By Steve Endow
While using Business Central with Google Chrome, I started to notice strange words appearing in Business Central fields while I entered data in the browser.
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| Why are you doing this? |
In this example, the word "test" was appearing when I clicked on the drop down list for bank accounts in Business Central. The suggested value was in a text box displayed over the standard Business Central list box.
By Steve Endow
I have created a Business Central SaaS demo sandbox tenant by following the steps outlined by Erik Hougaard in his video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_anE1exnPM
UPDATE: Microsoft has changed the "Sign Up" process for a new Microsoft account. See the comments below Erik's video for a direct link to the new account page.
The new Business Central sandbox works great at first, but after a few days, when you login to the demo Business Central tenant, you will be prompted to enable Two Factor Authentication for the demo Microsoft login.
This is due to enhanced Azure security settings called "Security Defaults". While these settings are probably a good thing for most organizations, I don't need 2FA for a demo BC sandbox.
Here's how to turn off Azure Security Defaults.
Login to portal.azure.com using your demo Microsoft login
Expand the Azure menu on the left and click on Azure Active Directory
On the Azure Active Directory Overview page, scroll down the menu on the left and click on Properties
When the Tenant properties page is displayed, scroll to the bottom and click on Manage Security defaults
The Enable Security defaults option should be displayed
Change the setting to No
Click on Save
This should disable 2FA for the Business Central demo tenant.
Steve Endow is a Microsoft MVP in Los Angeles. He works with Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps, Azure, .NET, Dynamics GP, and SQL Server.
You can also find him on Twitter and YouTube
https://www.precipioservices.com
By Steve Endow
Update: I originally wrote this post referencing my Lenovo ThinkPad P1 laptop, but it appears that similar Intel Graphics software is used on several different laptop brands and models, causing the same issue. The name or appearance of the specific Intel Graphics software may vary, but the concept still applies.
If you use Dynamics 365 Business Central, you should be aware of the Page Inspection feature.
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| Inspect my page |
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/across-inspect-page
One of the ways to open the Page Inspection pane while viewing a Business Central page in a browser is to press the keyboard shortcut CTRL + ALT + F1.
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| Handy Keyboard Shorcut |
While doing some BC development and testing on my new Lenovo ThinkPad P1 laptop, I pressed CTRL + ALT + F1 to open Page Inspection.
But nothing happened.
By Steve Endow
The Business Central Community is amazing.
Want proof?
Here's a great example from my Twitter timeline this afternoon:
https://twitter.com/steveendow/status/1306667765369991168?s=20
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| This is Community |
"Business Central Twitter" is in constant conversation. Business Central community members from around the globe, quite literally, are asking questions, answering questions, posting updates, blogs, videos, and MS Docs articles.
By Steve Endow
Do you know how I access Business Central?
I pull up my web browser, and I click a shortcut on the browser shortcut bar.
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| Single click |
And you probably know what I see next.
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| I've arrived |
A glorious, modern, rich, interactive, attractive, customizable user interface. Take a moment to appreciate this significant feature of Business Central.
A "native" web interface. A native web application. Pretty amazing.
I didn't have to install an application on my computer. I didn't have to configure anything on my computer. I didn't have to setup a web server or install a web client. In fact, I can access Business Central from any computer. I just need a web browser. Or I can install the Business Central mobile application.
By Steve Endow
"What? Are you crazy, Steve? Not having access to SQL is a limitation! It's a weakness! That's not amazing!"
I am not trying to change anyone else's mind--I'm just sharing a few thoughts why I think that NOT having access to SQL Server is amazing.
I've been working with on-prem ERP systems since 1996, when I implemented Solomon IV for Windows, then MAS 90, then Peoplesoft, then Dynamics GP. I'm aware of all the arguments for wanting or needing access to SQL. I get it.
But that direct access comes at significant cost. And responsibility. And risk. And those things are not amazing. Mid-market companies want to sell their product or service, to provide customer satisfaction, and to make revenue.
They don't want to be in the ERP database administration business. Or the ERP database backup business. Or the ERP disaster recovery business. Or the ransomware defense business.
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| Do you really want to be in the database administration and maintenance business? |
By Steve Endow
I have an ERP joke for you...
Find a consultant who supports an on premises ERP application for dozens or hundreds of customers.
Ask them which of the 7 different VPN clients on their laptop is their favorite.
(rim shot)
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| Just say no |
by Steve Endow (If anyone has a technical explanation for the discrepancy between the Docs and the BC behavior, let me know!) On Sunday nig...
