Compliance – User Documentation
1. Overview
The Compliance Extension expands Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with approval processes for master data:
- Item Approval: Automatic blocking and review upon changes
- Customer Approval: Business review prior to sales release
- Vendor Approval: Quality and master data verification in purchasing
Navigation: Search (Alt+Q) -> “Compliance Setup”
2. Getting Started
- Open Setup: Search for “Compliance Setup” – page opens
- Check Permissions: Ensure the user is configured as a Compliance Approval User
- Test Features:
- Change a trigger field on a test item
- Open the resulting Approval Entry
- Answer mandatory questions and execute “Approve”
3. Setup
Assisted Setup & Basic Setup
- Navigation: Search (Alt+Q) -> “Compliance Setup”
- Step-by-Step:
- Activate approval areas (Item, Customer, Vendor)
- Define trigger fields (fields whose changes trigger an approval)
Manual Setup & Master Tables
- Compliance Approval Users: Definition of authorized reviewers
- Approval Codes: Creation of approval types (e.g.,
NEW,MASTER DATA,QUALITY) - Approval Template Lines: Definition of review questions and answer field types (e.g., Text, Option)
- Approval Processes: Linking Approval Codes, master data types, and template lines
4. Triggering Fields
- Automatic Detection: Changing an enabled trigger field automatically creates an Approval Entry
- Field Listing: Item Trigger Fields, Customer Trigger Fields, Vendor Trigger Fields
- Settings: Add table field -> Set to Enabled -> Optionally add a note
5. Approval Processes & Assignment
- Process Cards: Create per Approval Process Type (Item/Customer/Vendor) and Approval Code
- Assign Approval Code: Select master data records via action and assign code
- Delete Code: Actions to remove assignments for selected or all records
6. Approval Process Flow
- Triggering: Record is blocked upon trigger field change; status sets to Pending Approval
- Editing: Open via Approval Entries -> Review linked record -> Open lines and answer mandatory questions
- Approval: Execute Approve action -> Record is unblocked and status is set to Approved
7. Daily Workflows
- Master Data Maintenance: Perform changes on items, customers, or vendors
- Review: Approval Users open Approval Entries and process open entries
- Documentation: Use the Change Log for full traceability of all status changes
8. FAQ
- Why can I not approve the entry?
- Check: Is a result still missing for a mandatory line?
- Why do I get the message “Process not allowed for user”?
- Check: Is the user listed under Compliance Approval Users?
- What does status “No Longer Relevant” mean?
- The process is no longer relevant to the business and cannot be completed via the standard approval action.
9. Troubleshooting
- Master data record not found: Check if the item/customer/vendor has been deleted
- Missing option answers: Maintain answer options in the Approval Template Lines
- No approval triggered on change: Check if the field is set to Enabled under Trigger Fields
10. Glossary
- Compliance Setup: Central control for approval activations and trigger fields
- Approval Code: Short identifier for the business reason of an approval (e.g., QUALITY)
- Approval Entry: Central record for executing and logging an approval process
- Trigger Field: Table field whose change forces a new approval
- Template Line: Defined review field or question building block within an approval process