You can use Dimensions on subscription orders in Business Central, just as you do on regular sales orders and invoices. This gives you the same reporting flexibility for recurring revenue that you already rely on for one-off transactions.
You set Dimensions at both header level and line level on a subscription order. When you set a Dimension on the header, the lines inherit it automatically, and any new line you add picks up the same value. You can still override the Dimension on individual lines when you need to.
If you use more than the two Global Dimensions, you add the extra Dimensions through personalization, either as columns on the lines or as fields in the header. When the subscription generates an invoice, the Dimensions carry over to that invoice, and the posted entries get the correct Dimension values.
Using Dimensions on subscription orders
Many companies use Dimensions to sharpen their reporting, and that same functionality is available on subscription orders. You work with Dimensions on a subscription order the same way you do on a normal sales order or invoice.
On the subscription order you can set Dimensions on the lines directly. You can also add Dimensions at header level, which is often the more efficient approach when the values are the same across the whole subscription.
How header Dimensions flow to the lines
When you set a Dimension on the header, for example a project Dimension with the value 12, Business Central asks whether you want to update the existing lines. If you confirm, the lines inherit the value.
Any new line you add to the subscription order also inherits the header Dimension, so you do not have to set it again line by line. You can override the value on a specific line whenever a line needs a different Dimension.
Keep in mind that you are responsible for staying compliant with the Dimension rules set up in your own company. The system gives you the flexibility, but the business rules are yours to follow.
Working with more than two Global Dimensions
If you use more than the two Global Dimensions, you have two ways to bring the extra Dimensions onto the subscription order.
- Use personalization to add the extra Dimension columns to the lines.
- Add the Dimensions in the header instead, for example an Area Code Dimension set to a specific value.
When you set a Dimension in the header, it is applied automatically to all lines. If you do not want that column cluttering the line view, you can hide it. Whether you show the Dimension on the lines or only in the header is a matter of personal preference.
Dimensions carry over to the invoice
The Dimensions you set on the subscription order are inherited when you create an invoice from it. When you post that invoice, the resulting entries carry the same Dimension values. This means your subscription revenue lands in your reporting with the correct Dimensions, without manual rework.
Q&A
Can you use Dimensions on subscription orders in Business Central?
Yes. Dimensions work on subscription orders the same way they do on regular sales orders and invoices, so you get the same reporting flexibility for recurring revenue.
What happens to the lines when you set a Dimension on the header?
Business Central asks whether you want to update the existing lines. If you confirm, the lines inherit the header Dimension, and any new line you add inherits it as well. You can still override the value on individual lines.
How do you use more than two Global Dimensions on a subscription order?
Use personalization to add the extra Dimension columns to the lines, or add the Dimensions in the header so they apply to all lines automatically. You can hide the column on the lines if you prefer a cleaner view.
Are Dimensions transferred to the invoice generated from a subscription?
Yes. The Dimensions on the subscription order are inherited by the invoice, and when you post the invoice, the entries get the same Dimension values.