Dynamics 365 Business Central: Entering Quantities/Amounts by Calculation and Negative Numbers

Hi, Readers.
Today I would like to share another mini tip about Business Central, entering Quantities/Amounts by Calculation and Negative Numbers.

In Business Central, when we need to save quantities or amounts, we generally use the Decimal Data type. For example, table 37 “Sales Line”:

Here is a little trick, when entering numbers into these fields, you can enter the formula instead of the sum quantity. For example,

If you enter 19+19, the field is calculated to 38.
If you enter 41-9, the field is calculated to 32.
If you enter 12*4, the field is calculated to 48.
If you enter 12/4, the field is calculated to 3.

Test video: Just like the cells in Excel, you can use it as a mini calculator.

Combined calculations are also possible as long as the formula does not contain spaces.
For example, (2+3)*4:

PS: Please note that div (Integer division) and mod (Modulus) cannot be used.

Let’s continue with another topic that may be of interest.

Are other types of fields also available? For example, Integer, Text, and Code.

The answer is no. Integer type fields do not support formulas.

The Text and Code type will save the formula itself as text directly.

So this can only be used for Decimal Data type.

Next tip, in Business Central, you can enter negative numbers in two ways. The number -20.5 can be entered as:

-20.5

20.5-

PS: Dynamics 365 Business Central: Move Negative Lines feature (Create a replacement order in return process)

If the last character of the expression is a + or a –, the entire expression will be recorded with that sign. As an example, 10-20+ will result in 10 and not -10.

20-10- will result in -10.

Negative numbers are also available for Integer type and, like formulas, are stored as text in Code and Text types.

Great, give it a try!!!😁

PS: Enter data in Business Central – Business Central | Microsoft Learn

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Hope this will help.

Thanks for reading.

ZHU