Tag: Microsoft 365 Business Central

Powershell module for creating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central docker containers using artifacts

Using a powershell module to easily download a BC365 artifact and create a container

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, formally known as Dynamics NAV, has provided us partners with a new one way of developing the product.

Previously we would use the developer tool ‘Object designer’ to delve into the product and change the way it works or add complete new functionality for our customers. Now, we are presented with the latest method, Extensions.

Now it’s fair to say they have been around for a while now, initially the v1 extensions… yes moving on quickly to what we have now.

I’m a big fan I must say, initial hesitation aside and no doubt future challenges we’ll face, but seeing an out of the box solution being lit up with new features without touching the base code, might impressive.

Anyway, to facilitate this development the old method of creating a dev environment is dead in the water. In comes Docker, and more recently artifacts.

I am not going to delve too much into it to be honest, there are plenty of resources available, primarily you need the bccontainerhelper, but putting it all together is a little time consuming, and the last thing we want is our team members to have to spend unnecessary time spinning up a new container.

So the answer, my new PowerShell module (and my first!), it can be found on the gallery here

Before you get going you need the BcContainerHelper from the powershell gallery (which also has everything you need too – for more see here). Anwyay to install this type

Install-Module -Name BcContainerHelper

To install, from a PowerShell prompt type:

Install-module bc365-create-container

Once imported, you can simply run it by typing:

New-bc365container

This is its simplest form, and will prompt you for a container name., it will default to Windows authentication, no ssl and CSide installation.

The current parameters available are:

–ContainerName: specifies the container name
–Auth: Authentication type, either Windows or NavUserPassword (defaults to windows if not specified
–SSL: Obvious I think! Defaults to false.
–CSide: Install the CSide client etc. Defaults to false.

So for example, to run as NavUserPassword, with SSL and with CSide type:

New-BC365Container -ContainerName yourname -Auth NavUserPassword -SSL $true -CSide $true

I will be added new parameters over the next few weeks as well as other improvements, but not will get you there quicker I think.

The source is also available on GitHub

All future parameter updates etc will be posted on GitHub.