You can attach languages to master data in Business Central, both on the standard master data fields and on the extended text. This means a customer with a Danish language code automatically sees Danish captions and Danish extended text on documents, while a customer with another language code gets text in that language instead.
You set up language-specific text on three levels: the top level (for example the information code list), the middle level (for example an information value such as a contact person), and the lowest level (directly on the customer or item).
On a customer you would typically add the language text directly to the customer. On an item you can add extended text directly on the item specifications.
The language and extended text setup follows the system everywhere. You can use it for e-commerce, web shops, catalogs, documentation, and any other document you want to produce in the right language.
How language-controlled extended text works in Business Central
In Business Central you can use languages on master data information, both on the normal master data fields and on the extended text. The setup follows a structure with several levels, and the text that appears on a document depends on the language code attached to the customer.
Setting up languages on the top level
If you go to the information code list, you work on the top level. To add languages to the extended text here, you go into Languages and select your Danish language. The caption itself can say whatever you want, but the point is to go further into the extended text. There you maintain the extended text for the Danish language, which gives you the Danish caption for that code. In short, you can add language-specific extended text on the top level.
Setting up languages on the middle level
The same applies on the middle level. If you look at an information value, for example an information person, you might have extended text that says “If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.” When you open Languages on that record and select the Danish language, you can set up the same text in Danish under the extended text.
Setting up languages on the lowest level
On the lowest level you go directly to the customer or the item. On a customer you would normally add the language text directly to the customer. On an item you might want to add extended text directly on the specifications for the item.
How the language code controls text on a sales order
The setup pays off when you create a sales order. If you create a sales order for a Danish customer, the customer already has a language code of Danish. As a result, all the master data text on the sales order appears in Danish. If the customer had a different language code, the text would follow that language instead. The same logic applies on the sales lines and to related data such as serial numbers and purchasers.
Language-controlled extended text follows the system all the way through. You can use it for e-commerce, web shops, catalogs, documentation, and any other document you want to produce.
Q&A
Where can you set up language-specific extended text in Business Central?
You can set it up on three levels: the top level (for example the information code list), the middle level (for example an information value such as a contact person), and the lowest level (directly on the customer or the item).
How does Business Central decide which language to show on a document?
It uses the language code on the customer. A customer with a Danish language code sees Danish captions and extended text. A customer with another language code gets text in that language.
Should you add language text on the customer or on the item?
On a customer you would normally add the language text directly to the customer. On an item you can add extended text directly on the item specifications.
Where can you use language-controlled extended text?
You can use it for e-commerce, web shops, catalogs, documentation, and any other document you produce.