Glossary
This glossary defines key terms used throughout Simple Object Designer documentation.
A
Anchor
A reference point on a page used to position a field placement. Can be a field, group, or other control.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A way for external systems to communicate with Business Central. SOD can create OData APIs for tables and business logic.
App File (.app)
The compiled extension package that can be installed in Business Central environments.
AppSource
Microsoft's marketplace for Business Central extensions and apps.
B
Business Logic API
An API endpoint that exposes codeunit methods, allowing external systems to trigger Business Central processes.
C
Calculated Field
A display-only field whose value is computed from an expression rather than stored in the database.
Caption
The user-visible label for a field, page, or other object.
Circular Dependency
A situation where objects reference each other in a way that prevents compilation. Solved with Dual-App mode.
Codeunit
A Business Central object containing business logic procedures and functions.
D
Data Item
A table reference in a report that provides data to the report.
Deployment
The process of installing an extension in a Business Central environment.
Dual-App Mode
SOD configuration that generates two separate extensions to avoid circular dependencies.
E
Entity
In API context, represents a table or resource exposed via OData.
Entity Name
The singular identifier for an API entity (e.g., "customer").
Entity Set Name
The plural collection name for an API entity (e.g., "customers").
Expression
A formula that calculates a value, used in calculated fields.
Extension
A package of customizations that adds or modifies Business Central functionality.
F
Feature
In SOD, a complete package of table, pages, and logic created from a template.
Field Placement
Configuration that puts a field on a specific page at a specific position.
Field Transfer
Automatic copying of field values between related tables (e.g., Customer to Sales Header).
FlowField
A field type whose value is calculated from data in related tables.
Force Mode (Force Sync)
A publish setting that allows destructive schema changes, potentially causing data loss.
Full Page Canvas
In the Report Layout Designer, a page-sized background layer drawn on every page of a report — used for watermarks, borders, and stationery.
G
GitHub Integration
SOD feature that pushes generated AL source code to a GitHub repository.
L
Learn Report
The Report Layout Designer process that runs a report once to capture its data items, columns, and example values so layouts can bind to them.
Lookup
A field type that references another table, enabling selection from a list.
M
Mandatory Field
A field that must have a value before a specific action can execute.
Metadata
Descriptive information about objects in Business Central (tables, fields, pages, etc.).
O
Object ID
The unique numeric identifier assigned to BC objects (tables, pages, etc.).
OData
Open Data Protocol - the REST API standard used by Business Central APIs.
P
Page Extension
An extension object that modifies an existing page.
Page Placement
See Field Placement.
PAT (Personal Access Token)
A GitHub authentication credential used for API access.
Publish
The process of generating, compiling, and deploying a SOD extension.
Publisher
The organization name that creates and maintains an extension.
Q
Query
A Business Central object that combines data from multiple tables.
R
Report Builder Agent
The AI chat assistant embedded in the Report Layout Designer that builds and edits report layouts on request.
Report Extension
An extension object that modifies an existing report's dataset.
Report Layout Designer (+Reports)
SOD's visual, canvas-based editor for designing custom report layouts that are rendered to PDF by a built-in PDF engine.
Report Set
A named collection of reports that share one visual style (skill) plus common fonts and images, applied across all member reports with the AI.
Role Center
A dashboard-style page that serves as a user's home page in Business Central.
S
Section
In the Report Layout Designer, a horizontal band of a layout (Header, Line, Footer, GroupHeader/Footer, TransportHeader/Footer, PageFooter, or DataLink) bound to a report data item.
Skill
Reusable Markdown guidance for the AI. Agent skills (the skill library) apply to every layout session; a report set's visual style skill describes one concrete look that is applied to the set's reports.
Sandbox
A non-production Business Central environment for testing.
Schema Sync
The process of updating database structure when deploying extensions.
SOD
Simple Object Designer - the low-code customization tool for Business Central.
Symbols
Metadata describing all objects in a Business Central environment, downloaded by SOD to understand available tables, pages, etc.
T
Table Extension
An extension object that adds fields to an existing table.
Template
In SOD features, a predefined pattern (Data, Related, Document) for creating new tables.
Tenant
A Business Central instance belonging to an organization.
V
Validation
The process of checking configuration for errors before publishing.
Version
The four-part number (Major.Minor.Build.Revision) identifying an extension release.