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Discovering Events in Dynamics 365 Business Central with the Event Recorder.

Hi Readers,

Introduction

Are you a developer working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and struggling to find the right events to subscribe to? Whether you're customizing applications or integrating extensions, discovering which events are triggered during specific actions can be a challenge. Fortunately, Business Central provides a built-in tool called the Event Recorder, which allows you to track and capture events without manually searching through AL code.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the Event Recorder, how to retrieve event subscription code, and best practices for ensuring smooth Business Central development.

What is the Event Recorder in Business Central?

The Event Recorder is a built-in tool in Dynamics 365 Business Central that enables developers to track and capture events that are triggered during various user actions. Instead of manually browsing through the AL codebase, you can use this tool to automatically identify events, significantly saving time and effort.

Why Use the Event Recorder?

  • Speeds up event discovery – No need to search for event names manually

  • Ensures accuracy – Helps identify the correct event to subscribe to

  • Simplifies development – Quickly generates AL snippet code for easy event subscription

  • Enhances debugging – Identifies all events triggered during a specific process

By using the Event Recorder, developers can optimize their extension development process without modifying the base application code.



How to Use the Event Recorder in Business Central

Step 1: Open the Event Recorder

There are two ways to access the Event Recorder in Business Central:

  1. From the Business Central Web Client:

    • Open Business Central and search for “Event Recorder”

    • Click on the Event Recorder page

  2. From Visual Studio Code (VS Code):

    • Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the command palette

    • Select “Open Event Recorder” to launch the Event Recorder page in Business Central

💡 Pro Tip: The Event Recorder only captures events within the same session. If you perform actions in a different session, those events will not be recorded.

Step 2: Start Recording Events

  1. Click “Open this page in a new window” to ensure uninterrupted recording.

  2. Select “Record Events” and click “Start” to begin tracking events.

  3. Perform the actions you want to monitor. (Example: Post a Purchase Order to capture related events.)

  4. Once finished, navigate back to the Event Recorder page and click “Stop” to complete recording.

📌 Result: All events triggered during your actions are now recorded and displayed on the Event Recorder page.

Step 3: Retrieve AL Snippet Code

Once the events are recorded, you can:

  • View the recorded events on the Event Recorder page

  • Click “Get AL Snippet” to generate AL event subscription code

  • Copy the generated snippet and paste it into Visual Studio Code

  • Use this code to subscribe to the event and extend Business Central’s functionality

This feature makes it easy to integrate events into your Business Central extensions without manually looking up event names or writing unnecessary code.

Understanding Recorded Events in Business Central

When you use the Event Recorder, it logs events in the order they were triggered. These events fall under two main categories:

  1. Business Events – Used for integrations, allowing developers to extend applications without modifying base code.

  2. Integration Events – Allow communication between different extensions and external applications.

You’ll also see additional details such as:

  • Event Type (Business Event or Integration Event)

  • Calling Method (Which function triggered the event)

  • Object Type & Name (Where the event was raised)

Conclusion

The Event Recorder in Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful tool for developers looking to discover, track, and subscribe to events efficiently. By leveraging this tool, you can streamline the customization of Business Central without manually sifting through AL code.

📌 Key Takeaways:

  • The Event Recorder helps capture and analyze events in Business Central.

  • You can generate AL Snippet Code to quickly subscribe to events.

  • Following best practices ensures smooth and efficient event handling.

By incorporating these techniques into your Business Central development workflow, you can significantly enhance productivity and reduce coding errors.

💡 Looking for more Business Central development tips? Subscribe to our blog for the latest updates and insights!


 Regards,
 Saurav Dhyani

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