Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting Documentation
Index

HTTP Client Warnings

This guide explains the HttpClient configuration warning you may encounter when using Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting, and the outbound connections the app makes.

Understanding HTTP Client

What is HTTP Client?

HTTP Client in Business Central enables an extension to make outbound calls to external services. Administrators can block an individual extension from making such calls (the Allow HttpClient Requests setting in Extension Management). Sandboxes and on-premises environments often start with it turned off.

How the App Uses HTTP Client

Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting makes outbound calls for:

  • License validation — check.hougaardlicense.com
  • Indicator Library Import — downloads the standard indicator definitions from GitHub (api.github.com, raw.githubusercontent.com)
  • SharePoint distribution — through the Hougaard SharePoint companion app
  • The Spreadsheet Agent — the AI provider endpoint you configure, through the AL AI Services app

The CalcDate and DateFilter APIs are inbound: external clients call Business Central. They do not use HttpClient and are unaffected by this setting.

The "Configuration Problem" Page

Cause: The environment blocks HttpClient requests for this app, so the license check (or another outbound call) cannot run. The page shows:

Please turn on "Allow HttpClient Requests" in Extension Management on the Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting App. This is required for the app to work.

with the link Go to Extension Management and fix this right now..., which opens the app's own settings.

Solution:

  1. Follow the link, or open Extension Management, find Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting and choose Configure
  2. Turn on Allow HttpClient Requests
  3. Return to the app and try again

The page appears only when the environment setting blocks the call. A firewall that blocks the destination produces a different error ("Cannot contact the hougaard.com license checker...") — see below.

Connection Errors

"Cannot contact the hougaard.com license checker, please email support@hougaard.com"

Cause: HttpClient is allowed but the license server could not be reached.

Solution:

  1. Check network connectivity from the Business Central server
  2. Verify firewall and proxy rules allow HTTPS (port 443) to check.hougaardlicense.com
  3. Try again later if the problem is temporary

"The hougaard.com license checker returned an unexpected reply"

Cause: The license server responded in an unexpected format.

Solution: Try again later; email support@hougaard.com if it persists.

Indicator Library Import Fails

Cause: GitHub could not be reached.

Solution: Allow HTTPS to api.github.com and raw.githubusercontent.com, then run Import on the Indicator Library page again.

"SSL/TLS Error"

Cause: Certificate or encryption issues, usually on-premises behind a proxy.

Solution:

  1. Ensure the certificate chain of the target is trusted by the server
  2. Check TLS version compatibility
  3. Check whether a proxy re-signs HTTPS traffic

SharePoint Integration Warnings

SharePoint output is provided by the Hougaard SharePoint companion app, which makes its own outbound calls.

"SharePoint Access Denied"

Cause: Insufficient permissions for SharePoint.

Solution:

  1. Verify the SharePoint site URL
  2. Check the connecting user's permissions on SharePoint
  3. Review the authentication method configured in the companion app
  4. Ensure the app registration has the required permissions

"SharePoint Site Not Found"

Cause: Incorrect URL or the site doesn't exist.

Solution:

  1. Verify the SharePoint URL spelling
  2. Confirm the site exists and is accessible
  3. Check for trailing slashes or URL encoding issues

Network Configuration

Firewall Considerations

For on-premises or restricted environments, allow outbound HTTPS (port 443) to:

  • check.hougaardlicense.com — license validation
  • api.github.com and raw.githubusercontent.com — Indicator Library Import
  • The AI provider endpoint configured for the Spreadsheet Agent
  • Application Insights ingestion (*.in.applicationinsights.azure.com) — license telemetry
  • SharePoint (*.sharepoint.com) and login.microsoftonline.com when using SharePoint distribution

If a proxy is in use, configure the Business Central server to use it; some proxies interfere with OAuth flows.

DNS Resolution

Ensure the server can resolve the host names listed above.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check the Setting First
    • Extension Management → Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting → Configure → Allow HttpClient Requests
  2. Test Basic Connectivity
    • Can the server reach https://check.hougaardlicense.com and https://api.github.com?
  3. Review Logs
    • Check the Business Central event log for detailed error messages
  4. Retry
    • Sign out and back in after changing the setting; the license check runs once per session

Environment-Specific Notes

Business Central Online

  • Production environments allow HttpClient requests by default
  • Sandboxes may have the setting turned off for newly installed extensions — turn it on in Extension Management
  • No license key is needed in a sandbox, but the Indicator Library Import and the Spreadsheet Agent still need outbound access

Business Central On-Premises

  • Allow HttpClient Requests must be enabled for the app
  • Certificate trust must be configured for the destinations
  • Firewall rules may need adjustment