Introduction: Table Extension and Page Extension are two new objects introduced in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV TENERIFE Developer Preview (Visual Studio Code) release. Table Extension allows to add more fields to an existing table and to change properties of certain fields of a table. Page Extension object allows to add additional fields and actions to an existing page and extends Dynamics NAV page object. This article will provide the basic steps to create a Table extension object and Page extension object using Visual Studio Code in NAV. Prerequisite: 1. Visual Studio Code 2. Microsoft Dynamics NAV TENERIFE (Developer Preview) Purpose: To create a table extension object and page extension object using Visual Studio Code in NAV. To demonstrate this, I will be adding an additional field on Item card. Steps: Create a new folder for a new project. Fig 1: New Folder created for the Project Open this folder in Visual Studio Code Create a new file within this folder in Visual Studio Code Fig 2: Create a new file in the newly created folder Let’s name this file ‘ItemTableExt.al’ Typing the shortcut ‘ttableext’ will create the basic layout for a table extension. Fig 3: Shortcut ttableext Fig 4: Basic layout of a table extension Replace ‘id’ with a unique table id. It should be in the range from ‘70000000’ to ‘74999999’. Replace ‘MyExtension’ with a unique name of the table extension and ‘MyTargetTable’ with the name of the table where these additional fields have to be added. This is shown in the below Screenshot. After entering the ‘MyTargetTable’ name, Press ‘Ctrl+Shift+B’ to build the solution which will create app.json file. Here, I will be creating a Decimal Field ‘Control Sample Qty’. To create a table field, type the shortcut ‘tfield’. Fig 5: Basic layout of a table field Replace ‘id’ with a unique field id. Replace ‘MyField’ with a unique field name and mention the type of the field viz. Decimal, Integer, etc. Mention the properties of the field below. Fig 6: New field ‘Control Sample Qty’ with ID ‘70000000’ of type ‘Decimal’ is added to ‘Item table’ which is highlighted in red colour. Property of this field i.e. ‘Editable=False’ is highlighted in lime colour. Hence the table extension has been created. To create a page extension, create a new file. Let’s name this file as ItemPageExt.al. Type the shortcut ‘tpageext’ to create a basic layout of a page extension. Fig 7: Basic layout of a page extension. In the layout section, you can use the following functions to place page fields and groups on the page. Similarly, in the actions section, you use these functions to place actions in the ribbon. (Note: General and AddressDetails are group names) addfirst(General) – Applies to Groups only addlast(General) – Applies to Groups only addafter(AddressDetails) – Applies to Fields and groups addbefore(AddressDetails) – Applies to Fields and groups movefirst(General) – Applies to Groups only movelast(General) – Applies to Groups only moveafter(AddressDetails) – Applies to Fields and groups movebefore(AddressDetails) – Applies to Fields and groups Replace id with a unique page extension id in the range from ‘70000000’ to ‘74999999’. Replace ‘MyExtension’ with the name of the page extension. Replace ‘MyTargetPage’ with the name of the existing page in which additional functionality has to be added. The following page extension extends Item card and adds field ‘Control Sample Qty’ to the ‘InventoryGrp’. Fig 8: Field is added to the page using Page extension Hence, page extension is created. Build the solution using ‘Ctrl+Shift+B’. Hence ‘navx file’ will be created. Press F5 to create launch.json file or manually create launch.json file. Thus launch.json will be created. Fig: launch.json In the NAV Web client, in Extensions Management, the published extension will be displayed. Fig 9: Extensions Management Thus, the newly created field i.e. ‘Control Sample Qty’ will be displayed in Item card. Fig 10: New field ‘Control Sample Qty’ field has been added to Item card. Conclusion: Thus, Table extension is used when additional fields are to be added to an existing table or any properties of the fields have to be changed and Page extension is used to add additional functionality to existing pages like extra fields and actions.  

Using the new subgrid functions, there are 2 ways to get count of the subgrid data. Based on requirement, we have to use one or the other way for achieving the requirement. getTotalRecordCount(): It determines the total no. of records that match the filter criteria of the view. Features: 1. The count is NOT limited by the current page size. You will get the total size across all pages. 2. You may not also get the latest count of the records using this function if new records are added on the subgrid. How to get around #2 above to get correct count: The idea is to make the grid refresh before executing the “getTotalRecordCount” function, which will enable us to get the correct count. We also have to add an onload event handler for the grid control. Whenever grid is refreshed through code or manually, the onload function will trigger. Note that we cannot do this without onload event. If we try to execute “getTotalRecordCount” just after the refresh line without onload event handler, you will get an error as the grid refresh happens asynchronously and it may not be ready. Sample Code  var myContactsGridOnloadFunction = function () {  console.log(“Contacts Subgrid OnLoad occurred”); var count = Xrm.Page.getControl(“Contacts”).getGrid().getTotalRecordCount();   };  /// bind an onload event to the grid control  Xrm.Page.getControl(“Contacts”).addOnLoad(myContactsGridOnloadFunction);  /// refresh the grid. This will trigger onload event.  Xrm.Page.getControl(“Contacts”).refresh() getRows().getLength() getRows() will return collection of all gridrows in the grid. Features: 1. It will only return the rows currently visible on the grid. 2. getRows().getLength() will return the count of rows currently visible 3. Unlike getTotalRecordCount, we need not refresh the grid to get the correct row length using this function. Uses: In cases, where we want to know if the grid is empty we can use “getRows().getLength()” instead of getTotalRecordCount to know if the count is 0 or Not. Sample code: var rows = Xrm.Page.getControl(opptyProductSubGridName).getGrid().getRows(); var rowLength = rows.getLength();

In this article, we create an extension of standard Page ‘Item Card’ in NAV using Visual studio code (VS Code). To implement the extension, I have created a field ‘Item Classification’ whose Data type is an Option in the table extension in Visual Studio Code. We use app.json (Cltl+shift+B) to build and create a .navx package and launch.json(F5) to publish the extension on the NAV Web Client. Business Requirement Item classification field classifies the raw materials whether it is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient(API), Excipient, Pallet, Capsules, Finished Good and Ingredient. This is used by the Production Department to issue Raw Materials from the Warehouse. They classify the items they need by using the Item classification field. Prerequisites: 1. Visual Studio Code 2. Microsoft Dynamics Web Client. Steps: We Create a folder named ‘Item Extension’ in which we place all are codes. Open the visual studio code, click on Explorer and then click on ‘Open folder’. Click on new file and rename it with a name with extension .al e.g ItemTabExt.al Now we create a table extension of standard table ‘Item’. Typing the shortcut ‘ttableext’ creates a basic layout for the table extension object. We provide an id and extends the table name in this case it is the Item The table id range is from 70000000 to 74999999. While saving, it throws error like ‘The target page Item for the extension is not found’ for this we need to create the app.son file by building the solution (Cltl+Shift+B). app.json is automictically created with a 16 byte binary data type which is a GUID. Enter the extension name and publisher for the same. Below is the app.json file The package Cache path is the path to the folder where referenced symbol package files are located. The path could be absolute or relative to the current extension working directory. Now here the package is created Chris_Item extension_1.0.0.0.navx This removed the error on extension table name. Typing the shortcut ‘tfield’ creates the basic layout for the fields. Enter the field id, name and data type in this case the field name is ‘Item Classification’ and data type is ‘Option’. We enter the Caption and the Option string for it. To create the page extension, we type the shortcut tpageext which will create the basic layout for page object using AL extension in Visual Studio code. Edit the id and name and extends Page Name in this case it is ‘Item Card’. We use the function name addlast(Group Name) to add the field at the last of the Group Name Specified.typing the ‘tfieldpage’ automatically creates the layout, we edit MyField and write the field name , edit the source and write the Caption for it. Publishing the extension(F5) will generate the launch.json file Open the Web client and in the search bar type ‘Extension Management’. Click on the installed app. It gives you the details of the Extension name,version and Publisher name. Browse to the Item Page, the field ‘Item classification’ is added. Conclusion: We created table and Page extensions using visual Studio for Standard Table 27 Item and Page 30 Item Card.  

In this article, we are going to compare features of TIBCO Cloud Integration and Microsoft Flow. This will help partners and customers, select the right platform based on their integration needs. Comparing TIBCO Cloud Integration and Microsoft Flow: 1. Real- Time Process: TIBCO Cloud Integration: For real-time integration, a Request/Reply Map needs to be created. This map produces a URL which can be called from any system. For example: To trigger any request-reply map on creation of an Account in Microsoft Dynamics 365, you need to write a plugin which will call the Map Endpoint URL. Image 1: Endpoint URL of Request/Reply Map Microsoft Flow: Flow gets automatically triggered based on create/update/delete record defined in the workflow. For example: Flow for Create Account in Microsoft Dynamics 365 is triggered as soon as the Account is saved.  No plugin is required. Image 2: Auto trigger based on record create, delete or update 2. Scheduled Process: TIBCO Cloud Integration: Maps can be scheduled by month, week, day, hour, minute, seconds based on Recent processed date time. We can even run a Solution On Demand. Image 3: On Demand or Scheduled Process Image 4: Scheduling Details Microsoft Flow: Flow can be scheduled by day, hour, minute, seconds. Recurrence action is used for the same. Image 5:Scheduling Details 3. Lookup Records: TIBCO Cloud Integration: Records can be looked up using any condition. If the condition is not satisfied, number of records retrieved will be NULL. Image 6:Lookup criteria based on name of Unit Group Microsoft Flow: Records can be looked up using GUID / Unique Identifier of the record. If Flow couldn’t find the record, then it will throw an error and the proceeding steps will be skipped. Image 7:Lookup criteria based on GUID of required Unit Group 4. Handling mandatory auto-initialized fields: TIBCO Cloud Integration: If mandatory fields are not filled, then TIBCO Cloud Integration shows a warning but lets you save and execute the Map. For example: We are integrating Customers(Accounts) from Microsoft Dynamics 365 to Dynamics 365 Operations. In Operations, CustomerAccount is auto-initialized on create (Number sequence is setup) and it is a mandatory field. When we integrate customers through Scribe, CustomerAccount is not mapped and this field gets initialised. We bring back this CustomerAccount to Microsoft Dynamics 365. Image 8:Mandatory field ‘CustomerAccount’ warning Microsoft Flow: If mandatory fields are not filled, Flow doesn’t allow you to save the workflow. This is a limitation as it ignores the significance of auto-initialisation. For example: We are integrating Customers(Accounts) from Microsoft Dynamics 365 to Dynamics 365 Operations. Since it is mandatory field, we must pass this number from Microsoft Dynamics 365. Image 9: Mandatory field ‘CustomerAccount’ Error 5. Data Formatting/Calculating Functions: TIBCO Cloud Integration: Often, we need to format source data before sending it to target data or do some calculations. TIBCO Cloud Integration provides a Formula Editor for this purpose. There many functions defined in the Formula Editor like DateTime Functions, Logical Functions, Math Functions, Text Functions etc. Image 10: Formula Editor Microsoft Flow: There is no provision for editing the source data yet. It is simply one to one mapping. 6. Error Handling: TIBCO Cloud Integration: Errors can be captured in Scribe and sent across to source system; so, we don’t need to login into Scribe to monitor the errors. Errors can be captured /monitored using Results fields. Image 11: Result fields Microsoft Flow: Errors cannot be captured in Flow. All the steps proceeding the failed step is skipped. Errors can be monitored in Activity section in Flow. Image 12: Activity log on Failure 7. Debugging feature: TIBCO Cloud Integration: We can debug a Map and do a step-by-step analysis/execution. Debugging is very useful from a developer’s perspective. You can analyse Inputs, Results, Errors and even add Breakpoints. Image 13: Debug Mode Microsoft Flow: No Debug Feature is available yet. Though, after execution you can get output of each step. Image 14: Output Conclusion: Using TIBCO Cloud Integration: Scribe is suitable for any kind of integration ranging from simple to very complex Integrations involving direct mapping as well as formatting/editing/calculating source data and sending it across the target. For example: Bi-directional Integration of Customers, Shipping Addresses, Products, Sales Order from Dynamics 365 CRM to Dynamics 365 Operations. Using Microsoft Flow: Microsoft Flow is currently suitable for simple integrations where one to one mapping / direct mappings are the only thing required. For example: Integrating Accounts from Dynamics 365 Financials to Microsoft Dynamics 365.

In this blog article, we will explain about the new updates of Power BI related to Dropdown slicer, Matrix Conditional Formatting and Hierarchical axis. Dropdown slicer: In Slicer, earlier there were only one option to show the data i.e. list. But now we have one more option as dropdown. Means now we have two option on Slicer as List and dropdown. This slicer is very useful when we have lots of category items in our slicer. When we create a normal list slicer, we can change it into drop down by using dropdown option. After selecting the dropdown option, the slicer will look like below: And after click on Drop down arrow Matrix Conditional Formatting: Matrix Conditional Formatting is a new feature. Using this feature we can change the various setting like we can change the colour of cell based on the value. We can set different colour to lowest and highest value in particular category. Refer the below figures for better understating. After click on Conditional formatting you will get the below window than choose whatever colour you want for minimum and maximum value and then click on ok. Once you click ok, you’ll see the formatting applied as below. Hierarchical axis: Hierarchical axis allows us to clearly see the hierarchy within the visual. We can use hierarchical labels by turning off the label concatenation in the formatting pane. Below figure show result when the concatenation label is on. To turn off the concatenation label select visualization and then click on format then expand the X-axis. After turning off the concatenation label you will see the formatting applied as below.  

Before the introduction of Business Apps, Designer and Sitemap designer, we have to take care of following things: We have to manage the security role of users otherwise they will be able to access all the records. If a user wants to design the site map, then user needs to either edit the site map XML or use the third party application to edit it. Introduction: After reading this blog user will able to design their own app with the required component. Description: A new app designer that lets you quickly create simple (single entity) or complex (multi-entity) modular apps. The app designer, which is a tile-based information structure, makes the process of designing apps much simpler because of its intuitive interface. You can simply pick the required set of components such as form, views, dashboard, charts and process flows. Privileges Make sure that you have the System Administrator or System Customizer security role or equivalent permissions Any user with the following privileges can also access the apps: Create, Read, and Write privileges on the App entity Read and Write privileges on the Customizations entity Read privileges on the Solution entity Create an App If you want to create a new app you need to navigate to the below path Go to Settings> My Apps, and then click Create New App. Under My Apps you will able to see all the apps you have. Click on Create App Provide the app details as show below and save the app. Name Unique Name Description Icon App URL And more fields Define Site Map As soon as you will create an app, you’ll need to first define the site map. You can add the below components in the site map Area Group Sub Area You can either add the below components directly by clicking on the + sign or simply by dragging and dropping. You can also put the components by dragging and dropping Below are the components that can be added to the Sub Area Dashboard Entity Web Resource URL Here, I have added the Contact entity and a Dashboard Once you have added all the components, you need save the site map and close it. You can also see the status of your app as to whether it available to other user or not.  If the status of an app is Published, then user with the proper role can see but if it is in Draft then only it is available in Edit area. App being edited App designer: You need to specify the components that user must be able to see under the site map. You can add the below components in app designer Dashboard Entity Entity form Entity views Business process flows If you would not specify the above components, then it will add all the above components by default. You can see the below app designer after adding your form, views Validate You need to validate if we need to add any component(s) that are missing. You need to click on the Validate. If there is any issue you will be able to see the as a notification. Publish Once your issue is resolve you can publish your app Once it is published the status of your change to published. App permission: App runs on the base of security role if the current logged in user does not have same role as that of app that then he will not be able to access the app. As in CRM Once it has been published, you will see your app in the Dynamics 365 You can see this app in the CRM as show It shows only the component(s) that we have added during the app design. Now you know about Modular business apps, the App Designer and the Sitemap Designer. You can start using this functionality!      

New parameter “Create Item from Description” has been added in Sales and Receivable setup in NAV 2017. By enabling this option user can create new item by adding description on Sales Quote lines, Sales Order lines or Sales Invoice lines. 1) Go into Sales and Receivable Setup and enable Create Item from Description field. 2) When user enter description in Sales quote lines, sales order lines or sales invoice lines for item which is not exist then system will give pop up to create new item or select an existing item. Create new item from Sales Quote line. Create new item from Sales Order line Create new item from Sales Invoice line. 3) When you select Create new item card, System will open template for new item. Select template and click on OK. 4) New Item will create based on item template. User can specify other fields which are require. Conclusion: By using this feature user can create new item by using description and use it for transactions.

Scenario: We have a requirement to access Dynamics 365 environment from a custom application hosted outside D365 environment but we do not want to consume the D365 license.  We want the user to have all privilege required to perform all task which administrator can do. Solution: Please follow below steps to create user Login to Dynamics 365 portal (Global administrator User) Login to Dynamics 365 portal (https://portal.office.com/adminportal/home) and create new user with minimum user level access. Assign Dynamics 365 license to the user Assign security role to the user Assign System Administrator role to the user. Change Access Mode to Non-Interactive Remove Dynamics 365 user license Now remove D365 license assigned to integration user If you observed, you can see integration user as “Enabled User” in the Dynamics 365 Environment after removing D365 license.  

In this blog article, we will explain you on how to connect dynamics 365 financials service connector inside of Power BI. Below are the steps to connect over Financial OData: Open the Power BI.com online account Select Get Data option from the bottom menu Click on the Get service option Select dynamics 365 financial from the list and click on “Get it Now” New Connection window appears which asking for OData URL to connect financial account. So for getting OData url we need to connect our D365 financial account in browser window and then search for web service. Select Power BI report selection Url from list of objects. Copy this url up to “Cronus” company name into powerbi connection window. Your password is the web service access key of the Admin user and you can get it from users tab. So, after connecting to the financial ODATA services we will get readymade dashboard created for financials. And now we can embedded this dashboard inside of Dynamics financial account. So list of reports appear and we can select required one from that. Note: As of now, Microsoft allow us to show only one graph/tiles inside of Financial embedded page, we hope more updates on this features.

Dynamics 365 for Financials supports Multiple Legal Entities. Assisted Setup helps in setting up the new company in few hours and get it ready for use. Please find below the steps on how to create a company and set it up : To Create a new Legal Entity In the top right corner, choose theSearch for Page or Report icon, enter Companies, and then choose the related link. Click on New to create a new company. Provide the Name of the Company and tick on Enable Assisted Company Setup To Open New Company To change the legal entity the user need to go into My setting (Top right corner of the Homepage) Change the company to the newly created company. The user needs to sign out from Financials and log in again to Open a New company. Using Assisted Setup & tasks Once the new company is opened on the home page in the Action bar there is a button of Assisted Setup & tasks. On opening the assisted setup, it will show the following options: Migrate Business Data – Lets you import your existing company data such as vendors, customers, and items from Excel or QuickBooks. Set up My Company – It will show as completed as we have already created a Company. Set Up Cash Flow Forecast- Sets up the Cash Flow Forecast chart, so you can view the predicted movement of cash in and out of your business. The chart is available on the Accountant Role Centre. Set Up Approval Workflows-Sets up the ability to automatically notify an approver when a user tries to create or change certain values on documents, journal lines, or cards, such as an amount above a specified limit. Set Up a Customer Approval Workflow-Sets up the ability to automatically notify an approver when a user tries to create or change a customer card. Set Up Email-Gets you ready for sending email messages directly from, for example, sales orders or contacts in Financials. Set Up Email Logging-Sets up the capability to log email correspondence in Financials to follow up on interactions. Set Up Outlook for Financials-Sets up the ability to use and launch Financials from Outlook. Set Up Reporting-Sets up data sets that you can use to build powerful reports using Excel or Power BI, for example. Set Up and Item Approval Workflow-Sets up the ability to send a notification to an approver when a user changes or creates an item. Set Up a Payment Approval Workflow-Sets up the ability to send a notification to an approver when a user sends payment journal lines for approval. Set Up Dynamics CRM Connection-Sets up a connection to Dynamics CRM, which allows you to synchronize data such as contacts and sales order information. Set Up Sales Tax-Gets you started with default Tax groups and assigning Tax area codes that you can assign to customers and vendors to automatically calculate sales tax in sales or purchase documents. Some of the above tasks can be skipped based on the requirement. The status is set to completed when the setup of each task is done ensuring that the company is ready for use. Conclusion D365 for financials is a very good product for Small and medium size enterprises. The assisted company setup feature is just a checklist to ensures that all the required setups are completed and the users can start using the system.