How to import/export XML files in Navision 3.6/3.7

Business Central/NAV Developers Forum
1

Hi All,

My client is having a customized version of Navision 3.60. Requirement is to create a tool or something like that to import/export XML files into Navision.

Now this can be done easily in Navision 4.0 and higher but in Navision 3.60, I have no idea how to even proceed.

Any help in this regard is appreciated.

Thanks & Regards,

Pawan Kumar

2

Unless the client does not have support, then the cheapest solution is to do a technical upgrade to 4.00.

3

You can also look at this thread to learn start using XML DOM. It’s the only way to use XML in version below 4.0

http://dynamicsuser.net/forums/thread/57481.aspx

4

Yes, logically and economically that would have been the first option. But in this particular case, we have to deal with Nav 3.6 only.

So the XML import/export tool have to be created in Nav 3.6.

I have started reading about XML DOM…they said…that’s the only way…let’s see…

Still any help is appreciated…

5

Is this because they are not on a support contract? Or just because they don’t want to move to the new executables?

Of course you could just write the code directly to import and export XML, but thats a huge job.

6

Yes, client is not on support and upgrade is out of the scene because of cost & complexity involved.

Anyways, after doing some research, I have come to the following: -

Solution Approaches:

  1. In Navision, Version 4.0 and higher, there exists a technology named “XMLPorts”. With this technology, it is very simple and easy to import/export documents or files in XML format. Approach would be to build/replicate the same technology in Navision Version 3.60.

a. Problem is only that it is a huge job because there are some DLL files, necessary for running “XMLPort” functionality which are difficult to replicate for Navision 3.60

  1. Approach would be to build a technology similar to “XMLPort” in Navision Version 3.60 from scratch. This will allow customizations as per user requirements.

a. Problem is it will take longer time as it is to be built from scratch. Hell lot of time!

b. It involves use of technology like XML DOM which itself is quite complex but achievable.

  1. Approach would be to use the existing “Import Excel” tool made in the client’s current database. In this, coming XML files would be first converted into CSV format files and then using the existing tool, would be imported into Navision system.

a. Problem is converting XML files to CSV format files.

b. Also, this “Import Excel” tool is a very basic tool. So, some enhancements would also be done in this tool itself.

Considering all the approaches while taking up a task, to select the best and most economical approach is the key.

Other products available in the Market

  1. EFS Technology makes available their flagship product LaserNet Output Management. This product can help in converting documents from any format to any required format. Refer to following address for details: -http://efstech.dk/fileadmin/efs_technology/Files/FLASH/LaserNet_Flash_Final.swf

  2. Another company called Digital Vantage Point makes another interesting product for this kind of integration. Refer to following address for details: -

http://www.dvp.net/dvp_products_details.asp?docID=329

Any suggestions on how to approach from now onwards in this task?

Thanks & Regards,

Pawan

7

If the XMLPorts work as part of a technical upgrade (I have not tried) then this is not really a complex issue. Technical upgrades take a lot lot less time than a full upgrade. Cost of license? Well thats a different issue that I could not comment on.

/TH

8

Hello,
It seems to me that there is a simpler approach. There are tools along XML technologies allowing to take XML files and to transform them into flat files (txt, csv, fixed length fields, …). One of this technologie is XLST. You could have a look at http://www.w3schools.com/xsl/default.asp to get a few basics about it.
I used it once to flatten a quite complex xml file in something less tricky that I then imported using dataport. The XSLT is not so intuitive, but when you get it, you can write all the needed code in just a few lines and have a nice txt or csv file.

Regards,
DanMont.