Business Central 2025 wave 1 (BC26): Access report and request metadata in Word layouts

Hi, Readers.
The public preview for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 release wave 1 (BC26) is available. Learn more: Link.

I will continue to test and share some new features that I hope will be helpful.

Access report and request metadata in Word layouts:

Business value:
Similar to Excel layouts, you can now access report and request metadata in a Word layout without the need to encode this information in the report dataset. This enhancement makes report datasets easier to understand and removes tedious work for AL developers who create datasets for reports.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/release-plan/2025wave1/smb/dynamics365-business-central/access-report-request-metadata-word-layouts?wt.mc_id=DX-MVP-5004336

When you create a new report, there are two main tasks to consider. First, you define the report dataset of data items and columns. Then, you design the report layout. As of now, you can create a client report definition (RDLC) report layout and a Microsoft Word report layout for a report and also an Excel layout for a report.

In the Excel layout, there is a hidden sheet, Aggregated Metadata (Report Metadata).
PS: Business Central 2022 wave 1 (BC20): Excel layouts for BC Reports

You can find the ReportMetadata and ReportRequest:

PS:

• Automatically included if the layout was created by exporting another Excel report.
• Contains general information about the report.
• Can be deleted.

With this wave, there are now two types of metadata also available in Word layouts:
PS: A Word report layout is a based on a Word document (.docx file type) that acts as a template for viewing and printing reports from Dynamics 365 Business Central. Word report layouts enable you to design report layouts by using Word.

• ReportMetadata: Provides information from the report object, such as the object ID and report name. This information is always available in the same format and location in the data picker area.

ExtensionId, ExtensionName, ExtensionPublisher, ExtensionVersion, ReportId, ReportName, AboutThisReportTitle, AboutThisReportText, ReportHelpLink. For example,

PS: Dynamics 365 Business Central: Adding teaching tips to your reports (Support for teaching tips on request pages)

• ReportRequest: Contains information about the report request, such as company name, user name, and the date/time of the request.

TenantEntraId, EnvironmentName, EnvironmentType, CompanyName, CompanyDisplayName, CompanyId, UserName, DateAndTime, Language, FormatRegion, DateTimeValues (Year, MonthNumber, DayNumber, Hour, Minute). For example,

Small update, but it makes life easier. Give it a try!!!😁

PS:
1. Business Central 2023 wave 2 (BC23): Sets whether an Excel layout will render to multiple data sheets or in a single sheet named Data (ExcelLayoutMultipleDataSheets Property)

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

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Hope this will help.

Thanks for reading.

ZHU