Common Issues

This guide covers frequently encountered issues with Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting and their solutions.

Indicator Issues

Indicator Returns Zero

Symptom: Indicator row shows 0 when data is expected.

Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. No Matching Records
   • Check filter criteria
   • Verify data exists for the filtered period
   • Test with broader filters
2. Wrong Table Selected
   • Verify table contains expected data
   • Check table name matches your intent
3. Wrong Field Selected
   • Ensure field contains numeric data
   • Verify field name is correct
4. Permission Issues
   • Check user has read access to table
   • Verify object permissions

Indicator Returns Wrong Value

Symptom: Indicator shows a value, but it's incorrect.

Solutions:

1. Review Filters
   • Check all filter conditions
   • Test each filter individually
   • Verify date filter application
2. Check Method
   • Sum vs. Count confusion
   • Verify calculation method matches intent
3. Verify Field
   • Amount vs. Amount (LCY)
   • Remaining Amount vs. Amount
   • Similar field names
4. Company Setting
   • Check if cross-company indicator
   • Verify correct company selected

Indicator is Slow

Symptom: Report takes long time when using indicators.

Solutions:

1. Add More Filters
   • Filter by date range
   • Add dimension filters
   • Limit record scope
2. Use Column Period Filter
   • Leverage column-based date filtering
   • Reduces records scanned
3. Simplify Indicator
   • Consider pre-calculated values
   • Use G/L entries instead of detailed tables

Report Issues

Report Won't Run

Symptom: Error when attempting to run financial report.

Possible Causes:

1. Circular Reference
   • Check formula rows don't reference each other
   • Review Formula Behavior settings
2. Invalid Formula
   • Verify formula syntax
   • Check row references exist
3. Missing Configuration
   • Ensure row and column definitions are assigned
   • Verify definitions exist

Wrong Report Results

Symptom: Report totals don't match expected values.

Solutions:

1. Check Date Filters
   • Verify report date filter
   • Check column period settings
2. Review Formula Behavior
   • The field has two options: blank (standard calculation) and Row Formula x Column Formula = Zero
   • Check the setting on formula rows that meet formula columns
3. Dimension Filters
   • Verify dimension values exist
   • Check dimension filter application

Cross-Company Data Missing

Symptom: Multi-company report shows partial data.

Solutions:

1. Verify Company Access
   • Check permissions in other companies
   • Verify user exists in target company
2. Check Company Name
   • Verify spelling matches exactly
   • Include spaces if company name has spaces
3. Currency Settings
   • Check Add. Reporting Currency setup
   • Verify currency conversion method

Print Job Issues

Print Job Won't Run

Symptom: Scheduled job doesn't execute.

Solutions:

1. Check Job Queue Status
   • Verify Job Queue Entry is enabled
   • Check Job Queue is running
2. Review Error Log
   • Check Job Queue Entry error message
   • Look in Application Event Log
3. Validate Configuration
   • Verify report exists
   • Check output settings

Email Not Received

Symptom: Print job runs but email not delivered.

Solutions:

1. Check Email Setup
   • Verify Email Account configured
   • Test email independently
2. Verify Recipient
   • Check email address format
   • Confirm address is valid
3. Review the Email Account
   • Check the account on the Email Accounts page (any connector works: Microsoft 365, Current User, SMTP)
   • Send a test email from that page to verify connectivity

File Not Delivered

Symptom: Print job runs but the report does not arrive where expected.

Print jobs never write to a file system. The Output option is Email, SharePoint or Zip — the zip is a browser download, so it only works when the job is run interactively, not from the Job Queue.

Solutions:

1. Check the Output Option
   • Zip output from a scheduled job produces nothing — use Email or SharePoint for scheduled runs
   • Verify the format (PDF, XLSX, DOCX, HTML, XML) is the one you expect
2. SharePoint Issues
   • Verify the SharePoint Path (site and document library folder)
   • Check the connecting user's permissions on SharePoint
   • Confirm the Hougaard SharePoint companion app is installed and configured

API Issues

API Returns No Data

Symptom: API call succeeds but returns empty results.

Solutions:

1. Check Report Selection
   • Verify DefaultAPIReport is set
   • Confirm report exists
2. Review Filters
   • Check $filter parameter syntax
   • Verify data exists for criteria
3. Permissions and License
   • Check API user permissions
   • An unlicensed production environment returns the error "No active license for the Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting" — the API pages are license-gated

API Authentication Failed

Symptom: API returns 401 or 403 error.

Solutions:

1. Check Credentials
   • Verify OAuth token is valid
   • Check token hasn't expired
2. Review Permissions
   • Confirm Web Service access enabled
   • Check the AFR_Hgd permission set is assigned
3. Verify Endpoint
   • Check environment URL
   • Verify company name in URL

Permission Issues

Access Denied Errors

Symptom: User cannot access the app's features.

Solutions:

1. Assign Permission Set
   • Open Users page
   • Add the AFR_Hgd permission set (captioned Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting)
2. Check License
   • A missing license does not deny access: indicators calculate 0 and the Define Indicator card stops with "This app require registration to work."
   • Spreadsheets, print jobs and inter-company reporting are not license-gated, so a "permission" error there is a real permission problem
3. Sheet-Level Permissions
   • A spreadsheet that cannot be opened may be restricted by its owner — see Documents & Sharing
4. Table Permissions
   • Check read access to required tables
   • Verify object permissions

Performance Issues

Reports Are Slow

Symptom: Financial reports take long time to generate.

Solutions:

1. Reduce Indicators
   • Fewer indicators = faster reports
   • Consider alternative approaches
2. Add Filters
   • More specific filters reduce data scanned
   • Use date filters where possible
3. Optimize Formulas
   • Reduce formula complexity
   • Avoid deeply nested calculations
4. Check Server Load
   • Reports may be slow during peak usage
   • Schedule intensive reports off-hours

UI Is Unresponsive

Symptom: Pages load slowly or freeze.

Solutions:

1. Browser Issues
   • Clear browser cache
   • Try different browser
2. Connection Issues
   • Check network connectivity
   • Verify server availability

Getting More Help

Collecting Information

Before contacting support, gather:

• Error messages (exact text)
• Steps to reproduce
• App version number (from Extension Management)
• Business Central version

Debug Information

Useful diagnostic steps:

1. Test indicator in isolation
2. Try simpler configuration
3. Check with different user
4. Verify in different company

Support Resources

• Check License Issues for license-specific problems
• See AI Reports Troubleshooting for AI report runs, schedules, unexpected figures and the designer
• Review HTTP Client Warnings if the Configuration Problem page appears (it concerns the app's outbound calls — license check and indicator library download — not the inbound APIs)
• Contact Support for unresolved issues

Related Topics

• License Issues
• AI Reports Troubleshooting
• HTTP Client Warnings
• Support