What's New: Developer and IT Pro Changes for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a complete enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution for mid-sized organizations that is fast to implement, easy to configure, and simple to use. Right from the start, simplicity has guided—and continues to guide—innovations in product design, development, implementation, and usability.
This document details new features and functionality that are available in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 and have been added to the product since Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2. It also describes features that have been deprecated since Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2.
What's New for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 Feature Pack 1
The following features and functionality for developers, administrators, and IT pros are introduced with Microsoft Dynamics NAV Feature Pack 1.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Provisioning Tools for Windows Azure
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Provisioning Tools for Windows Azure enable you to deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV on the Windows Azure platform. The provisioning tools include Windows PowerShell cmdlets and scripts that automate the deployment of Microsoft Dynamics NAV on Windows Azure virtual machines. Although the tools are designed for deployment on Windows Azure, you can adapt the tools for deployment on other cloud services or on-premise installations.
The provisioning tools provide end-to-end example scripts that deploy a fully functional Microsoft Dynamics NAV environment that includes the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server components, Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server, and Microsoft Dynamics NAV database components.
After deployment, end-users have access to Microsoft Dynamics NAV data by using the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client from a ClickOnce site or the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client. The scripts illustrate the operations that are required for full deployment of Microsoft Dynamics NAV and can be modified to match the specific requirements for your installation.
For more information, see Deploying and Managing Microsoft Dynamics NAV on Windows Azure.
New and Enhanced Windows PowerShell Cmdlets
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Feature Pack 1 extends the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Administration Shell with new and updated Windows PowerShell cmdlets as described in the following tables.
Note
You no longer have to be set up as a Microsoft Dynamics NAV user to run Microsoft Dynamics NAV Administration Shell cmdlets.
For more information about the cmdlets, see Administration Cmdlets for Microsoft Dynamics NAV in the MSDN Library.
New Cmdlets
The following table lists the new cmdlets.
| Cmdlet | Description |
|---|---|
New-NAVWebServerInstance |
Creates a new web server instance for the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client. |
New-NAVDatabase |
Creates a new Microsoft Dynamics NAV database from a backup file. |
Rename-NAVCompany |
Renames a company in a Microsoft Dynamics NAV database. |
Updated Cmdlets
The following table lists the updated cmdlets.
| Cmdlet | Description and change | Updated Parameters |
|---|---|---|
New-NAVServerInstance |
Creates a new Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance. |
ClientServicesCertificateThumbprint ClientServicesCredentialType DatabaseInstance DatabaseName DatabaseInstance |
Get-NAVServerUserPermissionSet |
Returns permission set information for Microsoft Dynamics NAV users. |
SID UserName WindowsAccount |
New-NAVServerUser |
Creates a new Microsoft Dynamics NAV user. |
AuthenticationKey FullName Password ChangePasswordAtNextLogOn SID UserName WindowsAccount ExpiryDate CreateWebServicesKey WebServicesKeyExpiryDate LicenseType State |
New-NavServerUserPermissionSet |
Assigns a permission set to a Microsoft Dynamics NAV user. |
SID UserName WindowsAccount |
Remove-NavServerUser |
Deletes a Microsoft Dynamics NAV user. |
SID UserName WindowsAccount |
Remove-NavServerUserPermissionSet |
Removes a permission set from the list of permission sets that are assigned to a Microsoft Dynamics NAV user. |
SID UserName WindowsAccount |
Set-NavServerUser |
Changes the configuration settings of an existing Microsoft Dynamics NAV user. |
AuthenticationKey FullName Password ChangePasswordAtNextLogOn SID UserName WindowsAccount ExpiryDate CreateWebServicesKey WebServicesKeyExpiryDate LicenseType State |
New Development Environment Commands
You can now use the finsql.exe to perform the following tasks from a command prompt:
Create companies
Delete companies
Rename companies
Create databases
For more information, see Development Environment Commands.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server Installation Supports Multiple Instances
The installation of the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server components by Microsoft Dynamics NAV Setup has been improved to accommodate the addition of multiple web server instances. Previously, if you wanted to add an additional web server instance for the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client, for example, to connect to another company or database, then you had to manually add the instance on IIS. With the changes in Microsoft Dynamics NAV Setup, after you initially install the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server components, you can add new web server instances by running the New-NAVWebServerInstance cmdlet.
For more information, see Installing Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server Components on IIS and How to: Set Up Multiple Web Server Instances for the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Client.
What's New for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013
The following features and functionality for developers, administrators, and IT pros have been introduced since Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Installation
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Setup program has been enhanced and redesigned. There are now four setup options instead of six. Classic Database Server is no longer available. For more information, see the sections under Deployment.
When you install Microsoft Dynamics NAV in a production environment, with the client, server, and database tiers each installed on a separate computer, you are no longer required to manually configure delegation or to manually create SPNs to enable the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client to communicate with SQL Server. This change is due to the implementation of a new managed data access layer to handle communications between Microsoft Dynamics NAV and SQL Server. This new interface uses ADO.NET instead of ODBC and offers less resource consumption, improved performance, and simpler deployment.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server now only runs on 64-bit editions of Windows operating systems. For more information about supported operating systems, see the Requirements document that is provided with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 download.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 also now requires a 64-bit edition of SQL Server. If a supported version of SQL Server is not found on the computer, then Setup installs the 64-bit edition of SQL Server 2012 Express. For more information about supported versions of SQL Server, see the Requirements document that is provided with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 download.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 now requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 as a prerequisite. If it is not found on the target computer, then Setup installs it.
Upgrade
Full upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 is supported. Documentation for upgrade is now in the Help and on MSDN, instead of in a separate Upgrade Guide. For more information, see Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Portal Framework for Microsoft SharePoint 2010
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Portal Framework for Microsoft SharePoint 2010 is a web-based application framework for developing Microsoft Dynamics NAV solutions for Microsoft SharePoint 2010 applications. You can use Microsoft Dynamics NAV Portal Framework for Microsoft SharePoint 2010 to give users access to data in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 from SharePoint websites by displaying pages and reports.
With Microsoft Dynamics NAV Portal Framework for Microsoft SharePoint 2010, you can do the following:
Display Microsoft Dynamics NAV pages and reports on SharePoint sites using a URL.
Add a page by using a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Part and connect the Web Part to other Web Parts on a SharePoint page.
Edit data on pages in web applications and update the changes in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 database by using the same metadata and business logic that is rendered in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client without complex setup steps.
Display a Microsoft Dynamics NAV page in a Web Part on a SharePoint Site.
Connect a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Part to other Web Parts.
Edit Microsoft Dynamics NAV pages on a SharePoint site. Changes are updated in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV database by using the same metadata and business logic that is rendered in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client without complex setup steps.
For more information, see Microsoft Dynamics NAV SharePoint Client and Portal Framework.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Client
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client enables users to access Microsoft Dynamics NAV data over the Internet. From an Internet browser, users can view and edit data from a user-friendly interface, which resembles the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client.
Deployment
Deployment with Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client is made simple because you do not have to install or configure any components on user computers or devices. To install the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client, you only have to install Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server components on a web server that can be accessed by your users.
Development
Like the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client, you develop solutions for the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client using the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Development Environment — designing Microsoft Dynamics NAV objects and implementing business logic as you do with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client. The same Microsoft Dynamics NAV object, such as a page or report, that is displayed in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client can also be displayed in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client.
Browser and Device Support
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client supports different Internet browsers, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari. Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client supports browsers on various mobile devices, such as Windows Phone 7.5, Android, and iOS for iPhone and iPad.
For more information, see Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Client.
ClickOnce
The ClickOnce deployment technology lets you deploy web applications by choosing a link on a webpage. ClickOnce is a component of the Microsoft .NET Framework. For more information, see Deploying Microsoft Dynamics NAV Using ClickOnce.
Development Environment
From Object Designer in the development environment, you can run any object. The object is run on the computer that is running Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server, not on a client computer.
To run an object from Object Designer, you must first open a company. If you do not have a company open, then the Run button is not available.
You can also run objects from hyperlinks. For more information, see Creating and Running Hyperlinks.
The following are new error handling functions:
The following are new commands that you can run with finsql.exe at a command prompt:
CompileObjects
DesignObject
ExportObjects
ImportObjects
For more information, see Development Environment Commands.
Debugging
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 includes a new debugger that you can use to inspect your code and verify your application. The debugger UI runs on the client. The debugger services run on the computer that is running Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server.
You can debug the following:
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client sessions.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV SharePoint client sessions.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client sessions.
OData web services sessions.
SOAP web services sessions.
NAS services sessions.
Background sessions that you start by using the STARTSESSION Function (Sessions).
You can set breakpoints either from the C/AL Editor in the development environment or from the Debugger client application. After you hit a breakpoint, you can do the following:
Step through lines of code.
Step over or out of functions.
Set additional breakpoints.
Specify conditions for breakpoints.
Inspect the values of variables.
Add variables to a watch list.
View the call stack.
Continue code execution.
For more information, see Debugging.
Page Testing
A new test feature is page testability. You use C/AL code on a test page object to simulate the following tasks that you can perform on a page:
View or modify the value of a field on a test page.
View the data on page parts.
View or modify the value of a field on a subpage.
Filter the data on a test page.
Perform any actions that are available on the page.
Navigate to different records.
For more information, see Testing Pages.
Page Development
In Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013, enhancements have been added to page development.
Page Field Arrangement in a Grid
With the new GridLayout page control, you can lay out fields in rows and columns. You use the GridLayout control to span a field over rows or columns and show or hide field labels.
For more information, see How to: Arrange Fields in Rows and Columns Using the GridLayout Control.
Page Preview in Page Designer
You can preview a page in Page Designer as you work without having to run the page in the client. The page preview is interactive and helps you identify which controls in Page Designer and Action Designer correspond to elements on the rendered page. When you select an element or action on the page in the preview, the corresponding control is highlighted in Page Designer or Action Designer. Also, when you select a control in Page Designer or Action Designer, the corresponding element is highlighted in the preview.
For more information, see How to: Preview Pages and Identify Page and Action Controls.
Standard Dialog Page Type
You can use the Standard Dialog page type to create a simple page for entering data. The Standard Dialog page does not include a ribbon, and you cannot customize this page in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client.
For more information, see Touring the RoleTailored Client Pages.
Page Wizard
You can use the page wizard to add FactBoxes that contain page, system, and chart parts. For more information, see How to: Create a Page.
Action and Activity Button Icon Selection
When you select an icon for an action or activity button, you can select from a list instead of manually entering the icon’s name. For more information, see How to: Set an Icon on an Action and How to: Set an Icon on an Activity Button.
Default Control Names and Captions
By default, the name and caption on a field control use the source field’s name in the database.
QuickEntry Property
The new QuickEntry property specifies if the page control should have input focus. You can apply the property to page controls that can be skipped for faster data entry. For more information, see QuickEntry Property.
Report Development
To create a client report definition (RDLC) report, you design the data model with the new Report Dataset Designer, and then you design the layout with Visual Studio. You must install Visual Studio 2010, including the Visual Web Developer feature, to be able to design report layouts.
You must upgrade your Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 RDLC reports before you can run or modify them in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013. You upgrade reports by using a simple, automated process.
Part of the upgrade process is to convert reports from RDLC 2005 format to RDLC 2008 format. RDLC 2008 format enables some new layout features that allow you to:
Add fields to headers and footers.
Add a tablix advanced control to a report. A tablix incorporates the collective functionality of the list, table, and matrix controls. One benefit of a tablix control is the ability to create reports that have multiple dynamic columns.
Add a gauge control to a report. Gauge controls are useful for visualizing KPIs.
Use custom colors on charts.
When you install Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013, Report Viewer 2010 is installed for displaying reports in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 includes a new SAVEASWORD Function (REPORT) that enables you to save a report on the computer that is running Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server as a Microsoft Word (.doc) document.
From a request page, you can save a report as an Adobe PDF file, a Microsoft Excel (.xls) file, or a Word document.
To specify the printer tray from which the pages of a report are printed, use the following:
You can view a report and view the dataset and layout on a computer that does not have Microsoft Dynamics NAV installed. You can use this capability to troubleshoot reports.
For more information, see Reports.
Query Development
You can create a query object that combines data from multiple database tables into a single dataset. You can use the resulting dataset as the basis for charts and KPIs, ad hoc reporting exposed through OData, PowerPivot, or SSRs reports. You can save the dataset as an XML or comma separated values (CSV) file that can be read by other systems or software.
You use Query Designer in the development environment to create a query, which you then use to access data from the Microsoft Dynamics NAV database. You can create queries that:
Link multiple tables. Microsoft Dynamics NAV supports several link types that correspond to SQL join types, including inner join, left outer join, right outer join, full join, and cross join.
Filter the resulting dataset. You can apply filters directly from Query Designer or dynamically from C/AL code.
Group data by specific fields.
Sort the order of rows in the dataset.
Use totaling methods on data such as sum, average, and count.
After you create a query, you can run the query and retrieve or modify its dataset from C/AL code.
For more information, see Queries.
XMLport Development
You can run XMLports directly from Object Designer. The XMLport runs on Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server.
When you import data from an XML file by using XMLports, you can insert new records or update existing records in the database. In earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, you could insert new records, but not update existing records. You use the AutoSave Property, AutoReplace Property, and AutoUpdate Property to determine whether records are automatically inserted, replaced, or updated.
In earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, when importing or exporting data in text format, text was always encoded with MS-DOS encoding format. In Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013, you can specify whether to use MS-DOS, UTF-8, or UTF-16 encoding format.
For more information, see XMLports.
Microsoft .NET Framework Interoperability
You can extend your Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution with the .NET Framework assemblies. You can reference assemblies and call types directly from C/AL code of Microsoft Dynamics NAV objects, such as pages and codeunits. Microsoft Dynamics NAV objects can also subscribe to events that are published by .NET Framework types.
For more information, see Extending Microsoft Dynamics NAV Using Microsoft .NET Framework Interoperability.
Enhancements in RoleTailored Client Control Add-ins
Control add-ins have been enhanced with the following features.
Additional Data Types are Supported with Database Binding
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 now supports data types, such as DateTime, Boolean, Char, Decimal, Int32, Int64, and Guid. For more information, see Binding a Windows Client Control Add-in to the Database. Data binding and firing of the OnControlAddIn C/AL trigger is enabled by implementing respective interfaces.
Exposing Methods and Properties to C/AL Code
To extend user interface controls on a page, you can expose methods and properties in a control add-in assembly so that they can be called by C/AL code on page triggers. For more information, see Exposing Methods and Properties in a Windows Client Control Add-in.
Sizing Control Add-ins
You can specify an area of a page that a control add-in occupies. You can also set specific width and height or set the control add-in to resize as the page window resizes in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client. For more information, see Sizing a Control Add-in on a Page.
Start ID Offset
You can specify a start ID for new objects so that elements on these new objects have IDs that are offset by the number that you specified. You can use the start ID to identify a set of elements in your application, for example, to identify the elements in a country/region version. When you merge changes from different country/region versions, having different start IDs lets you easily identify the country/region version for each element.
For more information, see How to: Specify the Start ID Offset of Elements on Objects.
Unicode
Unicode is supported for data that you store in the database and for the Text and Code data types. Therefore, you can store data in any language in the database. You can also import and export Unicode data by using XMLports. For more information about Unicode and XMLports, see TextEncoding Property.
Database Changes
Several changes and performance improvements have been made. For more information, see Data Access Redesign.
Chart and KPI Enhancements
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 includes the following enhancements for displaying data in charts.
New Chart Types
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 supports several new chart types from the Microsoft chart library, including doughnut charts and bubble charts.
Analysis Display
You can display data as charts from list places on the Analysis Display. To open the Analysis Display, choose the Actions menu on a list place. The Analysis Display can contain multiple charts in FactBoxes for viewing data from different perspectives.
Adding FactBoxes that Contain Charts
On a page in the client, you can add FactBoxes that display charts.
Customizing Charts in the Client
From a menu on a chart, you can change the chart definition, the chart type, show the chart in three dimensions, flip the x-axis and y-axis, and more.
Chart Control Add-in
The Chart control add-in lets you create complex custom charts for displaying data. As an enhanced alternative to default chart capabilities in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client, the Chart control add-in is ideal for displaying data over multiple measures and data that is calculated on a page.
For more information about how to use charts, see the Business Intelligence and KPIs section of the "What's New: Application Changes for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013" topic in the Application Help.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Administration
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 includes a new Server Administration tool for administering Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server.
The Server Administration tool is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console. When you install the Server option, the Server Administration tool is a default feature. To run the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Administration tool, in the Search box on the Windows Start menu, enter Microsoft Dynamics NAV Administration, and then choose the related link.
For more information, see Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Administration Tool.
You now use the RoleTailored client to add users, to create and modify permission sets that determine access to specific object, and to associate each user who has one or more permission sets.
For more information, see Administration in RoleTailored Clients.
Windows PowerShell 2.0 cmdlets for administering Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 are also available. Windows PowerShell 2.0 is included with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. For other versions of Windows, you can install it as part of the Windows Management Framework.
To start a Windows PowerShell session for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 administration, choose Start, choose All Programs, and then choose Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 Administration Shell.
To get Help about syntax and options for a specific command, type the following command in the PowerShell session.
Get-Help <cmd name>
For example, type the following command for Help about the Get-NAVServerInstance command.
Get-Help Get-NAVServerInstance
For more information about Windows PowerShell, see the Windows PowerShell Getting Started Guide in the MSDN Library.
Users and Credential Types
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 supports four credential authorization mechanisms for Microsoft Dynamics NAV users. When you create a user, you provide different information depending on the credential type that you are using in the current Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance. You specify which credential type is used for a particular Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance by configuring the relevant RoleTailored client configuration file and Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance configuration. For more information, see Users and Credential Types.
OData Web Services
You can now publish Microsoft Dynamics NAV data as OData web services, in addition to SOAP web services. The OData protocol offers new and flexible opportunities for interacting with Microsoft Dynamics NAV data. For example, you can use OData web services to publish an updatable link to Microsoft Dynamics NAV data that can be displayed in Microsoft Excel with PowerPivot or in SharePoint.
For information about how to create and consume OData web services, see OData Web Services.
NAS Services
NAS represents Microsoft Dynamics NAV Application Server. If you have applications that used NAS with earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, you can now use these applications together with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013. You must modify applications that use COM because COM is no longer supported because not all COM components can run on 64-bit operating systems.
NAS services in Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server support applications such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV Job Queue. You configure NAS services together with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Administration tool.
RoleTailored Client Personalization Control
With personalization, users can customize the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client by hiding or showing elements such as actions, fields, FactBoxes, FastTabs, and more. You can disable personalization for users by modifying the profile that is assigned to the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client. When you disable personalization for a profile, personalization is disabled in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client of all users who are assigned to the profile.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 Management Pack for System Center
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Pack for System Center allows you to discover and monitor computers that are running Microsoft Dynamics NAV components and services.
With the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Management Pack for System Center, operators can use the System Center Operation Console to monitor the Microsoft Dynamics NAV environment, including Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances and websites that are running Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web Server components components. The management pack enables operators to troubleshoot errors and optimize the performance and reliability of the system.For more information about installing and using the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Management Pack, see Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 Management Pack for System Center on the Microsoft Download Center.
Deprecated Developer and IT Pro Features in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013
The following table lists features that have been removed from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013. In certain instances, a replacement technology is provided.
| Microsoft Dynamics NAV product area | Feature | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
Development |
||
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Classic Client |
||
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Classic Database |
||
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Classic Application Server (NAS) |
Microsoft Dynamics NAV NAS Services For more information, see Configuring NAS Services. |
|
Software Development Kit
|
|
|
Dataports |
XMLports. For more information, see XMLports. |
|
Forms |
Pages. For more information, see Pages. |
|
Server-side COM |
Microsoft .NET Framework Interoperability. For more information, see Extending Microsoft Dynamics NAV Using Microsoft .NET Framework Interoperability. |
|
Client Monitor |
SQL Server Profiler. For more information, see ENABLESQLTRACE Function (Debugger). |
Changes to C/AL Functions, Data Types, Properties, and Triggers
For a list of changes to C/AL functions, data types, properties, and triggers, see Changes in C/AL Behavior and Support from Earlier Versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV.