AL in Visual Studio Code for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2020 wave 1 version 5.0

Hi Readers,

Motive of this blogs is to Setup AL Workspace in Visual Studio without going through a lot of unnecessary steps. All you need to do is follow the below mentioned steps precisely.

Here the Setup is according to online Dynamics 365 Business Central 2020 release wave 1 (latest)

1. Sign up with your work email for Business Central Sandbox so that you know the  Server Instance. Sign up
If you already have the environment, be ready with the Server Instance and Development port.


2. Download Visual Studio Code. Download

3. Install AL Language Extension in VS Code

4. Setup the Workspace

    a. Press Alt+A Alt+L and this will trigger AL Go! Select the destination folder for the Workspace, name the Project and click Enter

    b. Select your target platform. We will choose the latest - 5.0 

    c. Select Microsoft Cloud Sandbox and use your Signed Up credentials. 

    d. This will generate two Important files- launch.json, app.json (Works same as your NAV Administration)

Note: The two files mentioned will give all the Instance requirements. If the credentials were entered incorrectly Press Ctrl+Shift+P and select AL: Clear Credentials Cache. Please see to it that your Sandbox Environment is setup properly, otherwise you will get errors in your file and while Downloading Symbols. 

    e. For you to access NAV Objects. Press F1, select AL: Download Symbols and click Enter

5. Check your environment with an already existing AL file - HelloWorld.al or create your own extension. 

Press Ctrl+F5 to deploy and Publish your Extension. 

6. Add a break-point to a line if you want to debug

7. Press F5 to run your Business Central Environment with Debugging or Press Ctrl+F5 to run Business Central Environment without Debugging.  

Create your Extensions, save them and Publish them with F5

Let me know if you face any error in the comment section below and I will be happy to assist. 

You can write me at jyotsnaoberainav@gmail.com 

Please check out my website JONAV

See you again, until next time.. Thank you!