Do you need help managing your AL objects efficiently in the Visual Studio Code environment? If so, AL Object Designer is the extension you’ve been waiting for. It brings back the much-needed functionality many AL developers missed after transitioning from C/SIDE. This extension makes AL development simpler, more efficient, and more productive, allowing you to focus on what really matters—coding.
Before we dive in, don’t miss these essential resources for Business Central:
- Explore Business Central E-Books: Tech Tutorial E-Books
- Follow the Business Central Tutorials channel on WhatsApp: WhatsApp Channel
- Get Personal Guidance: Learn with Goms
Now, let’s take a closer look at what makes AL Object Designer such a game-changer for Business Central developers.
What is AL Object Designer?
The AL Object Designer is a Visual Studio Code extension designed to fill the gap left by the removal of C/SIDE’s Object Designer. It provides an easy-to-navigate hub that gives developers a full overview of all AL objects in a project. This tool significantly enhances efficiency by allowing developers to quickly browse objects, events, unit tests, and more—all within a single interface.
Key Features of AL Object Designer
1. Comprehensive AL Object List
One of the most powerful features of AL Object Designer is its ability to show a list overview of all AL objects in your project. Whether it's tables, pages, reports, or codeunits, you can browse both symbol objects and local .al files seamlessly, providing a complete snapshot of your project's architecture.
2. Effortless Event Management
The extension allows you to list Event Publishers and Subscribers from both symbol and local files. This is especially helpful when working with the event-driven programming model in Business Central, enabling you to navigate and manage events with ease.
3. Real-Time Object Updates
Whenever you create, modify, or delete an object, the object list updates in real-time, ensuring that your development environment is always up-to-date without any manual refresh. This feature is crucial for maintaining an efficient workflow, especially in multi-developer teams.
4. Built-In Unit Test Management
Unit tests are critical for ensuring your code's quality. AL Object Designer conveniently lists all unit tests in your workspace, making test-driven development (TDD) more accessible and streamlined.
5. CSV Export for Documentation
For developers who need to document their work or share object data with others, the extension allows you to export the object list to CSV. This feature helps maintain clear documentation or perform audits of your AL objects.
6. Enhanced Search and Navigation
Searching for specific objects is now faster with Object Search and Go to Definition support. You can filter objects by type, name, or ID, making it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. You can also view definitions of objects or navigate to the source code with a simple click.
7. Page Design and Object Running
Need to tweak a page layout? With AL Object Designer, you can access a design view for pages without deploying the app. It’s a limited feature, but it's perfect for quick layout adjustments. You can also run selected objects or open specific tables/pages to see how they work in real-time.
Integrations with Other Extensions
AL Object Designer also supports integration with several other popular extensions, enhancing its capabilities even further:
- AZ AL Dev Tools: Get access to AZ AL Wizard for generating objects.
- AL Test Runner: Conveniently run AL tests directly from the interface.
- CRS AL Language Extension: Utilize commands from this extension for object execution.
These integrations allow you to create a more versatile and robust development environment.
A Quick Example of AL Object Designer in Action
Let’s say you need to review the “Item Ledger Entry” table or locate the “Sales Order” page quickly. With AL Object Designer, you can search for these objects in seconds, view their definitions, and even browse associated event publishers or subscribers. You can copy event subscription definitions to the clipboard with a single click, making it incredibly easy to integrate event-based logic into your project.
Optional Features & Known Limitations
While this extension supports most object types, there are some known issues:
- Page Design only works with pages, not with page extensions.
- Control Add-ins may not fully support the 'Go to Definition' feature.
However, despite these limitations, the vast range of functionality more than makes up for any minor shortcomings.
Conclusion: A Must-Have Tool for AL Developers
If you're working in AL and Business Central development, AL Object Designer is an indispensable tool that saves time, improves organization, and enhances overall productivity. Whether you're managing objects, events, or unit tests, this extension brings back the functionality you need to efficiently develop in AL.
Ready to get started? Download AL Object Designer from the Visual Studio Marketplace: Download Here.
And before you go, don't forget to:
- Explore Business Central E-Books: Tech Tutorial E-Books
- Follow the Business Central Tutorials channel on WhatsApp: WhatsApp Channel
- Get Personal Guidance: Learn with Goms
Make sure to subscribe to my channel for more tutorials on AL development, and join my YouTube community for access to an array of useful playlists on Business Central. Stay tuned for more exciting tools and tutorials!
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