Written By Ben Guilford
One of the most common requests we hear from clients is: “Can you customize this report?”
Whether it’s a Trial Balance, Sales Invoice, or an Inventory Valuation, out-of-the-box reports don’t always meet a business’s unique needs.
As developers, we know customizing reports in Business Central can be a double-edged sword:
- Do it the right way, and you deliver real business value while keeping the system upgradeable.
- Do it the wrong way, and you create a maintenance headache that breaks every time Microsoft releases a new update.
So how do you strike the balance? Let’s walk through the best practices.
1. Report Extensions vs. Full Replacements
In older versions of Dynamics NAV, developers often copied the entire report object to make changes. That approach no longer works well in Business Central SaaS, because every major update could overwrite or conflict with your custom report.
Instead, Business Central gives us Report Extensions, which let us:
- Add new fields to data items
- Modify request page elements
- Add or change layouts
Whenever possible, use a Report Extension instead of a full replacement. It keeps the base report intact while layering your customizations on top.
Example:
If a client wants to add a “Global Dimension 1 Code” to the Trial Balance, you can extend the dataset and adjust the layout without replacing the entire report.
2. Best Practices for Report Filters
Business Central users rely heavily on filters—posting dates, G/L accounts, dimensions. If your custom report ignores these filters, users will lose trust in it.
- Always carry over the standard filters from the base report.
- Add new filters only when they provide meaningful control.
- Test edge cases—like blank dimension values—to avoid misleading totals.
Tip: When extending reports with AL, use SetFilter and SetRange carefully to avoid unintentionally excluding data.
3. Working with Layouts
Business Central supports both RDLC and Word layouts.
- RDLC: Better for complex calculations and tabular reports.
- Word: Easier for end-users to adjust branding and formatting.
When customizing, keep the following in mind:
- Don’t hardcode formatting that a customer may want to tweak later (e.g., logo placement).
- If possible, build your custom layout in Word to give power users flexibility.
- Use conditional formatting sparingly—especially in RDLC—to keep performance smooth.
4. Keep Upgradeability in Mind
Every customization you make today should survive tomorrow’s update. A few upgrade-friendly practices:
- Use Events & Subscriptions: Extend the dataset with OnAfterGetRecord and other event publishers rather than modifying base code directly.
- Document Your Changes: Leave clear comments in AL code so future developers know why the customization exists.
- Test on Preview Environments: Microsoft releases preview builds ahead of updates. Use them to test your custom reports early.
5. Real-World Example: Trial Balance with Dimensions
At KTL, one common request is customizing the Trial Balance to include additional dimensions. Here’s the high-level approach we take:
- Extend the base Trial Balance report to include “Global Dimension 1” and “Global Dimension 2.”
- Add filters so users can select which dimension values they want to analyze.
- Create a Word layout that displays the dimension columns neatly.
- Test edge cases: blank values, multiple dimensions, and large datasets.
The result: a report tailored to client needs, without compromising upgrades.
Final Thoughts
Customizing reports in Business Central is one of the most impactful ways we can deliver value as developers—but it comes with responsibility. By using report extensions, respecting filters, choosing the right layouts, and planning for upgrades, you can keep your reports reliable, maintainable, and future-proof.
At KTL Solutions, we’ve helped clients streamline everything from financial reporting to operational insights with upgrade-friendly customizations. The key is always the same: build smart today so you don’t break tomorrow.