The description order is defining the order, of course, of the description, both in the long description on the items and in the report description.
When you work with item descriptions in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the description order controls the sequence in which the different description elements are combined. You set a numerical order for each information code so that the long description, the type description, and the report description all build up in the exact sequence you want. This lets you decide, for example, that bike type comes first, then gender, then gear, then tire type, and so on.
What the description order controls
The description order defines the sequence of the description in two places: the long description on the items and the report description used on documents. When you create an item, the long description is built from several information codes, such as bike type, gender, gear, tire type, and material.
By setting a long description order on each information code, you tell the system which element to place first, second, and so on. If you set bike type as the first number, then gender, then gear, then tire type, the long description is assembled in that order.
How the information code list defines the order
If you look at your information code list, each entry has a description. For an individual code, there is no order defined on the description itself, because that text relates only to the specific item.
The order is defined separately in its own column. In the long description column, you set up a long description order as a normal number. This number determines where that element appears when the full description is put together.
Type description and report description order
The same principle applies to the type description, which you can use in the Description field or the Description 2 field on items. This can also have an order.
The report description, which you use for documents, can have its own report description order as well. It works the same way: the number determines what gets added first, second, and so on.
The purpose of setting the order
The order determines how the data is presented when you merge the different descriptions together. It does not change the content of the individual elements. It simply controls the sequence in which they appear, so the finished long description, type description, and report description read the way you want them to.
Q&A
What does the description order do in Business Central?
The description order defines the sequence in which the different description elements are combined into the long description on items and the report description on documents. It controls only the order of the elements, not their content.
Where do you set the long description order?
You set it on the information code list in the long description column. You enter it as a normal number, and that number determines where the element appears in the assembled description.
Why is there no order on the individual description text?
The description on an individual information code relates only to the specific item, so it does not need a sequence number. The order is defined separately for the long description, type description, and report description, where multiple elements are merged together.
Can the type description and report description also have an order?
Yes. The type description, which you can use in the Description or Description 2 field on items, can have an order. The report description used on documents can have its own report description order as well.