How to structure data in list pages in Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Most data in Business Central are shown in List Views.
This is what happens in the video
Most data in Business Central is displayed in List Views. While these views share the same structure across the system, the content of each list is specific to the page you are working on. Understanding the layout helps you navigate faster and find the information you need.
You can switch a List View between the standard list layout and tile layouts. You can hide the Fact Boxes to make the columns wider. The Application Bar gives you access to Search, Setup, and Help, while the Navigation Bar and Action Bar adapt to your Role Center and the page you are on.
The structure of a List View in Business Central
A List View in Business Central is built up in layers from the top of the screen down. Each layer has its own purpose, and once you recognise them, you can find your way around any page.
At the very top sits the Application Bar. Here you find the Search button, the Setup button, and the Help button. These are always available regardless of which page you are on.
Below that is the Navigation Bar, which contains the navigation menus. These menus depend on your Role Center and appear on pages across Business Central, so what you see here is tied to the role you are signed in with.
Under the Navigation Bar you have the Action Bar with its action menus. These are the actions you can run from the list, such as creating, editing, or processing records.
Beneath the Action Bar sits the Action List itself, along with the columns that have been defined for the data you want to see. This is where the actual records are shown.
Filtering and sorting columns in the Action List
You can filter or sort the data in the columns by pressing the column header. This lets you quickly narrow down a long list or reorder it to find what you are looking for, without leaving the page.
Working with Fact Boxes
On the right side of the List View you find the Fact Boxes. These show additional information related to the line you have selected. As you scroll through the items and move to a different line, the information in the Fact Boxes updates to match the selected record.
If you want more room for the columns, you can hide the Fact Boxes. This gives you wider columns and a clearer view of the list data when you do not need the extra detail.
Switching between List View and Tile layouts
By default you see your data in the standard List View, but you can also display it as tiles. You change this through the layout options, where you can choose between List View, Tall Tiles, or Small Tiles.
In a tile view you no longer see the columns, but you do see the items presented as tiles. When you want the columns back, you simply switch the layout back to List.
Q&A
What are the main parts of a List View in Business Central?
A List View is made up of the Application Bar at the top with Search, Setup, and Help, followed by the Navigation Bar with navigation menus, the Action Bar with action menus, and the Action List with the data columns. Fact Boxes appear on the right.
How do I filter or sort data in a List View?
Press the column header to filter or sort the data in that column.
What are Fact Boxes used for?
Fact Boxes show additional information related to the line you have selected. The information updates automatically as you scroll to a different line.
How do I make the columns wider in a List View?
Hide the Fact Boxes. This frees up space so the columns become wider.
Can I show data as tiles instead of a list?
Yes. Change the layout options to choose between List View, Tall Tiles, or Small Tiles. To return to the column layout, switch back to List.