28 Nov Limitations for configuring color indicators in Business Central cues

As you well know, each user’s Role Center is configurable in Dynamics 365 Business Central, as is the color indicator. In this article we want to explain you not only how to configure the color indicators in the cues and why from Triangle we recommend having it configured, but also what limitations this functionality presents. Lets go see it.

Firstly, and for those who are new to the tool, it is convenient to define what a color indicator is and what its function is. If we set color indicators, these will change depending on the values ​​of the cue data. We are talking about the color bar that is shown on the top edge of the cues as we can see in the image.

The colors work as a visual guide for the user and in this way can indicate which conditions are favorable or unfavorable to act accordingly. For example, if a cue shows sales invoices in progress, you can set the indicator to appear green (favorable) if the total number of sales invoices in progress is less than 10 and red (unfavorable), if the total is greater than 20.

Why configure visual indicators in the cues?

We believe that configuring the visual indicators in the batteries provides a real benefit to the user who uses the tool every day. Its main function is to provide users with a quick and visual guide to the status of that activity, specifically the cues. With a simple color the user can identify if it is within the correct range of action or if any activity needs special attention.

In addition, as the configuration can be done by user, we can use this advantage to make different configurations within the same team. For example, we can set lower warning levels for the first person responsible for solving the problem and other alerts higher for the person responsible for the team. In this way we get a user to unlock certain documents or situations that could pose a risk to the company without the need to alert a superior, but if this number increases, the person in charge can also view it and try to find the best resolution.

What limitations does it present?

The first consideration that we must bear in mind is that the numbers of the cues are the visualization of calculated fields. This means that if the information shown in the value of the cue, which is a single number, is composed by more than one table, we will not be able to navigate in a simple way to the detail of the records that make up this calculation. In addition, depending on the information that the user wants to visualize, it can cause a certain slowness in the system when the Role Center is opened.

It should also be taken into account that if we want the cue to show, for example, orders opened by that particular user (instead of all open orders of the company) it will need some development. That is the only way to filter as one wishes with that freedom. The standard cues, on the other hand, depending on their nature, may apply some filters or others.

How to set color indicators in the Dynamics 365 Business Central cues?

To make this configuration we have to look for the action Set Up Cues in the Dynamics 365 Business Central search engine or through the Activities menu < Set Up Cues.

Next, a window will appear with the batteries that we have currently configured. You must specify the threshold values ​​that will activate the color alert, depending on whether we want to show low, medium or high alert. The colors to choose work according to the following logic: green (favorable), ambiguous (yellow), subordinate (gray), red (unfavorable) and there is also the option of not specifying any color, with which there would be no variation.