ArcherPoint Dynamics NAV Business Central Developer Digest - vol 322
This edition of Developer Digest provides cumulative updates from November and important information for barcode and MICR check printing.
The Dynamics NAV and Business Central community, including the ArcherPoint technical staff, is made up of developers, project managers, and consultants who are constantly communicating, with the common goal of sharing helpful information with one another to help customers be more successful.
As they run into issues and questions, find the answers, and make new discoveries, they post them on blogs, forums, social media…so everyone can benefit. We in Marketing watch these interactions and never cease to be amazed by the creativity, dedication, and brainpower we’re so fortunate to have in this community—so we thought, wouldn’t it be great to share this great information with everyone who might not have the time to check out the multitude of resources out there? So, the ArcherPoint Microsoft Dynamics NAV Developer Digest was born. Each week, we present a collection of thoughts and findings from NAV/BC experts and devotees around the world. We hope these insights will benefit you, too.
November 2020 Cumulative Updates
In case you missed them, here are the Dynamics NAV and 365 Business Central software updates for November 2020.
Dynamics NAV Cumulative Updates:
- Cumulative Update 35 for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 (Build 45373) Download
- Cumulative Update 48 for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017 (Build 30372) Download
- Cumulative Update 61 for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 (Build 51972) Download
Dynamics 365 Business Central Cumulative Updates:
- Cumulative Update 18 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central April’19 on-premises (Application Build 14.19.45386, Platform Build 14.0.45365)
- Update 15.12 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2019 Release Wave 2 (Application Build 15.12.45390, Platform Build 15.0.45381)
- Update 16.7 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2020 Release Wave 1 (Application Build 16.7.18411, Platform Build 16.0.18359)
Barcode Fonts in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Ryan E is looking for help from our developer community: “Has anyone run into a BC SaaS + barcode font scenario yet? If you have, what’s the best option you took? From what I read online, Microsoft mentioned a certain Spring 2019 release would have a barcode font we could use, but I don’t see anything regarding that. I’ve made a docx default layout report using barcodes, which correctly prints out barcodes when the 3of9 font is installed locally, but any saveaspdf doesn’t print barcodes.
I found this article regarding Barcodes & QR Codes in D365 BC, which provides a development option, or would an app, such as Insight Works’ Barcode Generator, work best?”
Kyle offers: “I know BC is adding a MICR font in 15.3, but I do not expect they are adding a barcode font, because there are so many different varieties of barcodes. However, you might have an option of generating a barcode image that can be shown on the screen or printed on a report. I do not know of a specific example of that, but it might give you something to search for on the internet.”
Bill W states: “SaaS is slated for the 15.3 (looks like Feb/March) release now. To quote:
‘In update 15.3, we will add fonts for generating 1D barcodes of types
- Code 39,
- Extended Code 39,
- Code 128,
- Code 93,
- UPC-EAN,
- Codabar,
- Interleaved 2 of 5,
- Postnet, and
- Planet
to the BC prod (and sandbox) service. This means that any custom layouts using these fonts will work.’
I’m essentially using Code 128 Barcode Font Package and the Barcode Generator add-on in the Shop Floor Insight app…the problems are the fact that it’s a dependency and its elevated extension complexity (updates, distribution, breaking changes in the future, etc.). It’s not ideal, but I can help you set it up if you want to go that route.”
Kyle: “Cool! I should have read the release notes before I replied. Sorry about that, Ryan…”
Denise B asks for clarification: “Bill, regarding the font download – are you saying if I install and use this font in my extension, then BC16 will recognize it and print the barcode?”
Bill responds to Denise: “This is for SaaS.”
Ryan responds: “Thanks, guys. Here’s a follow up question (related but not really)…”
MICR Font in Dynamics 365 Business Central Version 14 On Premises
Ryan continues: “A different client is on Business Central 14 on premises. The MICR font is printing correctly on a check when the check is printed through the thick client, but when BC is open through a browser (and I’m on the server itself), it does not. Am I missing a step?”
Kyle replies: “I don’t have a BC14 environment spun up right now, but check the Service Tier settings. I think there is an option to embed the font into any PDF reports it does. In BC15, it’s under the Reports tab in the NST admin tool.
Another possibility—though I am making this up—is the web server (IIS) on a different server than the NAV service tier? If so, that web server might also need the MICR font installed. But you should not need to install the MICR font on any client PCs.”
If you are interested in Dynamics NAV and Business Central development, be sure to see our collection of NAV/BC Development Blogs.
Read the “How To” blogs from ArcherPoint for practical advice on using Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 Business Central.