Creating a simple text file using AL in Business Central - Sample Code

 By Steve Endow

On January 23, 2021, I recorded a video showing how to create a simple text file using AL in Business Central.

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GUzlFKJFQk

Below is the sample code from that video.

PowerShell script to remove old Docker Images without deleting the base OS image

 By Steve Endow

If you are creating Business Central Docker Containers and regularly updating the artifacts and images for your containers, you may be familiar with this problem.

When you type "docker images" in PowerShell, you are greeted with a pile of old unused images consuming tons of disk space.

A digital junk drawer

I want to delete the old, unused Docker images.  But I do not want to delete the 10.4 GB "base OS" image that is listed at the very bottom.  As long as my OS version remains the same, that image can be used repeatedly, and if I deleted it, I would have to download it again.

Disable Browser Autofill with Business Central

 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.

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.

Disable Two Factor Authentication on Business Central Demo Sandbox Environments

 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

Page Inspection Keyboard Shortcut CTRL+ALT+F1 Doesn't Work on Laptop

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.

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.

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.

Why Business Central is Amazing #5: Community

 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

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.  

Why Business Central is Amazing #4: Native Web Interface

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.

Single click

And you probably know what I see next.

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.