Navigating Dynamics 365 Finance and Operation with System Entity Navigation
In Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O), creating deep links to specific records can enhance user experience by providing direct access to relevant data. Traditionally, this has been achieved using various methods, including Deep Link generation. However, Microsoft offers a built-in feature known as System Entity Navigation that simplifies this process.
Understanding System Entity Navigation #
System Entity Navigation allows developers to construct URLs that navigate directly to specific records within D365 F&O. This is accomplished by specifying parameters such as the entity name and a unique identifier (GUID) for the record. When the URL is accessed, the system directs the user to the appropriate form displaying the targeted record.
For detailed information, refer to Microsoft’s documentation on System Entity Navigation.
The Role of GUIDs in System Entity Navigation #
A critical component of System Entity Navigation is the GUID, which uniquely identifies a record. In D365 F&O, this GUID is derived from the combination of the TableId and RecId of the record. The process involves bitwise operations to merge these identifiers into a single GUID.
The following X++ methods illustrate how to generate and interpret these GUIDs:
// Generate a GUID from TableId and RecId
System.Guid getGuidFromTableIdRecId(TableId _tableId, RecId _recId)
{
System.Byte[] recidBytes = System.BitConverter::GetBytes(_recId);
System.Byte[] tableIdBytes = System.BitConverter::GetBytes(_tableId);
int padValue = 0;
System.Byte[] padBytes = System.BitConverter::GetBytes(padValue);
System.Byte[] guidBytes = new System.Byte[16]();
System.Buffer::BlockCopy(tableIdBytes, 0, guidBytes, 0, 4);
System.Buffer::BlockCopy(padBytes, 0, guidBytes, 4, 4);
System.Buffer::BlockCopy(recidBytes, 0, guidBytes, 8, 8);
System.Guid recIdGuid = new System.Guid(guidBytes);
return recIdGuid;
}
// Extract TableId and RecId from a GUID
container getTableIdRecIdFromGuid(System.Guid _recIdGuid)
{
TableId tableId;
RecId recId;
System.Byte[] guidBytes = _recIdGuid.ToByteArray();
tableId = System.BitConverter::ToInt32(guidBytes, 0);
recId = System.BitConverter::ToInt64(guidBytes, 8);
return [tableId, recId];
}
These methods are part of the CDSVirtualEntityConverter class and demonstrate how to encode and decode the GUIDs used in System Entity Navigation.
Integrating System Entity Navigation with Custom Link Handlers #
In a previous post, we explored replacing deep links with a LinkHandler class, which processes URL parameters to locate and redirect to specific records. You can read more about this approach here.
With the understanding of how GUIDs are constructed, it’s possible to enhance the LinkHandler logic by utilizing the GUID directly. Instead of relying on parameters like tableName and searchKey, the LinkHandler can be modified to accept a GUID, from which it can derive the TableId and RecId. This streamlines the process and reduces the dependency on multiple parameters.
Conclusion #
System Entity Navigation provides a robust and efficient way to create deep links within D365 F&O. By leveraging the GUIDs that encapsulate TableId and RecId, developers can simplify navigation and improve the maintainability of their code. Integrating this approach with custom link handlers offers a seamless method to direct users to specific records, enhancing the overall user experience.