code
  • Use Excel layouts to report Business Central data
  • Integrate Business Central with external systems using API web services
  • Implement multi-language in your own extension
  • Debug and troubleshoot Business Central applications
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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Oct 31, 2024
Length: 466 pages
Edition : 7th
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781803236414
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Microsoft

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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781803236414
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Microsoft

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Table of Contents

10 Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Central Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Tables Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Data Types and Table Fields Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Pages – The Interactive Interface Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Reports and Queries Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Introduction to AL Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Intermediate AL Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Extensibility beyond AL Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
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