In the expansive landscape of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, efficiently navigating and managing metadata is crucial for developers. Visual Studio offers robust tools to streamline this process, notably the Metadata Search tool window and the Navigate To window.
Metadata Search Tool Window
Accessible via the Dynamics 365 > Metadata Search menu command, the Metadata Search tool window allows developers to input search queries, with results populating asynchronously as you type. Double-clicking a result navigates directly to the corresponding X++ code or metadata. Additionally, multiple results can be selected, right-clicked, and added to a project without waiting for the search to complete.
Navigate To Window
Invoked using the Ctrl+‘,’ (comma) shortcut or through the Visual Studio Edit menu, the Navigate To window presents a query entry box in the top-right corner of the main document window. As with the Metadata Search tool, results appear dynamically as you type, and interaction with these results can commence immediately, even before the search concludes.
Search Query Syntax
Both tools utilize a flexible search query syntax comprising various filters:
- Name: Filters by element name. If a token is entered without a specified filter, it’s assumed to be a name filter.
- Type: Filters by element type, such as table, class, or field. Multiple types can be specified, and the logic applies both root types and subtypes.
- Model: Filters by model name within the application.
- Property: Applies filters based on property names and their corresponding values.
- Code: Filters using code snippets enclosed in quotes, matching elements containing the specified code.
For detailed guidance on filter usage and syntax, a drop-down menu is available within the search box.
Practical Examples
Here are some illustrative examples of search queries:
- CustTable: Finds all elements with “CustTable” in their name.
- type:form Journal: Finds all forms with “Journal” in their names.
- type:form property:formtemplate=listpage: Finds all forms where the FormTemplate property equals ‘ListPage’.
- type:table,method name:insert: Finds tables with a method containing “insert” in the method name.
These tools and their functionalities significantly enhance the efficiency of managing and navigating metadata within Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, empowering developers to focus more on crafting effective solutions.
Whole list according to Metadata search in Visual Studio – Finance & Operations | Dynamics 365 | Microsoft Learn
| Query string | What it does |
| TrvExpTable | If the token is by itself, it is assumed to be the name. So this will find everything in the application that has “TrvExpTable” in the name. |
| type:form ccount | Finds all forms that have “ccount” in their names. |
| type:form property:formtemplate=listpage | Finds all forms that contain the property “FormTemplate” equal to ‘ListPage’. |
| type:table,formDesign property:”WorkflowDataSource=TrvExpTable” | Finds formDesign nodes under tables, nothing would be found. |
| type:form,formmenufunctionbuttoncontrol property:Text=@SYS311998 | Finds all menu function button controls with the Text property equal to (a label) ‘@SYS311998’. |
| type:table,method name:insert | Finds tables with a method containing “insert” in the method name. |
| type:table,tableindex name:Export | Finds tables with an index name containing the word “Export”. |
| type:table,tableindexfield name:xpNum | Finds table indexes with “xpNum” in the index field name. |
| type:table,tablefieldgroup name:EPNew | Finds FieldGroups (in tables) containing ‘EPNew’ in their names. |
| type:form,formgridcontrol property:allowedit=no,heightmode=column | Finds form grid controls, with properties allowedit equal to “no” and heightmode equal to “column”. |
| type:form,formtabcontrol property:arrangeMethod=Vertical,ViewEditMode=view,WidthMode=Auto | Finds form tab controls, with properties arrangeMethod equal to “Vertical” and ViewEditMode equal to “view” and WidthMode equal to “Auto”. |
| type:form,formDesign property:”WorkflowDataSource=TrvExpTable” | Finds all forms with the “WorkflowDataSource” property in the FormDesign node set to the value “TrvExpTable”. |
| model:”Application Suite” type:formdesign property:style=simplelistdetail | Find all forms in Application Suite model that has the style property set to simpleListDetail in the FormDesign node. |
| code:”return null” | Finds all places in the source code that contains “return null”. |
| code:”element.lock()” type:form | Finds all places in the forms source code that contain the snippet “element.lock()”. |
| code:”insert” type:table,form | Finds all places in the source code of either forms or tables that contain “insert”. |
| code:”public display” type:form,method | Finds all form methods that contain the code “public display”. |
| type:formbuttoncontrol property:text= | Finds all form Button Controls that have empty text properties. |
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