Month: September 2015

Part 3: Object Numbers, Object Licensing in Dynamics NAV

Object Numbers

In the previous posts in this series we covered what objects were and what the various types there are at a high level. I’ll leave you to read the Microsoft Dynamics NAV developers guides and take the courses if you want more. Warning though, once you start – it’s more than addictive.

For those of you who just want to run your business and get the most from Microft Dynamics, there are a couple of other things it’s useful to know. One of the key ones concerns object numbers and object licensing.

So all the objects we covered last time have a number. You cannot create an object without assigning it a number. What that number is indicates where it came from.

  • 0 – 49999 & 99000000 – 99009999 – all object types
    Means it came from Microsoft and is part of standard Dynamics NAV. Any Dynamics NAV developer will be able to customise.
  • 2000000000 upwards – tables only
    Are system tables that should not be customised
  • 50000 – 50009 – tables only
    Custom tables included with the table designer for every system
  • 50000 – 50099 – Pages, reports, xml ports & queries
    Custom objects included with the relevant object designer
  • 50000 – 99999
    Are ‘custom’ objects created either for you or imported from a third party. Any Dynamics NAV developer will be able to customise.
  • Other Numbers
    Certified for Microsoft Dynamics Solutions from Microsoft Partners. Other Dynamics NAV developers will have limited or no ability to customise without authorisation from that Microsoft third party.

Object Licencing

Microsoft actually deliver the whole of Dynamics NAV to every installation but then use the licence to only enable what you have paid for. This is done by the Dynamics Executables checking the object numbers against those listed in the licence file every time you access a different object.

With the 2013 onward perpetual licences you have most of the core Microsoft objects on your licence by default and that’s especially true if you have the extended pack.

Custom objects are different, you have to buy them specifically although you get 10 tables (locked to object numbers 50000 to 50009) and 100 pages, reports, xml ports and queries (locked to object numbers  50000 to 50099).

Microsoft’s software developer partners (often called ISV or independent software vendors) can get allocated a specifically numbered object range and if you buy their solution they will have to allow your partner to add their object numbers to your licence before it can run. This is to protect their intellectual property and stop it just being copied and used.

Dynamics-nav-license-information

When you have a customisation however you need to make sure that you have any new objects it needs what we call assigned on your licence. What does this mean? Well I’ll run through the process below:

  1. Compile list of object types and numbers required that are not already there
  2. Check if the licence has ‘spare’ objects of the correct type if not purchase extra ones from Microsoft.
  3. Once spare objects of the correct type are there, set or assign then to the specific object numbers needed to make this work.
  4. Make sure those object numbers are added to your security groups where appropriate for the users who need the new functionality.

Buy spare custom objects is something that you will get used to if you do a lot of customisation of your system. There are not expensive if you buy them 10 tables or 100 other objects at a time. If anyone ever suggests buying them as individual objects, ask why because they are four times the price and once you start customisation it won’t be too long before you find a reason for more – it’s addictive remember.

Just make sure the licence is tested before any customised objects are imported into your live system as it will cause serious issues. It’s a common mistake not to do this so you have been warned so it should be part of your release checklist.

Note

This post is part of a 6-part series. A link to all the posts in this series are below;