Extension Manager for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a free-to-use app created with the aim to help partners and developers to manage objects in their extensions directly from BC.
- Idea
- How-to
The main idea is to help developers when managing and assigning objects IDs when working on several extensions at same time with multiple developers.
Every partner / customer / developer should have control over created objects in order to avoid repeating same number on different extensions. With EXM (EXtension Manager) I'll try to easily assign objects IDs automatically and give to the developer a general view of AL developments.
The app manages 2 types of AL extensions:
Internal: Extensions developed per partners with the aim of selling on the app store or to several customers.
External: Extensions developed only for an specific customer (formerly a customer project).
Once the app is installed on our BC we can find the extension on the menu.
Try typing "extension" and 2 additional links appear:
There are two available ways to setup data on the extension:
Selecting "Set up Extension Manager" from assisted setup list under list point "Install extensions...". It's also available from EXM Profile
Once selected a wizard guides us through the process and ask for all setup data needed in order to work properly.
Type "extension" and select "Extension Manager Setup"
When "Extension Manager Setup" is clicked the setup page opens and these are the available options (ToolTips not yet done):
Allows to setup a default series no. used when creating a new extension.
Allows to show object name or caption when we select them on extension objects details.
Set default extension range that will be set when a new extension is created.
The app proposes the next ID available when selecting an object type. Disabling this option won't validate if set ID is used on current / other extension per same object.
The proposal system is easy. Looks for next available ID taking care of the extension range and other extensions created depending on extension type. In case of external extension type the proposed ID takes care of all extensions of selected customer.
Same functionality described above but per fields ID.
Personalized role center for EXM is available. You only need to assign to your user (or selected users) from Profile List
Once selected the role center allows to have a quick view of all your extensions. It also allows us to create directly a new extension.
When selecting "Extension Manager" we'll see all of our extensions. Easy way to take a look and select which one to take care or create a new. Standard BC functionality.
When one selected (or New button) we'll take a look at Extension Card where we'll have available all extension information.
As you can see on the picture the Extension Card is composed by Header and Lines.
Depending on setup. If "no. series" set the extension code works as standard documents code.
Just describe the extension
Internal
Extension developed per partners with the aim of selling on the app store or to several customers.
External
Extension developed only for an specific customer (formerly a customer project).
If Type is set to External customer must be selected
IDs set to create IDs when defining objects
URL where extension objects are stored
It's really easy to use. You select the object type you're creating and Object ID is automatically set.
Object Name must be set
In case you're selecting TableExtension, PageExtension, EnumExtension or ProfileExtension the field Source Object Type is filled.
Source Object ID must be filled. Once selected the Name is set depending to your setup choice (Name or Caption)
There's also a briefing Factbox with all extension objects resume.
When working with Table, TableExtension, Enum or EnumExtension fields details must be set.
In order to fill the field data information we can select Total Fields or Manage - Fields and a new page where we can input or check fields related data
As you can see in the following images, there are 2 option available
Allow to show other fields set on same table when creating a new TableExtension
Allows to see all fields on source table
Same functionality as on tables but with Enum data information.
With View/Hide values all extended values on Enum are shown. Also available to view source Enum values with View source Enum button.
