Programming Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Description

Cover Title Page Copyright and Credits Packt Upsell Contributors Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1: 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 Chapter 2: 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 Chapter 3: 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 Chapter 4: 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 Chapter 5: 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 Chapter 6: 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 Chapter 7: 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 Chapter 8: 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 Chapter 9: 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 Appendix: Assessments Other Books You May Enjoy Index