If you’re looking for a tool that puts the power of development directly into your hands, the Simple Object Designer from Erik Hougaard is a must-have. This app has truly revolutionized the way I manage and customize Business Central environments, making it one of my absolute favorites.
From the moment I started using the Simple Object Designer, it became clear that it was worth every penny — and more. The ability to perform light development tasks without needing to engage a developer has saved me both time and money. It has freed my developers to focus more on complex development. Whether it’s tweaking existing objects or creating entirely new functionalities, this tool offers a level of flexibility and control that is unmatched.
What really stands out is the breadth of tasks you can accomplish with Simple Object Designer. The menu system lays out all the possibilities, from creating new APIs to modifying profiles and adding fields to pages. In fact, I’ve utilized about 90% of the app’s capabilities, both for my own needs and for those of my clients.
The Simple Object Designer truly lives up to its name by making the creation of new features incredibly straightforward. The app features an intuitive wizard that leverages templates to help you easily create new Data Tables, Data-Related Tables, Document Tables, or even Rolecenters and Profiles. Once you’ve selected a template, the system guides you step-by-step through the process, making it easy for anyone to implement new features without any prior development experience.
Here are the some of the ways I’ve used the Simple Object Designer:
- Adding APIs for Power BI: The default APIs for Power BI often lack the tables or fields necessary for comprehensive reporting. With this tool, creating custom APIs is a breeze, ensuring that all required data is accessible.
- Custom Profiles: Small businesses often have employees wearing multiple hats, like handling both AP and AR or Sales and Purchasing. The Simple Object Designer makes it incredibly easy to create custom profiles that perfectly suit these needs.
- Adding Fields to Pages: Sometimes, essential fields exist in a table but aren’t available for personalization. This app lets you quickly add those fields, tailoring your pages to your exact specifications.
- Making Fields Required: Ensuring data integrity is crucial, and making certain fields mandatory is often necessary. Simple Object Designer allows you to do this effortlessly, helping to maintain accuracy in reporting and processes.
- Adding Data Tables: While I generally try to avoid heavy customization, there are times when adding a new data table is unavoidable. This app simplifies the process, making it easy to capture data that doesn’t fit elsewhere in the system.
Conclusion
Beyond its functionality, Simple Object Designer comes with outstanding customer support and numerous how to videos on YouTube. Erik and his team are committed to keeping the product affordable and accessible, with a “try before you buy” option that speaks to their confidence in the app’s value. Plus, Erik’s site offers a range of other useful apps for Business Central that are worth exploring.
For anyone interested in enhancing their Business Central experience, I highly recommend checking out the Simple Object Designer.
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