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Power BI Junior Seeking Guidance: Best Practices to Access Business Central Data Without AL Code

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Posted on by CU08020013-0

Hi everyone,

I’m a junior Power BI developer tasked with analyzing data from Dynamics 365 Business Central. My challenge: I have no AL coding experience, and I’m unsure how to safely extract data without relying on custom AL development.

What I Need Clarity On:

Pre-built Solutions: Are existing OData/API pages (e.g., published web services) the standard way to connect Power BI to Business Central?

Customization: If I need additional data not in pre-built APIs, is creating new pages/queries mandatory (requiring AL), or are there no-code/low-code alternatives?

Scalability: What’s the industry best practice for sustainable, AL-free data pipelines (e.g., Power Query, Azure tools, third-party connectors)?

My Goal:

Avoid AL dependencies while ensuring reports remain scalable and refreshable.

Learn if there’s a “golden path” for non-developers in this scenario.

Ask:
Could you share step-by-step approaches, tools (e.g., BC Power BI connector?), or tutorials that align with these needs? Examples of how others have tackled this would be incredibly helpful!

Thank you in advance for guiding a newcomer! 🙏

Categories:

Dynamics 365 Business Central

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Steven Renders 5,648 Moderator on at

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Power BI Junior Seeking Guidance: Best Practices to Access Business Central Data Without AL Code

Have a look here:

Use Power BI in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central - Training | Microsoft Learn

Training Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 NAV, Dynamics 365 CRM, Power BI, Office 365 | Plataan.TV

The standard ootb APIs are fine, but never enough irl, so you will need to develop new query apis. Don't worry, it is not difficult:

https://plataan.tv/en/plataan/training-course/business-central/core-power-bi-specialist-with-business-central

https://plataan.tv/en/plataan/training-course/business-central/advanced-power-bi-specialist-in-business-central

And, Never go to the SQL db directly, this is not BC Saas compatible.

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Gerardo Rentería Ga... 23,269 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Power BI Junior Seeking Guidance: Best Practices to Access Business Central Data Without AL Code

Hi, good day
I hope this can help you, and give you some hints.

Business Central and Power BI: What can you do to make it better? – think about IT

API (v2.0) for Dynamics 365 Business Central - Business Central | Microsoft Learn

Dynamics 365 Business Central API overview (preview) - Microsoft Graph | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards
Gerardo

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One And Only Naveen 448 on at

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Power BI Junior Seeking Guidance: Best Practices to Access Business Central Data Without AL Code

To connect BC data with Power BI you don't need any thing do with AL, You connect BI with your SQL server (lots of guides available online). And develop power BI report, and to be able to use scheduled refresh on published report you install connector on your server(also lots of guides available online.).
Hope this clears your confusion. (Link)

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YUN ZHU 91,078 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Power BI Junior Seeking Guidance: Best Practices to Access Business Central Data Without AL Code

Pre-built Solutions:

Yes, only API and Odata are accessible.

Customization:

Unfortunately, there is no low code solution at this time.

PS: Dynamics 365 Business Central: Can we extend standard APIs? – Download Standard Source Code for APIs

https://yzhums.com/20960/

Scalability:

Overview of AL-Go: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/al-go/algo-overview?wt.mc_id=DX-MVP-5004336

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

ZHU

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