Indicator Library Overview

The Indicator Library is a collection of pre-built indicator definitions that you can quickly apply to your financial reports. This guide explains how to use the library and keep it up to date.

What is the Indicator Library?

The Indicator Library provides:

Pre-configured indicators for common business metrics
Reusable definitions across multiple reports
Standardized calculations ensuring consistency
Time savings by avoiding manual configuration

Accessing the Library

Open the Library List

Search for Indicator Library in Business Central
The Indicator Library page opens showing all available indicators

From the Indicator Card

Open the Define Indicator page for a row
Click Select from library in the actions
Browse and select an indicator

Library Structure

Each library entry contains:

Field	Description
ID	Unique identifier, built by the import as `<TableName>.<Name>`
Name	Descriptive name matching a field
Type	Currently supports SumField
TableNo	Related table number
Table Name	Human-readable table name
Sum Field Table	Table containing the sum field
Sum Field Name	Name of the field to sum

Associated Filters

Library entries can have pre-defined filters:

Stored in the Indicator Library Filter table
Applied automatically when using the library indicator
Ensure consistent filtering across uses

The library and its filters are stored per company.

Using Library Indicators

Method 1: From Indicator Card

Open the Define Indicator page for your line
Click Select from library
The Select Indicator from Library page opens (if the library is empty, it offers to download it first)
Select the appropriate indicator
Click OK
The configuration is applied automatically

Method 2: During Field Selection

When the Method is Sum and you pick a FlowField on the Define Indicator page:

The app looks for a library entry with the same table name and field name
If one exists, you'll be prompted: "We have a SumField in the Indicator library for this field, do you want to use that instead?"
Click Yes to apply the library configuration
Click No to configure manually

No prompt appears for other methods or for normal (non-FlowField) fields.

What Gets Applied

When you apply a library indicator:

Table is set from the library (resolved by table name or caption)
Field is set from the library (resolved by field name or caption)
Existing filters are removed
Library filters are added (fields matched by name in the selected table)
Method remains as configured (typically Sum)

Importing Indicators

From Hougaard Library

Import is the only way to populate the library. It downloads the standard indicators published by Hougaard on GitHub (repository hougaard/AdvancedFinancialReportingIndicators):

Open Indicator Library
Click Import in the actions
All existing library entries and their filters are deleted
Indicators are downloaded from GitHub and the library is repopulated

The environment must allow outbound calls to github.com; otherwise the import fails with an error.

What's Imported

The import includes:

Common financial indicators
Operational KPIs
Standard Business Central fields
Pre-configured filters for each

Viewing Library Details

Indicator Details

The Indicator Library page is a read-only list. Each row shows the entry's Name, Type, TableNo, Table Name, Sum Field Table and Sum Field Name; there is no card page to open.

Filters for an Indicator

To see filters associated with a library entry:

Select the library entry
Click Filters in the actions
The Filters on Indicator page opens (read-only)
Shows all filters for that indicator

Library Filter Structure

Field	Description
ID	Links to library entry
Field	Field name to filter
Type	Filter type (Static, Global Dim 1, Global Dim 2, Column Period)
Value	Filter expression; only meaningful for Static filters (a blank value removes the filter rather than filtering for blank)
Field No.	Field number resolved during import

Library filters carry no Date Formula. For a Column Period filter, add the date formula on the indicator after applying the library entry.

Best Practices

Using the Library

Check First: Before manual configuration, check if a library entry exists
Review Filters: After applying, review the filters to ensure they fit your needs
Customize if Needed: Library entries can be a starting point; modify as required

Managing the Library

Keep Updated: Import periodically to get new indicators; each import replaces the whole library
No Custom Entries: Library entries cannot be created or edited in the user interface; configure company-specific indicators directly on the row instead
Test After Import: Verify imported indicators work in your environment

Library vs. Manual Configuration

Aspect	Library	Manual
Setup Time	Fast	Slower
Consistency	Standardized	Variable
Flexibility	Less (fixed definition)	More (full control)
Maintenance	Centralized	Per-indicator

When to Use Library

Standard KPIs that match library definitions
Quick setup of common metrics
Ensuring consistency across reports

When to Configure Manually

Unique business requirements
Custom tables or fields
Non-standard filter logic
Library doesn't have a matching indicator

Relationship to Indicators

Library Entry
     ↓
Apply to Indicator Card
     ↓
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Indicator Detail Record     │
│ - Table No. (from library)  │
│ - Field No. (from library)  │
└─────────────────────────────┘
     ↓
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Indicator Filter Records    │
│ - Filter 1 (from library)   │
│ - Filter 2 (from library)   │
│ - ...                       │
└─────────────────────────────┘

The library provides a template that creates actual indicator records.

Troubleshooting

Library is Empty

Run the Import action to populate (the Select Indicator from Library page also offers to download when the library is empty)
Check network connectivity to GitHub
Verify that outbound calls to github.com are allowed in the environment

Applied Indicator Doesn't Work

Field names may differ in your environment
Table may not exist (custom/localized)
Verify field permissions

Wrong Results After Applying

Review the applied filters
Library may use different filter logic than needed
Customize filters after applying