C/Side is much more than just development
With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2019 Wave 2, we no longer have C/Side. The story, over the last two years, has focused on Visual Studio Code as the replacement for C/Side’s development features. But what about all the other features that C/Side provided? C/Side has also been the tool for IT Pros, supporters and customers who need to perform different maintenance tasks. How to do them now?
| Database > New | PowerShell: New-NAVDatabase |
| Database > Open | Opening an old database with a new version of C/Side will trigger a database upgrade, that can be done with PowerShell: Invoke-NAVApplicationDatabaseConversion |
| Database > Alter | Some features can be done with SSMS, but others seem to be missing, check https://docs.microsoft.com/dynamics365 /business-central/dev-itpro/cside/ cside-create-databases |
| Database > Delete | You can delete a database with SSMS: SQL Server Management Studio |
| Database > Close | Close is a dependency function for other C/Side features |
| Database > Information | You can see information about the database in SSMS, but not the session list. |
| Object Designer | Visual Studio Code with AL Language extension |
| Debugger > Debug Session | Currently no direct replacement |
| Debugger > Event Subscriptions | Run Page 9510 directly from the web client. (add ?page=9510 to query string) |
| Debugger > Database Locks | Run Page 9511 directly from the web client. (add ?page=9511 to query string) |
| Build Object Search Index | Support for the old search feature in the Role Tailored Client, no need for a replacement |
| Build Server Application Objects | Force generation of server-side C# code from .FOB based object, no need for a replacement. |
| Show Field Data Classification | From the web client, open the Data Classification Worksheet |
| Sync Schema for All Tables | PowerShell: sync-navtenant |
| Data Upgrade | PowerShell: Start-NAVDataUpgrade |
| License Information | Show License with PowerShell: Export-NAVServerLicenseInformation Upload License with PowerShell: Import-NAVServerLicense Change License, not possible, see: https://demiliani.com/2019/10/04/ dynamics-365-business-central-on- premise-wave-2-changing-license/ |
| Custom Controls | No longer used in Business Central |
| Options | Internal C/Side settings. |
As mentioned above, running a specific object can be done by manipulating the URL:
| Run Page | Add ?page=<page number> |
| Run Table | Add ?table=<table number> |
| Run Report | Add ?report=<Report number> |
This is can also be done from Visual Studio Code with the CRS Extension.
Working in the cloud removed the need for most of these features and many of them are replaced with the new /admin management site. Read more on the Field Guide about Business Central and how to support a cloud-based ERP system.
