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Dynamic Information

Dynamic Information allows you to add calculated fields and custom information to any table in 3PL Dynamics without modifying the underlying database structure. You can extend your data views with real-time calculations, custom formulas, and additional information that's specific to your business needs.

What is Dynamic Information?

Dynamic Information consists of calculated fields that appear on your pages but don't permanently store data in the database. They calculate values on-demand using:

  • Existing field values from the same record
  • Data from related tables
  • Custom business logic through function sets
  • FlowField calculations with custom filters

Dynamic Information is ideal for KPIs, calculated totals, status indicators, formatted displays, and business-specific metrics that change based on current data.

Key benefits

No database changes required - Add new calculated fields without touching your database structure or requiring technical development.

Real-time calculations - Values are calculated when you view the data, ensuring you always see the most current information.

Flexible display options - Control formatting, styling, and conditional coloring based on calculated values.

Performance optimized - Built-in caching and performance monitoring help keep your calculations running smoothly.

Easy configuration - Set up new dynamic attributes through user-friendly pages without coding knowledge.

How it works

Dynamic Information works in four steps:

  1. Create Dynamic Information - Define what you want to calculate and how it should be displayed.

  2. Choose your data source - Select from field-based values, function-based logic, or FlowField calculations:

    • Field-based: Pull values from existing fields in your table
    • Function-based: Use custom business logic through function sets
    • FlowField: Calculate aggregated values from related tables

  3. Configure display - Set up formatting, decimal places, styling, and where the attribute appears on your pages.

  4. Apply to layouts - Add your dynamic information to page layouts so users can see them in action.

Supported value types

Type Description Example use cases
Text String values, codes, formatted text Status descriptions, formatted codes, concatenated values
Decimal Numeric values with decimal places Calculations, totals, percentages, ratios
Date Date values Calculated due dates, aging calculations
Time Time values Duration calculations, time stamps
DateTime Combined date and time Full timestamp calculations
Boolean True/false values Status flags, condition checks

Advanced features

Categories and organization - Group related dynamic information together using categories for better organization and easier management.

Performance monitoring - Built-in performance tracking helps you identify slow calculations and optimize your attributes. You can track calculation count and duration, set thresholds for slow calculation alerts, and monitor memory and database performance.

Flexible caching - Two levels of caching improve performance: Buffer Cache (per-user session memory cache) and Entry Cache (global database cache for shared calculations).

Custom styling - Make your data visually appealing with conditional formatting. Apply different colors based on values, use style function sets for complex styling logic, and highlight important information automatically.

FlowField integration - Leverage Business Central's powerful FlowField capabilities to calculate sums, counts, and averages from related tables. Apply custom filters for specific calculations and show the same FlowField multiple times with different filters.

Common use cases

Warehouse management

  • Calculate available space percentages
  • Show aging days for inventory
  • Display pick efficiency metrics
  • Track location utilization rates

Transportation

  • Calculate route efficiency scores
  • Show delivery time estimates
  • Display load utilization percentages
  • Track driver performance metrics

Financial

  • Calculate payment terms remaining
  • Show aging categories for invoices
  • Display profit margins
  • Track collection effectiveness

Customer service

  • Calculate response time metrics
  • Show customer satisfaction scores
  • Display case resolution rates
  • Track SLA compliance

Get started

To get started with Dynamic Information, navigate to the Dynamic Information page through the Search function (Alt+Q) and search for "Dynamic Information".

To create your first information field:

  1. Select New to create a new dynamic information field.
  2. Select the Table you want to extend.
  3. Enter a unique Code and Description.
  4. Choose the Value Type (Text, Decimal, Date, etc.).
  5. Choose how your attribute gets its value:
    • Field No.: Select an existing field to display
    • Function Set: Use custom business logic
    • FlowField: Calculate from related data
  6. Configure how your attribute appears by setting decimal places, formatting options, and styling rules.
  7. Use the Dynamic Information Layouts to control where your information fields appear on pages.

Configuration options

Basic settings

  • Code: Unique identifier for your information field
  • Description: User-friendly name shown in the interface
  • Value Type: Data type of the calculated value
  • Category: Optional grouping for organization

Calculation settings

  • Field No.: Link to an existing field in the table
  • Function Set IDs: Custom calculation logic
  • FlowFilter Values: Filters for FlowField calculations
  • Calculate Field: Automatic FlowField calculation toggle

Performance settings

  • Buffer Recalculation Interval: How often to refresh session cache
  • Entry Recalculation Interval: How often to refresh database cache
  • Track Performance Statistics: Monitor calculation performance
  • Slow Calculation Threshold: Define what constitutes a slow calculation

Display settings

  • Decimals: Number format for decimal values
  • Standard Format: Predefined formatting options
  • Blocked: Hide the attribute from users
  • Translation Set: Multi-language support

Best practices

Performance tips

  • Use caching wisely: Set appropriate recalculation intervals for your business needs.
  • Monitor performance: Enable performance tracking for complex calculations.
  • Optimize function sets: Keep custom logic as efficient as possible.
  • Test with real data: Validate performance with realistic data volumes.

Design guidelines

  • Clear naming: Use descriptive codes and names for easy identification.
  • Logical grouping: Use categories to organize related information fields.
  • Consistent formatting: Apply similar formatting rules across related information fields.
  • User-friendly displays: Consider how end users will interpret the calculated values.

Maintenance tips

  • Regular reviews: Periodically review and clean up unused information fields.
  • Performance monitoring: Keep an eye on slow calculations and optimize as needed.
  • Documentation: Maintain clear descriptions of what each information field calculates.
  • Testing: Validate calculations after system updates or changes.

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