Excel Report Builder

Build Excel reports directly within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
AppSource Name: Excel Report Builder

Current Version:

• 28.3.15.1 as of Business Central 28
• For older BC versions, downgrades are available.

☰ Contents

General

• Excel Report Builder
  Each Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution contains valuable information that can be used for strategic decisions...
• Role Center Integration
  The Excel Report Builder is integrated into the Accountant and Accounting Manager roles and expands them with the Excel Report Builder menu item...

Quick Guide

• Setup
  First, open the setup page via Search...
• Edit Evaluations
  More information will follow soon...
• Execute Evaluations
  More information will follow soon...

Setup

• Excel Report Builder Setup
  In the Excel Report Builder Setup page the general settings and defaults for the Excel Report Builder are defined...
• Excel Functions
  In the Excel Functions Setup page the Excel Functions are set up, which can then be selected in the Formulas of the Excel Evaluations. The page can be opened in the Excel Report Builder Setup via the corresponding action in the Setup group...
• Evaluation Groups
  In the Excel Evaluation Groups page you can set up groups for the evaluations. The page can be opened in the Excel Report Builder Setup via the corresponding action in the Setup group...
• Blocked Tables
  In the Blocked Tables page you can specify tables that are not allowed in Excel Evaluations. If a blocked table is used in an evaluation, the evaluation cannot be executed...

Edit Evaluations

• General

• • Edit Excel Evaluation
    Excel Evaluations are managed or created via the Excel Report Builder Evaluations page...
  • Download Area
    The Download Area provides a selection of free evaluations that you can download and use...
  • Import Analysis
    The analysis mode in Business Central can be used to create analyses directly in the list pages...

• Data Sheets

• • Data Sheet
    Via Data Sheets, sheets with data from tables can be added to the Excel workbook...
  • Sheet Settings
    The Sheet Settings page is used to set up the general settings of the Data Sheet...
  • Table Settings
    The Table Settings page is used to set up a table of a Data Sheet...
  • Date Filter Variables
    It is possible to specify [Variables] in date filters that will be calculated and replaced based on the Evaluation Date when the evaluation executed...
  • Field Settings
    The Field Settings page is used to set up a field of a Data Sheet. Depending on the type of field, different settings are available or possible...
  • Formulas
    Formulas can be composed of Excel Functions, fixed and dynamic references, [Variables], constants and operators. However, it is also possible to simply specify a text, which is then written to the Excel cells when the evaluation is executed...
  • Text Settings
    The Text Settings page is used to set up a text line of a Data Sheet...

• PivotTable Sheets

• • PivotTable
    The PivotTable page is used to set up the general settings of the PivotTable and the fields of the PivotTable...
  • Sheet Settings
    The Sheet Settings page is used to set up the general settings of the PivotTable Sheet...
  • Field Settings
    The PivotTable Field Settings page is used to set up a field of a PivotTable...

• Other Sheets

• • Text Sheet
    Via Text Sheets, sheets with text can be added to the Excel workbook...
  • Information Sheet
    Via the Information Sheet, a sheet with information about the evaluation can be added to the Excel workbook...

• Extended

• • User Permissions
    The User Permission field on the evaluation card specifies whether the evaluation may be executed only by the user responsible for the evaluation, by all users, or only by a restricted group of users...
  • Subscribers
    The No. of Subscribers field on the evaluation card shows the number of users who have added the evaluation to their My Excel Evaluations list...
  • Email Recipients
    The No. of Email Recipients field on the evaluation card shows the number of recipients to be suggested in the email when using the Send by Email action...
  • Copy, Export & Import

• Tips & Tricks

• • Get month name from date
    If you want to determine the month name from a date field, it is best to use Text Formatting in the Field Settings of the date field...
  • Get data via sheet reference
  • VAT Amount Lines
    The table 290 ∙ VAT Amount Line can be added to the following purchase, sales, and service tables. The data is then calculated automatically...

Execute Evaluations

• My Excel Evaluations
  In the My Excel Report Builder Evaluations page you can arrange and manage your personal list of Excel Evaluations that you are allowed to execute...
• Execute Excel Evaluation
  Via the Execute action, an evaluation can be executed. This creates an Excel workbook on your device...
• Evaluation Filters
  In the Excel Evaluation Filters page you can specify the filters for the execution of the evaluation...
• Analyze Data in Excel
  Analyze Data in Excel empowers you to understand your data through natural language queries that allow you to ask questions about your data without having to write complicated formulas. In addition, Analyze Data provides high-level visual summaries, trends, and patterns...
• Send Excel Evaluation by Email
  Via the Send by Email action, an evaluation can be executed and then sent by email...
• Archive Excel Evaluation
  Via this action, an evaluation can be archived. This will execute the evaluation and save the Excel workbook in the archive...
• Evaluation Archive
  The Excel Evaluation Archive page shows an overview of all archive entries of the evaluation and can be accessed directly via the evaluation, or via My Excel Evaluations...

Information for Developers

• Runnable Codeunits
  On the Excel Evaluation Card page, a Codeunit for the evaluation can be specified in the Codeunit to Run field. This can be used, for example, to display notes or to recalculate or update data directly before the evaluation is executed...
• Temporary Data Codeunits
  Temporary Data CodeunitWith the help of temporary data codeunits, evaluations can be extended with functions that temporarily calculate certain data of the evaluation during execution...
• Connector
  Via the codeunit NCE Connector Excel Evaluations can also be called or integrated from other extensions or from elsewhere...
• API
  Evaluations can also be generated externally using the Excel Report Builder via an API. The created Excel file is returned in Base64 format. For an evaluation to be visible in the API and to be executed via the API, the Allow API Access field must be specified on the Excel Evaluation Card...

Appendix

• System Requirements & Limits
  To execute an evaluation or create an Excel workbook, Excel is not required and therefore does not need to be installed...
• Import old NC Cube files
  It is possible to import old NC Cube files (file name extension .nccx) via the import action. When importing an old NC Cube file, an attempt is made to import or convert as much information as possible from the file...
• NAVAX License Management
  The NAVAX License Management page (in older versions NAVAX License Overview or NCEX License Overview) displays the current license status of the NAVAX extensions...
• Comparison with BC Standard and NC Cube
  Would you like to know what advantages the Excel Report Builder offers compared to the Business Central Standard...
• Frequently asked questions
• Installation Notes
• Release Notes