In this article, we will show you how you can easily export data from Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (D365 FO) using the Data Management Workspace and the Data Import Export Framework, known as DIXF.
In this article
Data Management Workspace
The Data Management Workspace is where you will find everything to do with importing and exporting data via DIXF.
Go to Workspaces > Data Management
To access the Data Management Workspace, you will need to be assigned one of the following security roles:
- System Administrator
- Data Management Administrator
- Data Management Migration User
- Data Management Operations User
On the left, you will see tiles where you can create data projects and configure settings. In the middle, you will find all your data projects and on the right you will be able to view the history of your data jobs.
Data entities in D365FO
Think of a data entity like a layer that sits on top of multiple tables in a database. An entity collects data from all of these tables and presents them to you in a single view. For example, the data relating to a customer is spread across many tables in the D365FO database. The customer entity sits on top of all of these tables giving you the ability to easily import and export customer data in just a few clicks.
Pro Tip: Data entities not tables
In D365FO, you can only import and export data using data entities. You cannot import and export data directly to tables like you can in previous versions of the software (AX2009 and AX2012).
You can find a list of all the available data entities by going to Workspaces > Data Management > Data Entities
Here you will find a list of all the entities you can use in the Data Management Workspace.
If you cannot see any entities here, then you need to refresh the entity list. To do this, go to Workspaces > Data Management > Framework Parameters
Select the Entity Settings tab and click Refresh Entity List.
Export data from D365FO
1. Pick your company
Firstly, make sure you are in the right company (or “legal entity”). The Data Management Workspace is company-specific, so you can only import and export data from the legal entity you are in.
2. Create a export data project
Next, it’s time to create a export data project. A data project will contain all the entities you want to export. Go to Workspaces > Data Management. Then click on the Export tile.
Make sure you are in the Enhanced View.
Give your export data project a name and description (optional).
3. Add entities
A data project can be used to export multiple data entities at the same time.
To add an entity to your data project, click Add entity. Select the entity you want to export and then choose what format you want the export to be in (e.g. Excel). Then press Add.
The entities you have added will appear in the Selected Entities FastTab.
4. Filter an entity
You can filter an entity before exporting it. For example, you can filter the customer entity so only customers who speak English are exported.
On the Selected Entities FastTab scroll to the right and click on the filter icon.
Set your filter criteria and then click OK.
5. Export now
To export the entities, go to Export Options in the ribbon and click Export Now.
Once the export is complete, D365FO will redirect you to the Execution Summary page. This page shows you the status and stats of your export, including how many records have been exported for each entity.
Every time you run a data project, you create a data job. You can view your data job history on the right hand side of the Data Management Workspace.
6. Download your files
To download an entity individually, select the entity in the Entity Processing Status FastTab, then click Download File.
To download all the entities in the data project at once, click Download Package in the ribbon.
Data packages
A data package is a .zip file which contains multiple Excel documents, a manifest and a package header XML file.
Each Excel file is an entity in your data project. The manifest and package header XML files contain the settings for the data project. Data packages are often used to quickly move data between different D365FO environments.
Pro Tip: Advantages of data packages
Data packages are used to quickly move data between different D365FO environments.
Export data again
You can easily export data again by rerunning your data project, go to Workspaces > Data Management. Select your data project and then click Load Project.
Then go to Export Options in the ribbon and click Export Now.