Book Image

Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Sixth Edition

By : Marije Brummel, David Studebaker, Christopher D. Studebaker
Book Image

Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Sixth Edition

By: Marije Brummel, David Studebaker, Christopher D. Studebaker

Overview of this book

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a full ERP business solution suite with a robust set of development tools to support customization and enhancement. These tools can be used to tailor Business Central's in-built applications to support complete management functions for finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and operations. Using a case study approach, this book will introduce you to Dynamics 365 Business Central and Visual Studio Code development tools to help you become a productive Business Central developer. You'll also learn how to evaluate a product's development capabilities and manage Business Central-based development and implementation. You'll explore application structure, the construction of and uses for each object type, and how it all fits together to build apps that meet special business requirements. By the end of this book, you'll understand how to design and develop high-quality software using the Visual Studio Code development environment, the AL language paired with the improved editor, patterns, and features.

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Table of Contents (12 chapters)
Preface
Preface
A brief history of Business Central
The beginning
Single-user PC Plus
Multi-user Navigator
Navision Financials for Windows
Growth and mergers
Continuous enhancement
AL's roots
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Downloading the example code files
Downloading the color images
Conventions used
Get in touch
Reviews
Free Chapter
1
Introduction to Business Central
Introduction to Business Central
Business Central – an ERP system
Financial management
Manufacturing
Supply chain management
Business intelligence and reporting
Relationship management
Human resource management
Project management
A developer's overview of Business Central
Business Central object types
The Visual Studio Code integrated development environment
Visual Studio Code icons
Explorer
Search
Source control
Debugger
Extensions
AL programming language
Business Central object and system elements
Business Central functional terminology
User interface
Hands-on development in Business Central
Business Central development exercise scenario
Getting started with application design
Folder structure
launch.json
app.json
Symbol files
Application tables
Designing a simple table
Creating a simple table
Pages
Standard elements of pages
List pages
Card pages
Document pages
Journal/worksheet pages
Creating a list page
Creating a card page
Creating some sample data
Creating a list report
Generating the layout
Designing the layout
Other Business Central object types
TableExtension and PageExtension
Codeunits
Queries
XMLports
Control add-ins
Development backups and documentation
Summary
Questions
2
Tables
Tables
An overview of tables
Components of a table
Naming tables
Table numbering
Table properties
Table triggers
Keys
SumIndexFields
Field groups
Bricks
Enhancing our sample application
Creating and modifying tables
Assigning a table relation property
Assigning an InitValue property
Adding a few activity-tracking tables
New tables for our WDTU project
New list pages for our WDTU project
Keys, SumIndexFields, and table relations in our examples
Secondary keys and SumIndexFields
Table relations
Modifying an original Business Central table
Types of table
Fully modifiable tables
Master data
Journal
Template
Entry tables
Subsidiary (supplementary) tables
Register
Posted document
Singleton
Temporary
Content modifiable tables
System table
Read-only tables
Virtual
Summary
Questions
3
Data Types and Fields
Data Types and Fields
Basic definitions in Business Central
Fields
Field properties
Field triggers
Field events
Data structure examples
Field numbering
Field and variable naming
Data types
Fundamental data types
Numeric data
String data
Date/Time data
Complex data types
Data structure
Objects
Web services
DotNet
Input/output
DateFormula
References and other data types
Data type usage
FieldClass property options
FieldClass – Normal
FieldClass – FlowField
FieldClass – FlowFilter
FlowFields and FlowFilter for our application
Filtering
Experimenting with filters
Accessing filter controls
Summary
Questions
4
Pages - The Interactive Interface
Pages - The Interactive Interface
Page design and structure overview
Page design guidelines
Business Central page structure
Types of pages
Role Center page
HeadlinePart page
List page
Card page
Document page
FastTabs
List Plus page
Worksheet (journal) page
ConfirmationDialog page
StandardDialog page
Navigate page
Navigate function
Request page
Page parts
FactBox area
Card Parts and List Parts
Charts
Page names
In-client designer
Designer
Page components
Page triggers
Page properties
Inheritance
WDTU page enhancement – part 1
Page controls
Control types
Container controls
group controls
Field controls
Page part controls
Page control triggers
Bound and unbound pages
WDTU page enhancement – part 2
Page actions
Page action types and subtypes
Action groups
Navigation pane button actions
Actions summary
Learning more
Patterns and creative plagiarism
Experimenting on your own
Experimentation
Summary
Questions
5
Queries and Reports
Queries and Reports
Queries
Building a simple query
Query and query component properties
Query properties
DataItem properties
Column properties
Reports
What is a report?
Four Business Central report designers
Business Central report types
Report types summarized
Report naming
Report components – overview
Report structure
Report data overview
Report layout overview
Report data flow
Report components – detail
Report properties
Microsoft Word – report properties
Report triggers
Request page properties
Request page triggers
DataItem properties
DataItem triggers
Creating a report in Business Central
Learn by experimentation
Report building – phase 1
Report building – phase 2
Report building – phase 3
Modifying an existing report with Report Designer or Word
Request page
Adding a request page option
Processing-only reports
Creative report plagiarism and patterns
Summary
Questions
6
Introduction to AL
Introduction to AL
Understanding Visual Studio Code
Explorer
Starting a new object
Object designer navigation
Some AL naming conventions
Variables
AL Globals
AL Locals
Special working storage variables
AL programming
Non-modifiable procedures
Modifiable procedures
Custom procedures
Creating a procedure
AL syntax
Assignment and punctuation
Expressions
Operators
Arithmetic operators and procedures
Boolean operators
Relational operators and procedures
Precedence of operators
Frequently used AL procedures
The MESSAGE procedure
The ERROR procedure
The CONFIRM procedure
The STRMENU procedure
Record procedures
The SETCURRENTKEY procedure
The SETRANGE procedure
The SETFILTER procedure
The GET procedure
FIND procedures
FIND ([Which]) options and the SQL Server alternatives
Conditional statements
The BEGIN-END compound statement
IF-THEN-ELSE statement
Indenting code
Some simple coding modifications
Adding field validation to a table
Adding code to a report
Laying out the new Report Heading
Saving and testing
Lookup-related table data
Laying out the new report Body
Saving and testing
Handling user entered report options
Defining the Request Page
Finishing the processing code
Testing the completed report
Summary
Questions
7
Intermediate AL
Intermediate AL
IntelliSense
Internal documentation
Source code management
Validation functions
TESTFIELD
FIELDERROR
INIT
VALIDATE
Date and time functions
TODAY, TIME, and CURRENTDATETIME
WORKDATE
DATE2DMY function
DATE2DWY function
DMY2DATE and DWY2DATE functions
CALCDATE
Data conversion and formatting functions
ROUND
FORMAT function
EVALUATE function
FlowField and SumIndexField functions
CALCFIELDS function
SETAUTOCALCFIELDS function
CALCSUMS function
Comparing CALCFIELDS and CALCSUMS
Flow control functions
REPEAT-UNTIL
WHILE-DO
FOR-TO or FOR-DOWNTO
CASE-ELSE statement
WITH-DO statement
QUIT, BREAK, EXIT, and SKIP functions
QUIT function
BREAK function
EXIT function
SKIP function
Input and output functions
NEXT function with FIND or FINDSET
INSERT function
MODIFY function
Rec and xRec
DELETE function
MODIFYALL function
DELETEALL function
Filtering
The SETFILTER function
The COPYFILTER and COPYFILTERS functions
The GETFILTER and GETFILTERS functions
The FILTERGROUP function
The MARK function
CLEARMARKS function
The MARKEDONLY function
The RESET function
InterObject communication
Communicating through data
Communicating through function parameters
Communication via object calls
Enhancing the WDTU application
Modifying table fields
Adding validation logic
Playlist Header validation
Creating the Playlist subpage
Playlist Line validations
Creating a function for our FactBox
Creating a FactBox page
Summary
Questions
8
Advanced AL Development Tools
Advanced AL Development Tools
Business Central process flow
Initial setup and data preparation
Transaction entry
Testing and posting the Journal batch
Utilizing and maintaining the data
Data maintenance
Role Center pages
Role Center structure
Role Center headlines page
Role Center activities page
Cue groups and cues
System part
Page parts
Page parts not visible
Page parts for user data
Navigation pane and action menus
Action Designer
Creating a WDTU Role Center ribbon
XMLports
XMLport components
XMLport properties
XMLport triggers
XMLport data lines
The XMLport line properties
SourceType as text
SourceType as table
SourceType as field
Element or attribute
NodeType element data item
NodeType attribute data item
XMLport line triggers
DataType as text
DataType as Table
DataType as Field
XMLport Request Pages
Web services
Exposing a web service
Publishing a web service
Enabling web services
Determining what was published
XMLport – web services integration example for WDTU
Summary
Questions
9
Successful Conclusions
Successful Conclusions
Creating new AL routines
Callable functions
Codeunit 358 – DateFilterCalc
Codeunit 359 – Period Form Management
FindDate function
NextDate function
CreatePeriodFormat function
Codeunit 365 – Format Address
Codeunit 396 – NoSeriesManagement
Function models to review and use
Management codeunits
Multi-language system
Multi-currency system
Navigate
Modifying for Navigate
Debugging in Business Central
Dialog function debugging techniques
Debugging with MESSAGE and CONFIRM
Debugging with DIALOG
Debugging with text output
Debugging with ERROR
The Business Central debugger
Activating the debugger
Creating break events
The debugger window
Visual Studio Code test-driven development
Other interfaces
Client Add-ins
Client Add-in comments
Business Central development projects – general guidance
Knowledge is key
Data-focused design
Defining the required data views
Designing the data tables
Designing the user data access interface
Designing the data validation
Data design review and revision
Designing the Posting processes
Designing the supporting processes
Double-check everything
Designing for efficiency
Disk I/O
Locking
Updating and upgrading
Design for updating
Customization project recommendations
One change at a time
Testing
Database testing approaches
Testing in production
Using a testing database
Testing techniques
Deliverables
Finishing the project
Plan for upgrading
Benefits of upgrading
Coding considerations
Low-impact coding
Supporting material
Summary
Questions
10
Assessments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
11
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Understanding Visual Studio Code

With a few exceptions, all of the development for Business Central applications takes place within Visual Studio Code. Exceptions include the use of Microsoft Word (or Microsoft SQL Server) for reporting, as we saw in Chapter 5, Queries and Reports, plus the work we may do in the JavaScript language to create compatible add-ins. While it is possible, development using a text editor is only appropriate for special cases, such as making modifications to existing objects, which is done by an advanced developer.

As an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), Visual Studio Code provides us with a rich set of tools for our AL development work. While Visual Studio Code is not as fully featured as Microsoft's Visual Studio, it is intended to be a cross-platform, modern development toolkit. Most importantly, Visual Studio Code is the most popular IDE and chances are you are already familiar with it.

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