Abstract
Discover the power of Extensions for the Business Central ERP system! Change the way existing features work and improve your business without any changes to the core code. Save time and avoid re-implementation after software updates. In this article you can find out where to find a wide selection of Extensions, how to adapt Business Central to your needs and how to develop your own Extensions.
Customize and expand the functionality of Business Central by creating a flexible ERP solution that perfectly suits your business.
What are Extensions?
Microsoft Business Central ERP system allows you to use Extensions. They can be defined as special applications exclusively developed for Business Central. You can use them to enrich your basic program with additional features. This is how you change the mode of operation of an existing feature and gain access to online services.
One of the great advantages of Extensions is that they allow you to customize Business Central according to your needs. When implementing extensions, there are no changes in the basic code of the solution itself. Until now, if you wanted to adapt the program to your needs, you had to request a code change. The big disadvantage of this was that when the ERP solution was updated, you would lose the customization you had made, or you would have to redo it. This could easily have resulted in the complication of business relations.
Fortunately, with Extensions you will not have such problems. They are located outside the application itself. Because of this, Business Central updates (downgrades) do not affect Extensions, thus avoiding the tedious and time-consuming work of re-implementing Extensions after an update. This way you can save time and money, and at the same time you are spared the test of your patience.
Installation Extension
There are standard Extensions, which are pre-installed and immediately available when you start working in Business Central. For example, if a standard Extension that integrates with PayPal Payments Standard is installed, you do not necessarily need to use it. You can install an Extension that will allow you to work with another payment service provider, and then decide which one you want to use. Such extensions are available to you and you can choose to implement them whenever you want.
AppSource.microsoft.com offers a wide selection of Extensions/Modules for Business Central and for other Microsoft solutions. In the offer you will also find Microsoft Extensions/Modules, but also those of other companies such as: Popdock, Abakion and InterFormNG.
Furthermore, Business Central gives you direct access to AppSource. By clicking Setup & Extensions, Manage, and then Extensions Marketplace, you can view all available Business Central Extensions available on AppSource. Also, on the Extensions Management page, you can view all already installed Extensions. When you select a certain Module in AppSource, a new window will open in which you can read its features, then you can decide if it is the right choice for you. If you decide to install, you can check the installation status by clicking on Deployment Status in the Manage menu. Extensions are designed for easy management and installation, in order to optimize your business as quickly as possible.
Before implementing the Extension, we recommend that you test it in a sandbox environment. Microsoft verifies all Extensions on AppSource, which ensures their safety. However, this does not mean that the installed Extension will perform the functions you want and how you want. If you use Business Central in the Cloud, it is enough to select the Admin Center to create a sandbox environment, in which you can test your Extension. In this way, you can be sure that the selected Extension will be compatible with your business and that it is the solution to your problems.
When you no longer need a certain Extension, or if the installed Extension does not meet your needs, you can simply remove it from Business Central. The data is definitely saved, so if you need to use the removed Extension again, installing it will restore all the data. In case you do not want to store the data, simply select the Delete Extension Data option at the time of removing the Extension. So you don't have to worry if you accidentally delete the Extension or if you're not sure if you'll ever need it in the future. However, some Extensions are necessary for the normal operation of the system and it is impossible to remove them.Microsoft releases minor updates every month, and major updates twice a year. Manufacturers are obliged to test the compatibility of the Extension with the new upgrade. If everything is fine, the update becomes available to users. Thanks to this, your Extensions are always up-to-date and work in accordance with the current version of Business Central.
Developing Extensions
Within Business Central, as part of the development environment, you can develop your Extensions yourself. All functionality in Business Central is coded as objects. Therefore, you can extend existing objects and create new ones depending on what you want your Extension to do. Objects of tables, pages and codeunits are used to create Extensions. All objects are saved in files as AL code with .al file extension.
You can also develop extensions in Visual Studio Code. Using an extension for the AL programming language, you will be able to work in a modern development environment, with seamless integration with Business Central. Visual Studio Code provides instructions for working on its pages, but IntelliSense, which you activate by simply clicking Ctrl+Space, can help you develop Extensions. If you already have experience working with the C/SIDE development environment, you can check the differences between the two environments on Microsoft's website.
Designer enables the creation of Extensions through a simple drag-and-drop method. As soon as you start designing, you effectively create an Extension that is visible to all users and any changes are applied to all users. Designer is currently only available in a sandbox environment. All Designer-created Extensions are deleted when the environment is updated or moved to another node. Managing user access is simple: it is enough to add or remove a user from the set of D365 EXTENSION MGT permissions.
After you develop and test your Extension, you can submit it to AppSource for validation. Before submitting, be sure to check the list of Microsoft requirements that you need to meet in order to have a better chance of successfully passing the validation process.
Conclusion
With Business Central you will find everything your business needs. Of course, every business has its own specifics and there is a possibility that you need a certain function that Business Central does not offer by default. Therefore, Business Central Extensions are a great addition to your ERP solution. Thanks to Extensions, you won't have to look for a new ERP: with a simple search on the AppSource page, you will easily and safely find a Module that meets your needs. Business Central also gives you the opportunity to develop your own extension and offer it to others. New Extensions are constantly being developed and published, and are always updated and adapted to work in Business Central. With this, Microsoft once again proves that Business Central is a quality program and the best solution for your business that guarantees uninterrupted work.
Are you interested in implementing Business Central in your company or have questions about extensions? Get in touch us today and ensure a brighter future for your business.
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