Editing Layouts
Watch the Editing Layouts (Report Layouts) section of our demo video to learn more about how to start editing your layouts!
Important
Note that you can only edit user-defined report layout records! It is not possible to edit extension-provided layout records; to make changes to an extension-provided layout, you will need to make a copy of the layout to create a new user-defined/tenant report layout.
Tip
Use the Document Creator User-Defined Report Layouts page for editing layouts in your Business Central Sandbox environment.
Editing Layouts using Design FilesLink
On the Report Layouts page you will find an Export Design and Import Design action (within the Document Creator promoted category). These actions can be used to export and import a "Document Creator Design File (.dcrd)" for the record selected on the page.
Please note that these actions are only supported for Document Creator layouts (i.e., layout format "External" and MIME Type "reportlayout/dcrx"). If you attempt to use these actions for any other layout type, such as RDLC, Word or Excel, an error message will be shown.
Export DesignLink
To start editing a layout, you will need to export the layout in a Design file that you will open in the Document Creator standalone report designer. If you do not have the designer installed yet, then please follow the installations instructions at the Installing the Designer page.
To export a layout to edit it in the designer, follow these steps:
- Select the Report Layout record.
- Invoke the Export Design... action.
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The Export Design dialog page opens.
On this dialog page you will find the option Edit with Data (which is enabled by default). If you enable this option, the Design file will be exported with a dataset, which can be filtered using the report's request page that will be shown.
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Choose OK.
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If you made the choice to Edit with Data earlier, the report's request page will open, where you can define filters and further options for the dataset to be included in the Design file.
After configuring the options and filters, choose OK and wait for the report to complete.
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Save the Design file to a location of your choice.
You can now open the file and use the Document Creator Designer to edit the layout.
Note
In case you enabled the Edit with Data option earlier, you can Preview (Ctrl+P) your layout from the report designer with the data from your Dynamics 365 Business Central database. In case you disabled the option earlier, the preview will use a sample dataset with a single record per data source containing the label-/column-names and/or default values for the columns.
After you are satisfied with the changes to the layout, you can save and close the designer.
Import DesignLink
When you are done editing the layout in an earlier exported Design file, you need to import the Design file to apply the changes to the layout in your Dynamics 365 Business Central database. The Import Design action allows you to select a Design file and import the contained layout into the selected, user-defined Document Creator report layout record on the Report Layouts page.
To import a layout from a Design file, follow these steps:
- Select the target report layout record.
- Invoke the Import Design... action.
- Click Choose... and select the Design file in the Open File dialog that appears.
Attention
This action is only enabled for user-defined Document Creator report layout records. It is not possible to edit extension-provided layout records; to make changes to an extension-provided layout, you will need to make a copy of the layout to create a new user-defined/tenant report layout.
Info
During the import of a Design file, the previous version of the layout is automatically added to the Tenant Report Layout Archive, along with a comment that reads "Before Design Import". This allows you to restore the previous version of the layout, e.g., in case you made a mistake and want to revert your changes.