Global Master Data Sync in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central lets you synchronize data from a master company to one or more subscriber companies. With the default setup, a subscriber can still create its own records in a synchronized table, for example new G/L accounts in the chart of accounts. If you want full control, you can block subscribers from creating records themselves so that all changes come only from the master company.
You control this with the data template for the table in the master company. By enabling the setting that blocks subscriber record creation, you prevent users in subscriber companies from adding new records. When they try, they get an error message telling them the action is not allowed and that the records are handled only by the synchronization.
Records that already existed in the subscriber before you enable the block stay in place. They are not removed, because they are not controlled by Global Master Data Sync until the synchronization handles them.
How Global Master Data Sync works between master and subscriber companies
Global Master Data Sync synchronizes data from a master company into a subscriber company. This is useful when you want consistent master data across several companies, such as a shared chart of accounts.
Out of the box, the synchronization does not stop a subscriber from also maintaining its own records. So a user in a subscriber company can create a new G/L account directly, without any error or warning, even when that table is being synchronized from the master.
Blocking subscriber record creation from the master company
If you want to ensure that subscribers cannot create their own records, you set this up on the data template in the master company. The steps are:
- Go to the master company and find the data template for the table you want to control, for example the chart of accounts.
- Set the template status to Development so you can edit it.
- Enable the option Block Subscriber Record Creation.
- Set the status back to Release.
- Send the setup out to the subscriber.
After that, run the synchronization and check the table, such as the chart of accounts, in the subscriber company.
What happens to existing and new records
Records that the subscriber created before you enabled the block remain in the table. They are not controlled by Global Master Data Sync, so the synchronization leaves them alone.
When a user in the subscriber company tries to add a new record, Business Central blocks the action and shows an error message. The message tells the user that creating records is not allowed and that the records are handled only through the synchronization from the master company.
When to use this setting
Use the block when you need a single source of truth for master data and want to be sure subscriber companies cannot diverge by adding their own records. If you are fine with subscribers maintaining some of their own data, you can leave the block off and let the synchronization simply keep the shared records aligned.
Q&A
Can a subscriber company create its own records in a synchronized table by default?
Yes. With the default Global Master Data Sync setup, a user in a subscriber company can create new records, such as a new G/L account, without any error, even when the table is synchronized from the master company.
How do you stop a subscriber from creating new records?
In the master company, open the data template for the table, set it to Development, enable Block Subscriber Record Creation, set it back to Release, and send the setup out to the subscriber. After synchronization, the subscriber can no longer create records in that table.
What happens to records the subscriber created before the block was enabled?
They stay in the table. They are not controlled by Global Master Data Sync, so the synchronization does not remove them.
What does the user see when they try to add a record in a blocked table?
They get an error message telling them that creating records is not allowed and that the records are handled only by the synchronization from the master company.