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Create a copy of Production environment with only configuration/schema/tables

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Posted on by AG-29061442-0

Hi,

I'm new to Business Central Online (it doesn't usually fall under my responsibility, but since we're shorthanded I've been assigned to set this up).

I have a business requirement where I need to create copies of our production environments without business data, for the purpose of a development pipeline (development isn't in BC, but rather data flow integrations between BC and Dataverse).

The idea would be to first create copies of our 7 production environments (without data), and then use the "Copy" function in BC Admin to copy the production-like environments (without data) for all the pipeline stages.

We have several ISV's and PTE's in the environments.

Is it possible to achieve this and what would be the most straightforward route?

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Dynamics 365 Business Central

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HeinKruger on at

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Hi,
Its a bit of a tricky one.

The best way would be to Create a new company with No Data.
Then from the company you need the setups from Extract all tables via config packages.
In the New Company import the Config Packages.
Now you have the setups in a new company.
See the Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjfHPTm55tQ

Phase 2: Would be to Copy the Environment to a sandbox Environment. you can do this from the Admin Center.
When the New Environment is Ready open it up on the New Company. Then Go to Companies and delete te rest of the Companies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-GedeGbS4

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Gerardo Rentería Ga... 25,213 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi

If you want a company with only configuration data and without registered operations.

You can copy the environment and then proceed to delete the data from the log tables using some tools such as the following:

4 Ways To Delete Records From a Table - Business Central Deep Dive (navinsights.net)

BR

GR

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YUN ZHU 95,331 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi, the first thing to note is that the production environment is not completely free...If you want 7 production environments, you will pay at least $1,800 more per month.

More details: https://yzhums.com/50224/

In addition, when copying the environment, developers can use the following method to clean up some unnecessary data. But it looks like you have to clean up a lot, so I don't recommend this approach.

Dynamics 365 Business Central: How to clean up your data when copying to a sandbox environment (Sandbox Clean up)

https://yzhums.com/11488/

It is recommended to use Configuration Package to export the data you need, and then import it into the new environment.

More details: https://yzhums.com/4286/

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
ZHU

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Valentin Castravet 31,340 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Several good options have been presented, personally in these cases I prefer to copy a company/environment with data, and then use the following tool to delete the transactional data - Record Deletion Tool - Business Central Deep Dive (navinsights.net). This will leave you with only the setup data.

Valentin Castravet
Work: Zander ERP Services
Blog: Dynamics 365 Business Central Insights
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/valentin-c-0500a247/

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