Dynamics 365 Business Central: How to create a blank layout for the report within BC

Hi, Readers.
Today I would like to share another mini tip about Business Central, how to create a Blank Layout for the report within BC.

Business Central comes with many built-in layouts that you can use on your reports. Other layouts may have been added as part of other extensions. But it’s also possible to create your own reports either from scratch or based on an existing layout.

Until now, if we need to modify the report layout without modifying the internal logic and Dataitems of the report, we can simply operate in Report Layout Selection page.

To create a custom layout, either copy an existing custom layout or add a new custom layout. Custom layouts are often based on a built-in layout. When you add a new custom layout, you can choose to add either an RDLC or a Word report layout type, or both. The new custom layout will be based on the built-in layout for the report, if one is available. If there’s no built-in layout for the report type, a new blank layout is created. You’ll have to modify and design this blank layout from scratch. Although there are limitations, this is one way to create a blank layout

But Microsoft has informed that Custom report layouts is a legacy feature. More details: (Legacy) Create and modify custom report layouts

Custom report layouts is a legacy feature that is being phased out. Instead, you should start creating user-defined layouts as described here.

Why? Starting from Business Central 2022 wave 1 (BC20), Microsoft released a new way to manage layouts, Report Layouts page. More details: Business Central 2022 wave 1 (BC20): New pages for report layout administration (page 9660 “Report Layouts”)

We can create a new layout on the new page. For example,

As of BC24.5, we cannot create a blank layout on this new page.
In BC24.5 and and previous versions:

With this wave (Business Central 2024 wave 2), Microsoft has added a small update to address this need. Let’s see more details.

Choose the the Tell Me icon, enter Report Layouts, and then choose the related link.

The Report Layouts page appears and lists all the layouts currently available for all reports.

Select any layout in the list that is for the same report that you want use for the new layout, and then select New.

In Add New Layout for a Report page, fill in the following fields:

You can create a blank layout file of any type.

Turn on the Create a blank layout from the report object switch.

Create a Blank Layout from the report object
Specifies whether the layout should be created from the report design or from an existing layout on disk.

Select OK when finished. The new layout appears in the list. The layout is blank, but all the reports fields and captions are available for you to start adding them to the layout.

Now, you’re ready to start designing the layout.
PS: When you create a layout from a blank, you need to design it entirely. The layout file provides all the report fields that you can add and arrange as needed.

Very simple, give it a try!!!😁

PS:
1. Dynamics 365 Business Central: Add Custom Report Layouts to Report Layouts (Migrate to System Layouts)

2. Dynamics 365 Business Central: Disabling option to choose Report Layouts on the request page

3. Business Central 2024 wave 2 (BC25): Use improved features for report documents (New Word add-in……)

4. What’s new: Reporting features (for developers and consultants)

END

Hope this will help.

Thanks for reading.

ZHU