New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2: Analyze, Group, and Pivot Data on Lists

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralThis post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2.

The third of the new functionality in the Reporting and data analysis section is Analyze, group, and pivot data on lists.

End users and data analysts can analyze data from lists directly in the client without the need to open the page in Excel or run a report.

The ability to analyze data directly in lists raises the bar for what you can do without having to switch applications, while still allowing customers and partners to do more in report objects, Excel, Power BI, or other data analysis applications.

Enabled for:
Public Preview: –
General Availability: Oct 2023

Feature Details

Analysis mode is a new way of interacting with data on lists. Instead of running reports using different options and filters, you can simply add multiple tabs that represent different tasks or views on the data. Examples could be "My customers," "Follow-up items," "Recently added vendors," "Sales statistics," or any other view you want.
When you’re ready to analyze data on a list page (where you might have filtered data using a view or filter pane), simply switch to analysis mode:

Shows how to enable analysis mode on list pages

Analysis mode opens the data in a new experience that’s optimized for data analysis. When a page is in analysis mode, it’s split into two areas:

  • The main data area (including a Tabs pane)
  • The field modifier area
Explains the parts that are available in analysis mode

Use the data area to interact with the data. For columns that are summable, you can easily get descriptive statistics on a set of fields by marking them.

Shows the cell statistics

The bottom of the data area shows the total row count on the column.

Shows the row count in analysis mode

Use the field modifier area to control the data to show and its format. On the menu, you choose the fields to show or hide.

Shows the Field Modifier area in analysis mode

You can group data by dragging fields to the Grouping part of the Columns menu. This lets you explore data grouped by one or more fields to the left of the data area.

Shows row groups in the Field Modifier area in analysis mode

Grouping works great in pivot mode. To enable pivot mode, turn on the Pivot Mode toggle switch and then drag fields that are to be summed to the Values part.

Shows pivot row groups in analysis mode

In pivot mode, you can define groups that show up in the column part of the data area. Do this by dragging fields to the Column Labels part of the Columns menu.

Shows pivot row and column groups in analysis mode

Column grouping works best if the grouping field only contains a few values.

Use the Additional Filters menu of the field modifier area to apply more filters to the dataset. In this part of an analysis, you might want to focus on a specific customer or period of time.

Shows additional filter options in analysis mode

The data area gives you rich control of the layout of columns.

  • Drag columns to where they make the most sense in your analysis.
  • Pin a column to the left or right side of the column part.
  • Define data filters directly on the column definition instead of going to the field modifier area. You can still peek in on details about related data and for each line, and open the card to learn more about a given entity.

Business Central can save multiple column setups and filters. The next time you switch to analysis mode you can dive straight in to analyzing data. On the Tabs pane, you can rename or remove a tab.

Shows the Rename tab in analysis mode

The Tabs pane also lets you add new tabs.

Shows the New tab in analysis mode

Using tabs allows you to save different setups that you frequently use to analyze a dataset. For example, you might have tabs for analyzing data with pivot mode, and other tabs that filter to a subset of rows. Some tabs might show a detailed view with many columns, and others only display a few key columns.

note Note

These tabs are saved for your use only.

How much data can I analyze?

On a list page, as a starting point you can set filters to limit the data. Maybe you want to analyze a certain group of customers, or maybe you want data from the current year only. You can also choose a page view to perform this action. You don’t have to do this prefiltering step, but going to analysis mode will load all data into your browser, so it might be needed for larger datasets (currently above 100,000 rows).
In the 2023 release wave 2, Microsoft allow users to analyze more data than 100,000 rows.

How do I get started with analysis mode?

The feature is turned on by default. Your administrator can turn it off using the Feature Management page by disabling Analysis mode.

Shows how to enable analysis mode on the Feature Management page

What Microsoft changed based on feedback from the public preview

  • Added the ability to control on which list pages the analysis mode is enabled.
  • Added the ability to share an analysis mode tab with a co-worker.
  • Increased the data set size to above 100,000 rows.
  • Added persistence for the user’s choice of analysis mode on list pages, so that their preferences are remembered from their last visit.

New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2

New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2
Change Modification Limits for Triggering Flows and Bulk Updates
Support Business Events in Business Central Connector for Power Automate
Enable Specific Virtual Tables When You Connect to Dataverse
Get Control Over How to View Power BI Embedded Content
Availability Overview Helps You Calculate Quantities in Your Warehouse
Configure The Right Level of Handling For Different Warehouse Operations
Do financial Consolidations Across Environments in Multicompany Setups
Edit in Excel on Item Journals and Warehouse Worksheets
Get More Productive While Approving Time Sheets
Get More Productive While Entering Time Sheets
Include Approvals for Intercompany General Journals in Your Workflows
Make Intercompany Transactions Across Business Central Environments
Suggest the Next Step For Sales and Production Orders
Sync Document and Posting Dates for Sales and Purchases
Troubleshoot Shopify Integration Issues
Usability Improves for Warehouse, Inventory, and Tracking
Use Directed Pick and Put-away Suggestions in Basic Warehouse Configurations
Use General Ledger Allocations to Distribute Costs and Revenue More Efficiently
Complete Bank Account Reconciliation Faster With Copilot
Get Marketing Text Suggestions with Copilot
New Design for Report Language and Region Settings
Advance Payment and a Posting Preview of Tax Documents – Czechia
Direct Transfer – Czechia
E-submission of VAT Return in Denmark
Iceland Localization App – Delocalization
Intercompany Posting Cues to the Accountant Role Center – Czechia
New Intrastat – Czechia
Registration and Notification Functionality for Denmark
E-invoicing with NemHandel in Denmark
Supporting More Countries and Regions
Open Visual Studio Code From Web Client to Investigate or Troubleshoot Extensions
Turn Off Data Analysis Mode on Pages and Queries
Turn Off Indexes as a Partner
Use the Built-in Rich Text Editor to Enter Data
Assign More Granular Administration Rights
Improved Update Release Processes
Cancel Cloud Migration Replication Runs
Digital Vouchers
E-documents Core as a Global Solution
Large Companies to Report Payment Times
Modify Texts on the Welcome Banner and Skip Banner Intro State
Set Initial Role Before First Sign-in for a Better First-Run Experience
Enhancements to Excel Add-in
Analyze, Group, and Pivot Data on Queries Using Multiple Tabs
Discover Report and Data Analysis Content Easily
Get Power BI Reports for Reporting and Data Analysis on Finance, Sales, and Inventory
Data Loads Faster in the Server
Faster Application Scenarios
Pages Load Faster in Client
Performance Gain Reducing Locks in the Database
Add Existing Table Fields to Optimize Your Pages
Get to Data Search From Anywhere in Business Central
Distinguish Browser Tabs When Multitasking
Share Readable Deep Links to Pages and Records
Manage User Expectations with Selection Context-Based Actions
Peek at Summarized Data From Editable Fields
Search for Pages and Data in the Mobile App
Use Actions to Navigate or Fix Errors From Inline Validation Dialog
Updates to the Release Plan
Power Pages Support via Business Central Virtual Tables on Dataverse
Synchronize More Fields in Your Integration with Dataverse and Dynamics 365 Sales
Consolidated Power Automate Flow Creation from Business Central Templates
Get List of Companies Using Business Central Connector in Power Automate
Simplified Power Automate Approval Flow Experience
Create Power Automate Flows that Dynamically Support Different Companies
Business Central Virtual Tables Fully Supported on Microsoft Dataverse
Relate Native and Virtual Tables to Expose More Business Central Data in Dataverse
Include Only Open Entries on Customer Statements
Adjust Exchange Rates Easily, Replace the Built-in Batch Job
More Control Over General Journal Approvals
Use Different General Ledger Accounts for Payables, Receivables
Add More Columns to Pages for Better Insight
Availability Overview Helps You Calculate Quantities in Your Warehouse
Block Item Variants
Identify and Track Items Easier with Item References
Improved Processes for Inventory Counts and Adjustments
Navigate Easier Between Order, Receipt, and Invoice Documents
Print and Scan Barcodes
Receive More Items Than Ordered by Using Inventory Put-away Documents
Generate a Customer Statement Only With Open Entries
Responsibility Centers Are Supported for Advance Payments in Czechia
Easier Management of System Application Permissions
Get the AL Language Extension in Prerelease Versions on Visual Studio Code Marketplace
Find All References Now Works on Triggers, System Methods, and Trigger Events
Get Inlay Hints in Source Editor for AL Method Parameters and Return Types
Get Inlay Hints in Source Editor for AL Method Parameters and Return Types
Hover Over Label Variable to See Text String Value
Set New Output Folder Setting for Storing App Files at AL Project Build
Choose Between More Sampling Intervals for Snapshot and In-client Profiling
Get IntelliSense for Adding Variables in Visual Studio Code AL Debugger Console
Get Smarter Method Signature Recommendations in IntelliSense
Set the Default Folder Location for New AL Projects
Track Source and Build Metadata on Extensions
Use SecretText Type to Protect Credentials and Sensitive Textual Values From Being Revealed
Document Your Extensions With the ALDoc Tool for Partners
Segment AL Code and Reduce Naming Conflicts with Namespaces
Show List of Keys While Working on AL Code
Use the AL Language Extension for Linux in Preview
Provide Queries for Users to do Ad Hoc Data Analysis Across Tables
Add a New FieldGroup to an Existing Table
Add Teaching Tooltips on Queries and Report Request Pages
Get Syntax Highlighting for AL in Azure DevOps
Sell Business Central Apps Through AppSource
AppSource ISV Publishers Can Preview Their AppSource Apps With Select Customers
Extend General Ledger Posting Aggregations
Define multi-worksheet datasets for Excel reports
Include or Exclude Tables From Cloud Migration
Delete Data from Uninstalled Extensions as an Admin
Automatically Update AppSource Apps With Minor Updates
Transfer Environments Between Microsoft Entra Tenants
Control Partner Access Per Environment
Use Drop Shipments for Triangular Intrastat Trade
Start Faster with Refreshed and Enhanced Setup Data
VAT Posting in General Ledger Setup
Demo Tool and Data for Service Scenarios
Analyze, Group, and Pivot Data on Lists
Share a Data Analysis With a Co-worker
Synchronize Multiple Business Central Companies With the Same Dataverse Environment
New Operational Limits on Scheduled Tasks and Web Requests Improve Throughput
Service-to-Service Apps and Device License Users Can Schedule Tasks
Mark Fields as Read-only When Customizing UI
Scan barcodes with Business Central mobile app for iOS and Android
Access Worksheet Pages From Mobile Phones
Use Virtual Tables to Expose More Business Central Data in Dataverse
Reverse a Customer and Vendor Ledger Entry with a Realized Gain or Loss Entry
Use General Ledger Account Revaluation for More Accurate Financial Statements
Use Standard Terminology for Project Management
Use Currencies When Posting Employee Transactions
Chat with Copilot
Improved Data Upgrade Troubleshooting for Dynamics GP Migration
Retain Permissions When Enabling Cloud Migration
Detect Invalid Cloud Migration Configurations with Proactive Warnings
Multiple VAT Numbers per Customer

What should we write about next?

If there is a topic which fits the typical ones of this site, which you would like to see me write about, please use the form, below, to submit your idea.

Your Name

Your Email

Suggested Topic

Suggestion Details

1 thought on “New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2023 Wave 2: Analyze, Group, and Pivot Data on Lists

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *