Dynamics 365 Business Central 2019 release wave 2

Published on 08 Aug 2019

Topics: Dynamics 365 Business Central

Here is the next wave of updates to Dynamics 365 Business Central planned for October 2019!
Let's start with a quick summary:

The independent software vendor (ISV) ecosystem is important for customers who want vertical or horizontal solutions for Dynamics 365 Business Central. Microsoft will accelerate this ISV ecosystem to begin moving new and existing customers to Dynamics 365 Business Central online. To achieve that goal, the following development pillars define the 2019 release wave 2 update:

  • Service fundamentals: Laser focus on performance, reliability, supportability, and security is essential to ensure that service quality remains ahead of the growth in service usage. Accessibility, already in a strong position, must be preserved.
  • Modern client: With the 2019 release wave 2, users access Dynamics 365 Business Central in the browser, Windows 10 desktop app, mobile apps on Android and iOS, or in Outlook. Microsoft accelerate their investment in speed and productivity features for the modern browser experience, achieving a major milestone in its transformation into a world-class desktop experience for new and expert users alike. The 2019 release wave 2 is the first version that does not include the Dynamics NAV Client connected to Dynamics 365 Business Central (also known as the Windows client). The modern clients now support so many productivity features that the Windows client is discontinued for Dynamics 365 Business Central going forward. The legacy Dynamics NAV client remains supported in the April '19 update and earlier versions in alignment with the support lifecycle.
  • Modern developer tools: The 2019 release wave 2 is the first version that does not include the classic development environment (also known as C/SIDE). The modern developer experience based on Visual Studio Code with Azure DevOps, and an AL language that supports an extension-based approach to customisation, now supports developing large apps such as the base application from Microsoft, and so C/SIDE is discontinued for Dynamics 365 Business Central going forward. The classic development environment remains supported in the April '19 update and earlier versions in alignment with the support lifecycle.
  • Empower ISV acceleration: The 2019 release wave 2 update delivers a set of features designed to simplify ISV development for new solutions and, specifically, for streamlining the migration from the source code customisation model of Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central. The Dynamics NAV business has been driven by strong vertical ISV solutions, surrounded by add-on solutions. For the 2019 release wave 2 update, Microsoft's focus will be on streamlining the path for ISVs to bring their solutions – and in turn their customers – to Dynamics 365 Business Central online.
  • Customer migration tools: After enabling Dynamics NAV ISVs to bring their solutions to Dynamics 365 Business Central online, the next step is to simplify the journey for existing Dynamics SMB customers coming from Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP, or Dynamics SL to migrate from their current on-premises solutions to Dynamics 365 Business Central online. A set of tools already exists; these will be enhanced with the 2019 release wave 2.

Limited extension to the Dynamics 365 Business Central online localisations is planned for the 2019 release wave 2 in order to prioritise the service fundamentals work ahead of expanding the service footprint. Additional partner-developed localisations will be added following the 2019 release wave 2.

What's new and planned

Here are the features that are planned to release from October 2019 through March 2020 (but remember that delivery timelines may change and projected functionality may not be released - see Microsoft's policy).

In the 'General availability' columns below, the feature will be delivered within the month listed. The delivery date can be any day within that month. Released features show the full date, including the day of release.

Click on the links below to get more detail on each of the updates via Microsoft's website.

Application enhancements

Microsoft will continue to enhance the application through their focus on performance in the most used areas. The Dynamics 365 Business Central Ideas site continues to be a source for application enhancements.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Cancel issued reminders and finance charge memos End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Carry line descriptions to general ledger entries when posting End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Use the Copy document function even when some lines are blocked End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Write larger item cross-reference numbers End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Application lifecycle management

Once partners have customers live on Dynamics 365 Business Central, there is an immediate need to be able to manage the lifecycle of the customer, the solution, provide support, manage updates, testing, and so on. Microsoft will continue their investment in expanding the scope of the tools available to partners.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Ability to download a database backup file Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Detailed notifications for update events Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Multiple production environments Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
New option to report production outage in the Business Central Administration Centre Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Support for technical upgrades Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Support for performance data upgrade from C/AL tables to AL tables Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Empower ISV acceleration

The Dynamics NAV business has been driven by strong vertical ISV solutions, surrounded by add-on solutions. For the 2019 release wave 2, Microsoft's focus will be on streamlining the path for ISVs to bring their solutions – and in turn their customers – to Dynamics 365 Business Central online.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Design for extensibility Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Migrations to Dynamics 365 Business Central online

This area details Microsoft's migrations to the Dynamics 365 Business Central online roadmap.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Enhancements for customer migration tools Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Modern clients

Microsoft accelerate their investment in speed and productivity features for the modern browser experience, achieving a major milestone in its transformation into a world-class desktop experience for new and expert users alike.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Add links to your navigation menu End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Add notes and links to data End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Easy access to a capability overview End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Enhancements to Excel integration End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Full keyboard shortcut support End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
General user experience adjustments End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Longer timeout period for the server connection End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Modern clients only for Business Central Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Personalise actions and navigation on your Role Centre End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Powerful filtering for reports End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Resize columns with fewer clicks End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Saving and personalising list views End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Switch between companies in your Business Inbox in Outlook End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Customise a user profile without writing code End users, automatically September 2019 October 2019
Filtering option fields by multiple values End users, automatically September 2019 October 2019
Multitasking across multiple pages End users, automatically September 2019 October 2019
Speed and agility of data entry End users, automatically September 2019 October 2019
Modern developer tools

For the 2019 release wave 2, Dynamics 365 Business Central retires the legacy development tool, C/SIDE, and development language, C/AL, replacing them with a modern solution based on Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps, and an AL language that supports an extension-based approach to customisation.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
Code documentation attributes Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Convert tables from C/AL definitions to AL table definitions Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Database insights made available in AL Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Translating other extensions Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Access modifiers Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Attach and debug next Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Base application delivered as AL applications Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Filtering XmlPort Objects End users by admins, makers, or analysts August 2019 October 2019
Improved app dependency handling on build and deploy Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
More power to developers using Designer Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Service fundamentals

Laser focus on performance, reliability, supportability, and security is essential to ensure that service quality remains ahead of the growth in service usage. Accessibility, already in a strong position, must be preserved.

Feature Enabled for Public preview General availability
New Support Request option in the Business Central Administration Centre Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Partners can enter support contact details in the Business Central Administration Centre Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically   October 2019
Lock-free number series End users, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Page background tasks Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019
Surrogate keys Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically August 2019 October 2019

 

Description of Enabled for column values:

  • End users, automatically – These features include change(s) to the user experience for end users and are enabled automatically.

  • Admins, makers, or analysts, automatically – These features are meant to be used by administrators, makers, or business analysts and are enabled automatically.

  • End users by admins, makers, or analysts – These features must be enabled or configured by the administrators, makers, or business analysts to be available for their end users.

For a list of the countries or regions where Dynamics 365 business applications are available, see the International availability guide.

For more information about geographic areas, data centres (regions), data storage, and replication, click expand all on the Where your data is located page and find the Microsoft cloud service for this feature.

Interested in learning more about the journey of Dynamics 365 Business Central, including what came before it and the latest updates? Get caught up by reading our Timeline.

More questions? Get in touch here

Written by
TNP
TNP