Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

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Posted on by Newbie12

My company wants to create new data entities to use in our outside reporting processes. We know visual studio is one way to create new data entities, is there another way? If not, are only developers allowed access to visual studios? We are using Finance and Operations. Ideally, we would want to allow one person within the company to be able to create/edit data entities as needed and not need a developer each time.

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Ramit Paul 22,797 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hi,

You are right, to create data entities, you need to develop that, it's not configuration.

For this you need visual studio.

To edit data entities such as removing field, it can be done by configuration.

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Layan Jwei 8,034 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hi Newbie12,

The only way to create a data entity is via a devBox. So yes, you need Visual Studio.

Thanks,

Layan Jweihan

Please mark this answer as "Verified" if it solved your issue. In order to help others who will face a similar issue in the future

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Andreas Raithel 4,963 Moderator on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hy,

to create new entities it is required to develop.

But most of all data can be exposed using existing data entites, just export the entities you need using DMF and combine with any reporting tool.

An visual overview and research tool about current existing entities in D365FIO standard can be found here on my shared Data Entiy research tool.

For my opinion there is really no need to develop new data entities.

Hops this helps.

Herzliche Grüße / kind regards,

Andreas Raithel

D365FO Solution Architect

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Anthony Blake 2,761 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

If you want a non-developer to create views such as data entities for reporting, look at the export to Data Lake and synapse link options. Once the data is in an EDW you can create views as and when you need them without depending on the D365 Finance devlop/build/release process.

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André Arnaud de Cal... 299,327 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hi Newbie12,

I do concur with Anthony. If you want to use data for reporting outside of Dynamics 365, then the export of data using the Synapse link is an option to export from both table and data entities. Then it is it just configuration instead of development.

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Kevin Xia Microsoft Employee on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hi,

According to my search, I didn't find an example that you don't need to develop, just configure to create data entities. You can refer to this blog: dynamics365musings.com. In this article, learn how to create a D365 Data Entity. In this lesson, walk through the steps of creating a data entity in Visual Studio. Then, see it within the Data Management workspace.

Best regards,

Kevin

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MuthukumaranAX 2,903 on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Data entities can be created via Visual Studio only and there is no other way of doing it.

Using the Data entity wizard, a new data entity can be created but depending on your requirement you might need/not need to add code.

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Deepak Agarwal 8,585 on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hello,

I am not sure about your requirement, Creating or editing data entities is not an ongoing activity in the project which you may need for months after go live. I would suggest documenting first what is your actual need and asking a developer who can do ti for you, this needs a proper dev instance for customization.

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Kevin Xia Microsoft Employee on at

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Ways to Create/Edit Data Entities

Hi,

Has your problem been solved? If so, you can mark the thread as verified so that other users of the forum can view the post.

Best regards,

Kevin

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