XPT Data Explorer

A browser-based tool for exploring, querying, and exporting data from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. See every table, every field, and every relationship — then build queries and export the results.

XPT Data Explorer is designed for BC developers, consultants, and power users who need quick access to data that isn't easily visible through standard BC pages. Instead of writing custom reports or API pages, you can explore any table directly in your browser.

The app runs at dx.xpt.tools. No installation required — just open it and start browsing.

Free tier & demo data

The free tier gives you full access to browse the Business Central schema using a shared Cronus demo environment. Cronus is Microsoft's standard demo company, pre-loaded with realistic data across customers, vendors, items, GL entries, and more.

What you can do on the free tier

• Browse all BC tables and fields — search by name or ID, filter by category
• View field details — data types, primary keys, FlowFields, table relations
• Run queries — select fields, add filters, see up to 100 rows of live Cronus data
• Export CSV — download up to 100 rows as CSV
• Schema Explorer — navigate table relationships visually
• Field cross-references — see where a field is used across all BC tables

Browsing tables

The left sidebar shows every table available in your BC environment (or the Cronus demo). Each entry shows the table name, ID number, category, and record count.

Searching and filtering

Type in the search box to filter by table name or table ID. You can also click the category buttons to filter by functional area (Sales, Purchasing, Inventory, etc.).

The highlighted row (amber accent) shows which table is currently selected. Click any table to load its fields in the main panel.

Fields & relations

When you select a table, the Fields tab shows every field on that table. Each field displays:

Understanding the columns

• Checkbox — tick/untick fields to include them in your query. All fields are selected by default.
• No. — the BC field number. Useful when writing AL code or filters.
• Field — the field caption. Fields marked PK are part of the table's primary key.
• Type — the data type (Code, Text, Decimal, Integer, Date, Boolean, Option). Colour-coded for quick scanning.
• Class — either Normal or FlowField. FlowFields are calculated at runtime and marked with an amber ⚡ label.
• Relation — if this field has a TableRelation to another table, it shows as a clickable blue link. Click it to navigate directly to that table.

Field cross-reference

Click on any field that has a relation or is a primary key to expand the cross-reference panel. This shows you every other table in BC that references the same related table — a "where used" view that's invaluable during implementations and data migrations.

Query builder

Switch to the Query Builder tab to run a query against the selected table. The query builder shows three sections:

1. Selected fields — the columns that will be included in your results. Uncheck fields in the Fields tab to exclude them. Each field appears as an amber chip. Click the × on any chip to remove it.
2. Filters — narrow your results using BC filter syntax. Click + Filter to add a row. Choose the field from the dropdown and enter your filter value.
3. Check & Run — click the amber button to see a performance estimate before running. The gate shows estimated row count and warns if the query might be slow.

The performance gate

Before running, the query builder checks the total record count and your filters to estimate how many rows will be returned. It shows one of three states:

You can always click "Run anyway" on warning or danger queries — the gate is advisory, not blocking. Results are capped at 1,000 rows (100 on the free tier).

Filters & BC syntax

Filters use standard Business Central filter syntax. Here's a quick reference:

Pattern	Meaning	Example
DOMESTIC	Exact match	Customer Posting Group = DOMESTIC
<>0	Not equal to	Balance <> 0 (non-zero balances)
>1000	Greater than	Amount > 1000
1000..5000	Range (inclusive)	No. between 1000 and 5000
*dental*	Contains (wildcard)	Description contains "dental"
CUS*	Starts with	No. starts with CUS
10000|20000|30000	Multiple values (OR)	Customer No. is any of these
01/01/24..31/12/24	Date range	Posting Date in 2024

When you add multiple filters, they are combined with AND logic — all filters must match for a record to be included.

Exporting data

After running a query, click the ⬇ CSV button in the results grid header to download the data as a CSV file. The file includes all columns shown in the results.

Excel export is available on Pro and Partner plans. The data is returned as a downloadable .xlsx file with proper column formatting.

Schema explorer

The Schema Explorer (accessible from the Schema tab in the top navigation) gives you a visual way to navigate table relationships in Business Central.

Select a table from the sidebar to see its outbound relations (tables this table points to) and inbound references (tables that point to this table). Click any relation card to navigate to that table and explore its own relations.

The breadcrumb trail at the top tracks your navigation path — click any entry to jump back.

Quick start tables

The sidebar shows commonly-used tables (Customer, Item, Sales Header, G/L Entry, etc.) as quick-start links. Below that, every table is listed alphabetically for full access.

Saved views

After running a query, click 💾 Save View to store the current table, field selection, and filters for quick access later. Saved views appear in the Views tab in the left sidebar.

Creating a view

1. Select a table, choose your fields, add filters, and run the query.
2. Click Save View. Enter a name (e.g. "Active Customers London") and optionally a category (e.g. "Migration Checks").
3. Toggle Share with team if you want other users in your account to see it.

Using saved views

Click the Views tab in the sidebar to see all your saved views. Click a view to load it — the table, fields, and filters are restored automatically. Click ▶ to re-run the query.

Use the ⋮ menu on any view to pin it to the top or delete it.

Why connect your own BC?

The free tier uses a shared Cronus demo environment. Connecting your own Business Central lets you:

• Query your real data — customers, sales orders, ledger entries, everything
• No row limits — up to 10,000 rows per query (vs. 100 on demo)
• Export to Excel and CSV — full data exports for analysis
• Multiple environments — connect production, sandbox, or both
• Saved views — store and share frequently-used queries

Connecting requires three things: an Azure app registration, the XPT AL extension installed on your BC environment, and a Pro or Partner plan.

Azure app registration

XPT Data Explorer connects to your BC environment using OAuth2 client credentials. This requires an Azure Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) app registration.

1. Go to portal.azure.com → Microsoft Entra ID → App registrations → New registration.
2. Name it something like XPT Data Explorer. Set "Supported account types" to Accounts in this organizational directory only. Leave Redirect URI blank. Click Register.
3. On the Overview page, copy the Application (client) ID and the Directory (tenant) ID. You'll need both.
4. Go to Certificates & secrets → New client secret. Give it a description (e.g. "XPT DX") and an expiry (e.g. 24 months). Copy the Value immediately — it's only shown once. (Not the Secret ID — the Value.)
5. Go to API permissions → Add a permission → Dynamics 365 Business Central → Application permissions → select API.ReadWrite.All → Add permission.
6. Click Grant admin consent for your organisation.

Installing the AL extension

XPT Data Explorer needs a small AL extension installed on your BC environment. This extension exposes API endpoints that allow the app to read table metadata and execute queries securely.

Contact us at dx.xpt.tools → Support and we'll provide the extension file and walk you through installation. The process takes about 5 minutes.

1. Download the .app file provided by XPT.
2. In BC, go to Extension Management → Upload Extension.
3. Upload the .app file and accept the prompts.
4. Wait for the extension to install (usually 1–2 minutes).
5. Assign the XPT Data Explorer permission set to the Azure app's service account.

Adding your connection

Once you have the Azure app registration and the AL extension installed, add your connection in the Data Explorer:

1. Sign in to dx.xpt.tools and go to Settings.
2. Click + Add Connection.
3. Fill in the form:
   • Connection Name — e.g. "Production" or "Sandbox"
   • Tenant ID — from Azure → Entra ID → Overview
   • Client ID — the Application (client) ID from your app registration
   • Client Secret — the secret Value you copied earlier
   • Environment — e.g. "production" or "sandbox"
   • Company Name — the exact company name from BC (including spaces, dots, and case)
4. Click Add Connection, then click Test to verify it works.

Plans & pricing

See the full comparison at xpt.tools/pricing. Annual billing is available with a 17% discount.

Billing & subscription

Payments are processed securely by Stripe. You can manage your subscription, update payment details, or cancel at any time.

• To upgrade — go to Pricing and click "Get started" on your chosen plan. You'll be redirected to Stripe to complete payment.
• To manage your subscription — sign in, go to Account, and click Manage billing. This opens the Stripe customer portal where you can update your card, switch plans, or cancel.
• To cancel — cancel any time from the Stripe portal. Your subscription runs until the end of the billing period. Cancel within 14 days of your first payment for a full refund.

Prices are exclusive of VAT. UK customers will have VAT added at checkout. Xpertly Ltd VAT No. 452840787.

Getting help

If you have a question, run into an issue, or need help setting up your BC connection, we're here to help.

• Support form — click the Support tab in the Data Explorer to submit a ticket. We'll respond by email.
• Email — reach us at support@xpt.tools
• Ticket history — signed-in users can see their ticket history and replies in the Account page and Support tab.