Dynamics 365 Business Central Development: Tables

Introduction 

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a highly versatile ERP system that allows developers to create custom solutions tailored to various business needs. One core aspect of development in Business Central involves working with tables. Tables store data and define its structure, making them fundamental to any application. Creating a new table object in Dynamics 365 Business Central using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a crucial skill for developers working within this platform. This Dynamics 365 Business Central development post aims to provide a detailed overview of table development, as well as a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process efficiently and effectively. 

Fields 

Fields define the data structure within a table. Each field has a specific data type and properties that determine its behavior. Fields are the core elements of tables and are used to store and manipulate data. 

Field Data Types 

Dynamics 365 Business Central supports various data types for fields, including: 

• Integer: Stores whole numbers. 

• Decimal: Stores floating-point numbers. 

• Text: Stores text strings. 

• Date: Stores date values. 

• Boolean: Stores true or false values. 

Properties 

Properties in Dynamics 365 Business Central tables define the attributes and behaviors of tables and fields. They control various aspects, such as default values, visibility, and relationships between tables. Some important properties include: 

• DataClassification: Specifies the type of data stored in the field (e.g., Customer Content, System Metadata). 

• Caption: Defines the display name of the table or field. 

• Editable: Determines whether the field can be edited by the user. 

• TableRelation: Establishes a relationship between tables, used for lookups and data consistency. 

Triggers 

Triggers in Dynamics 365 Business Central are special methods executed in response to certain events on tables or fields. They are used to control the flow of data and enforce business rules. Triggers can be categorized into two types: table triggers and field triggers. 

Table Triggers 

Table triggers are executed at specific stages of table operations. The main table triggers are: 

• OnInsert: Executed when a record is inserted into the table. 

• OnModify: Executed when a record is modified. 

• OnDelete: Executed when a record is deleted. 

• OnRename: Executed when a record's primary key value is changed. 

Field Triggers 

Field triggers are executed when certain operations are performed on fields within a table. The primary field triggers are: 

• OnValidate: Executed when a field's value is validated. 

• OnLookup: Executed when a lookup is performed on a field. 

• OnAssistEdit: Executed when an assist-edit operation is performed on a field. 

Keys 

Keys in Dynamics 365 Business Central tables are used to index and sort data for efficient retrieval. They define unique identifiers for records and optimize search operations. There are two types of keys: primary keys and secondary keys. 

Primary Keys 

The primary key uniquely identifies each record in a table. It must be defined for every table and can consist of one or more fields. 

Secondary Keys 

Secondary keys are additional indexes that improve the performance of data retrieval operations based on non-primary key fields. They enhance the speed of searches and sorts on specified fields. 

Table Creation Instructions

Prerequisites 

Before we dive into the specifics, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place: 

• Visual Studio Code installed on your machine. 

• AL Language extension installed in Visual Studio Code. 

• A Dynamics 365 Business Central sandbox environment. 

  
  

Step 1: Setting Up Your Workspace 

To begin, open Visual Studio Code and create a new workspace for your project. Follow these steps: 

• Open Visual Studio Code. 

• Click on File > Open Folder and select or create a folder for your project. 

• Open the command palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P and type AL: Go! to generate your project. 

• Select the target platform version for your Business Central environment. 

  
  

Step 2: Creating a New Table Object 

Next, we will create a new table object. Here’s how: 

• In the Explorer pane, right-click on the src folder and select New File. 

• Name the file ExampleTable.al and press Enter. 

• Open the newly created file and define your table object using the AL language syntax. For example: 

  

  
  

Step 3: Defining Table Properties 

Ensure you define the essential properties for your table. Here are the key properties you should be aware of: 

Table Properties 

• DataClassification: This property classifies the data contained within the table, which is crucial for data governance and compliance. 

• TableType: This property specifies the type of table, such as Regular, Temporary, or CRM. 

• DrillDownPageID: Defines the page ID used for drill-down actions from the table. 

• LookupPageID: Specifies the page ID used for lookup actions within the table. 

• SourceTable: Indicates the source table ID if the table is a part of a wider relational model. 

• Caption: Provides a human-readable name for the table, enhancing user experience. 

• Visible: Determines whether the table is visible to users. This is useful for internal or system tables. 

  
  

Step 4: Defining Field Properties 

When defining fields within your table, it is important to specify the properties associated with each field. Here are some critical field properties to consider: 

Field Properties 

• DataClassification: Classifies the data at the field level for governance purposes. 

• Editable: Determines whether the field is editable by users. 

• NotBlank: Specifies that the field cannot be left blank, ensuring data integrity. 

• TableRelation: Defines relationships between tables, which is essential for creating relational data models. 

• FieldClass: Specifies the class of the field, such as Normal, FlowField, or FlowFilter. 

• Caption: Provides a human-readable name for the field, improving user interaction. 

• OptionCaption: Defines captions for option fields, enhancing clarity for users. 

  
  

Step 5: Publishing Your Table 

After defining your table and its properties, it’s time to publish it to your Business Central sandbox environment: 

• Open the command palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P. 

• Type AL: Publish and press Enter. 

• Ensure your launch.json file is correctly configured to point to your sandbox environment. 

  
  

Step 6: Verifying Your Table 

Once the table is published, verify that it has been created successfully in Business Central: 

• Open your Business Central sandbox environment. 

• Navigate to the table by adding '&=tableId' to the end of the Business Central URL.

  

  

  • Table 17 = G/L Entry.

    
    

Conclusion 

Developing tables in Dynamics 365 Business Central requires a thorough understanding of fields, properties, triggers, and keys. These components are essential for creating robust and efficient data structures that support various business processes. By mastering these concepts, developers can build powerful and scalable applications that meet the unique needs of their clients. 

We hope that this guide has provided valuable insights into table development in Dynamics 365 Business Central. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out.