Key Features
Simple Object Designer provides a comprehensive set of features for customizing Business Central without writing code. This page summarizes the main capabilities at a glance.
Field Management
Create New Fields
Add custom fields to any existing table in Business Central. Supported field types include:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Text | Variable-length text up to 2000 characters |
| Code | Uppercase text for identifiers and codes (up to 2000 characters) |
| Integer | Whole numbers |
| BigInteger | Whole numbers with 64-bit range |
| Decimal | Numbers with decimal places |
| Boolean | Yes/No values |
| Date | Date values |
| DateTime | Date and time values |
| Time | Time values |
| Option | Predefined list of options |
| Enum | Enumeration values from existing enums |
| GUID | Globally unique identifiers |
| Media | Single image or media reference |
| MediaSet | Collection of images / media |
| Blob | Binary large objects |
| Duration | Time duration values |
| FlowField | Calculated fields based on other table data |
| Lookup | Fields that reference other tables |
Place Fields on Pages
Take any field from a table and place it on one or more pages. You control:
- Position - Place fields before or after existing fields, or at the start/end of groups
- Visibility - Make fields visible or hidden
- Editability - Set fields as read-only
- Styling - Apply visual styles to highlight important fields
Place Fields on Reports
Add fields to report datasets so they appear in custom report layouts. This enables you to include custom data in Word and RDLC report layouts, as well as in layouts built with the Report Layout Designer.
Page Customization
Page Groups
Create new sections on pages to organize your custom fields logically. Groups can be placed in specific positions using anchor fields.
Mandatory Fields
Define business rules that require certain fields to have values before specific page actions can execute. Rules support:
- Field comparisons (equals, not equals, greater than, etc.)
- Comparison to fixed values or other fields
- Multiple conditions combined with AND logic
Calculated Fields
Add fields to pages that display computed values based on expressions. Calculated fields can:
- Reference any field on the source table
- Use arithmetic operations and functions
- Include conditional logic
- Link to drill-down pages
Features (New Tables)
Create entirely new tables with associated UI and business logic using templates:
Data Table Template
Creates a standalone master table with:
- Primary key field (manual or number series)
- List page for browsing records
- Card page for editing individual records
- Optional FactBoxes
- Optional API endpoint
Related Table Template
Creates a table that links to an existing table, ideal for:
- Additional detail records
- Lookup tables
- Child records with foreign key relationships
Document Table Template
Creates header/line document structures similar to sales orders or invoices, with:
- Header table and page
- Lines table and subpage
- Document posting patterns
- Number series integration
Role Center Template
Creates Role Center pages for dashboards and navigation hubs, including:
- Cue groups and activity sections
- Page actions grouped by area (Embedding, Creation, Processing, Reporting)
- Embedded page parts (ListParts and CardParts)
API Capabilities
Table APIs
Expose any table as an OData API endpoint with:
- Configurable entity names
- Field selection
- Grouping for organization
- Automatic CRUD operations
Business Logic APIs
Expose codeunit methods as callable API endpoints, enabling:
- Posting operations from external systems
- Process automation from Power Platform
- Integration with third-party applications
Data Queries
Create query objects that join multiple tables and aggregate data:
- Inner and outer joins in multi-level hierarchies
- Aggregation (Sum, Average, Min, Max), row counts, and date breakdowns
- Filter expressions and filterable API fields
- API exposure for reporting tools
Report Layout Designer (+Reports)
Design print-perfect PDF report layouts directly inside Business Central — no RDLC, no Word documents, no external tools:
Visual Layout Editor
A canvas-based editor with text, data fields, lines, boxes, images, charts, SVG, and QR codes, positioned at exact millimeter coordinates, with grouping, sorting, running totals, page backgrounds, and PDF protection.
Report Builder Agent
An AI chat assistant embedded in the layout editor. Describe the layout you want — or attach a sample PDF or image — and the agent designs, edits, and test prints the layout for you. Works with Azure Open AI, ChatGPT Open AI, Anthropic (Claude), or a local LM Studio model using your own API key.
Report Sets
Group related reports (for example all customer-facing sales documents), share fonts and images between them, and let the AI learn one visual style and apply it to every report in the set.
Publishing and Delivery
Direct Publishing
Publish customizations directly to your current environment. The generated extension is compiled and installed automatically.
Download App File
Download the generated .app file for:
- Installation in other environments
- Distribution to customers
- Archive and version control
GitHub Integration
Push generated AL source code to GitHub repositories for:
- Version control and history
- Collaboration with developers
- CI/CD with AL-Go workflows
- Transition to professional development
Dual-App Mode
For complex scenarios with circular dependencies, SOD supports generating two separate apps:
- App 1 contains table extensions and new fields
- App 2 contains page extensions and business logic that depends on App 1