About This Release
Released - December 19, 2019
This version is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 15.0 (RTM).
LS Central 15.0
LS Central 15.0 is the first version based on the AL programming language. All LS Central code has been converted from C/AL to AL. The conversion from C/AL to AL included refactoring and adjustments due to several reasons, such as removing dependencies to .dlls, adjusting pages to web client, and refactoring code in order not to modify the Business Central Base Application.
This is not the only major change. LS Central 15.0 is delivered as an extension with dependency on the Business Central Base App. This means that LS Central does not make any changes to the Business Central Base Application.
Business Central 15 and later, and therefore LS Central 15 and later, can only be run in web client. There is no Windows client.
The new development environment changes how LS Central releases are delivered. The release package includes both the runtime app and the source code.
LS Central AL code
The source code is delivered in AL files that can be modified by partners just as partners could modify the LS Central C/AL code before. It is, however, highly recommended to make all modifications in extensions, and if you need to alter the LS Central or Business Central behavior then do that by subscribing to events.
To develop an extension, you need to download the symbols. “You can look at the symbols as the application programming interface to the system, the application and the test objects”,
It is LS Retail's priority to make it easy for the partners to extend LS Central. Therefore, there is a special section in our Support Portal where partners can submit request for new events. These requests are given priority.
LS Central extension
The release package includes LS Central as a runtime app that can be installed as an extension. To install the extension, you first need to publish it, see Publishing and Installing an Extension v2.0. Once the extension has been published, the LS Central extension can be installed using the Extension Management page in Business Central.
The following is a list of changes and key features in LS Central 15.0.
New or Enhanced Features
Retail
BackOffice
Hardware Profile Cleanup
The Hardware Profile Card has been updated and now only has settings that are applicable to be used with the LS Hardware Station. The few settings that remain on the Hardware Profile Card have been merged and placed in the Settings section and other configurations have been moved to their respective device cards.
The Hardware Profile List has also been updated and now displays a check mark if any devices of a specific type have been configured on a particular profile.
All devices now have their own card, that is POS Printer Card, POS Display Card, and so on. Various settings that before were only on the Hardware Profile Card have been moved to these cards:
POS Display card:
- Display Balance text
- Display total text
- Display Closed line 1
- Display closed line 2
- Delay for linked items
POS Drawer Card:
- Drawer Alert Timeout
POS Terminal card:
- Print Discount Detail
Other hardware device functions that are not supported by the LS Hardware Station have been removed both from the Hardware Profile Card and from the LS Central functionality:
- MSR functionality
- Beeper/Toner
- Dallas key
- Scale functionality
LS Central Demo Role Center
A new LS Central Role Center page has been created, named LS CentralDemo. This Role Center page is intended to help partners navigate LS Central during demos and can be helpful for consultants and administrators during installation of LS Central.
Autotests Moved from Version 14.02 (C/AL) to 15.0 (AL)
LS Central autotests are published in a separate extension. The Autotest extension has dependency on the LS Central Extension.
Code Related to Sum Fields in Value Entry Table Refactored
In LS Central 15.0 there are several flow fields in the Value Entry table extension where the original key is made up of both Microsoft and LS Central fields. For improved performance this has been changed to use keys from the LS Central Value Entry table extension only.
Hospitality
BackOffice
Event to Override Field Validation in Hospitality Service Flow Line Table
Restrictions on how to set up Hospitality Service Flow have been decreased to allow more options for changing dining table status and setting alerts.
Table Management
Allocated Tables in Graphical Layout on POS
A new status for dining tables, Allocated, makes it possible to change color on a dining table if the table is allocated to a reservation within a certain time limit. The status always applies to free dining tables, but can also apply to dining tables that are to be cleaned, or to dining tables that are not available. The status is only for changing the color, it does not change the underlying status of the dining table.
New POS Command
- TBL_CANCELALLOCATION - Cancel dining table allocation.
See the LS Central Help and the corresponding Excel list with filters for a complete list of POS commands.
Other
LS Central Demo Data Company
As in previous releases, this release includes a database with LS Central Demo Company. In this release, however, all old LS Central entries, such as Item Ledger Entries, Value Entries, Customer related entries, Vendor related entries, and Transaction headers and related lines, have been deleted.
To make it easier to test and demo, the system stock has been created for some items for a few locations by posting purchases through an Item Journal. This makes it possible, for example, to run the Customer Order functionality as described in the Demo Data Information document. Stock has also been created for fashion items for eCommerce testing purposes.
Note: The demo company has a new name, Cronus–LS Central.
Fixed Issues
Retail BackOffice
Store Inventory Counting Worksheet
An incorrect variable was used in Compress lines in the Store Inventory Counting Worksheet. This has now been fixed.
Replenishment
Replenishment Item Quantities Improvement
- Quantities sold not posted in Trans. Sales Entry will now be considered while calculating the Daily Sales in Replen. Item Quantity, if the Calc. Qty. Sold not Posted option is enabled in Replen. Setup.
- Sales that occurred on an out-of-stock day (including the days when the item goes out of stock and when the item gets restocked) are now excluded from the Daily Sales calculation.