Linc Record Extensions
Overview
Linc Record Extensions is a Business Central app that allows you to dynamically extend master records and document lines with custom fields — without requiring development or code changes. Users can define their own fields, assign them to specific tables, and capture additional data directly on standard Business Central pages.
What does this app do?
The app introduces a flexible framework for adding user-defined fields to existing Business Central records. Instead of creating table extensions through AL development for every new field requirement, Linc Record Extensions lets you:
- Define custom fields with a name and data type via the Record Extension Fields setup page.
- Assign default fields to tables using the Record Extension Default Fields page, controlling which custom fields appear on which records.
- Capture and store values against individual records through the Record Extension Values system, which links custom field data to specific record IDs.
- Flow values to posted documents — extension field values carry through from sales/purchase documents to their posted counterparts (invoices, shipments, credit memos, receipts, return orders).
- Flow values to ledger entries — item journal line extension fields are carried forward to item ledger entries on posting.
Key Features
- Up to 10 extension fields per record — each supported table can have up to 10 custom fields, displayed directly on the card or document page.
- Multiple field types — supports Text, Date, Number, Yes/No, Option (predefined list of values), and Lookup (value from any BC table/field).
- Broad table coverage — extends Customers, Vendors, Items, Employees, Fixed Assets, G/L Accounts, Locations, Ship-to Addresses, Sales documents (orders, invoices, credit memos, return orders), Purchase documents (orders, invoices, credit memos, return orders), Item Journals, and their posted equivalents.
- Default field configuration — set up which fields should automatically appear when a record's extensions are initiated, with configurable field positions.
- Field position management — reorder fields using move up/down actions; positions are automatically maintained across all linked records.
- Option values — define custom option lists per field for controlled data entry.
- Table lookups — configure a field to look up values from any Business Central table and field.
- Value validation — field values are validated against their type (date format, numeric checks, option/lookup existence).
- Report integration — extension fields appear on standard sales reports (Order Confirmation, Invoice, Credit Memo, Shipment), purchase reports (Order, Invoice, Credit Memo, Receipt), and other reports such as Prod. Order Mat. Req., Aged Acc. Receivable, and Pick Instruction.
Benefits
- No development required — business users can add custom fields through configuration, without needing AL developers or custom extensions.
- Reduced deployment risk — avoids the need to publish new app versions every time a new field is required on a master record or document.
- Consistent data capture — default fields ensure that the same custom data is captured uniformly across all records of a given type.
- Data integrity — type-specific validation ensures that dates, numbers, and lookup values are entered correctly.
- Extensible architecture — the field type enum is extensible, allowing other apps to add additional field types if needed.
- Cloud-ready — designed for Business Central SaaS (Cloud target) with runtime 10.0+ compatibility.
Setup Guide
This guide walks you through setting up Linc Record Extensions from scratch and using it day-to-day. No development knowledge is required — everything is done through configuration pages inside Business Central.
Step 1 — Define your custom fields
Open the Record Extension Fields page. This is where you create the fields you want to add to your records.
For each field, enter:
| Setting | What to fill in |
|---|---|
| Name | A unique label for this field, e.g. Customer Segment or Contract End Date. This name appears across all setup and data pages. |
| Field Type | The kind of data this field will hold (see field type reference below). |
| Lookup Table / Lookup Field | Only required when Field Type is Lookup. Select the Business Central table and field that users will pick values from. |
Field type reference:
| Type | What it stores | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Free text, up to 50 characters | Customer category, notes |
| Date | A calendar date | Contract end date, last review |
| Number | A numeric value (whole or decimal) | Credit limit override, priority score |
| Yes/No | A true/false toggle | Preferred supplier, active flag |
| Option | A choice from a fixed list you define | Status (Active / Inactive / On Hold) |
| Lookup | A value looked up from another BC table | Item No., Country/Region Code |
For Option fields — define the allowed choices:
After saving an Option field, select the row and click Values. Add a row for each allowed choice with a short Code (stored internally) and a Description (shown to users). For example:
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| PREM | Premium |
| STD | Standard |
| BASIC | Basic |
Step 2 — Assign fields to record types
Open the Record Extension Default Fields page. This controls which fields appear on which records and in what order.
Add a row for each field you want on a record type:
| Setting | What to fill in |
|---|---|
| Table ID / Table Name | The type of record to extend, e.g. Customer, Vendor, Item, Sales Header. |
| Record Extension Field Name | Pick one of the fields you created in Step 1. |
| Field Position | Set automatically — the row's position in the list determines slot 1 through 10 on the record card. |
Use the Move Up and Move Down actions to reorder fields. Position 1 appears first on the card, position 10 last.
Subscription note: Positions 1 and 2 are always available. Positions 3 through 10 require an active Linc Extension Access subscription.
Step 3 — Enter values on records (daily use)
Once fields are assigned to a record type, they appear automatically on the relevant card or document page. No page customisation is needed.
On a record card (e.g. Customer Card):
- Scroll to the Record Extensions section at the bottom of the page.
- Fields are labelled with the names you defined in Step 1.
- Click directly into a field to type a value, pick from a list, or select a date.
- For Lookup and Option fields a dropdown appears automatically.
For a focused view of all fields on one record:
Click the Record Extensions action in the page ribbon. A detail page opens showing all custom fields for that specific record in a list, which is useful when many fields are configured.
Step 4 — Values carry forward automatically
You do not need to re-enter extension field values when a document is posted. The app automatically copies values from:
- Sales/Purchase orders → posted invoices, shipments, credit memos, and receipts.
- Item Journal Lines → Item Ledger Entries when journals are posted.
This means the custom data you capture on a sales order will still be visible on the posted invoice and shipment.
Tips and common questions
Can I use the same field on multiple record types? Yes. Add the same field name on multiple rows in Record Extension Default Fields, each with a different Table ID.
What happens if I remove a default field assignment? All stored values for that field on existing records are deleted. Remove assignments carefully.
Can I rename a field after values have been entered? No — the field name is the primary key that links definitions, assignments, and stored values. Create a new field and reconfigure if a rename is needed.
My fields are not visible — what should I check?
- Confirm the field is listed in Record Extension Default Fields for the correct table.
- Confirm a caption (Name) is set on the field definition.
- For positions 3–10, confirm the Linc Extension Access subscription is active.