More Insight with FactBoxes in Business Central
FactBoxes are the information panels in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central that display additional information about the record you are currently viewing. This could include totals, outstanding entries, documents, attachments, and other relevant information.
The funny explanation
You can think of a FactBox as the curious colleague of Business Central.
You open a customer and suddenly all kinds of information appear on the right:"This customer still has a significant outstanding amount. They have been ordering the same item for months. There are three invoices that are overdue and, by the way, there is also a PDF called 'final_new_really_final_v3.pdf'."
It is almost like having an accountant sitting next to you who is constantly giving you relevant figures and comments. Sometimes you did not ask for them, but at exactly the right moment, that information turns out to be quite useful.
The problem starts when you fill the entire sidebar with FactBoxes. Your Business Central page can quickly turn into an overcrowded refrigerator door: charts, notes, totals, attachments, history, and all kinds of other information. Everything is there except the thing you originally opened the page for.
What exactly is a FactBox?
In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, a FactBox is an information panel that displays contextual data related to the current record. This panel is usually located on the right-hand side of a page.
For example, if you open several customers one after another, the information in the FactBoxes is automatically updated to match the customer you have selected. The same principle applies to vendors, items, and sales documents, for example.
The purpose is simple:make relevant information available without requiring the user to navigate to another page.
What information is displayed in a FactBox?
The content varies depending on the page and configuration, but common examples include:
- Statistics: such as balances, sales amounts, quantities, and overdue payments.
- Related information: such as orders, invoices, shipments, and ledger entries.
- Attachments, notes, and links: documents and other information linked to the record.
- Charts and other insights: depending on the page and configuration.
Technically, FactBoxes are often built using so-calledparts. These can beCardPart orListPart pages, for example, which are incorporated into another page.
This technical difference is relevant when looking at performance. One FactBox may require hardly any processing, while another may perform all kinds of calculations or data retrieval in the background.
FactBoxes and FastTabs: what is the difference?
FactBoxes and FastTabs are sometimes confused, but they have a very different purpose.
- FastTabs contain the main fields you use to work with and view or modify data.
- FactBoxes display additional information about the record you have opened.
You can think of it simply as:
FastTabs = this is where you do the work.
FactBoxes = this is where you check the context.
A FactBox should therefore primarily help you make decisions faster, without having to open another page every time.
How do you use FactBoxes correctly?
A good FactBox is not simply a collection of information. Its content should actually add value to the user's work.
1. Use FactBoxes to check information
A FactBox is particularly valuable when it can immediately answer a question the user has.
For example:
- Does this customer still have outstanding invoices?
- Are there any orders that still need to be processed?
- Are there documents linked to this customer?
- Are there any details or exceptions concerning this item?
If a FactBox is on the page only because the informationmight be useful someday, it is worth asking whether it really belongs there.
2. Take the user into account
Not every user needs the same information.
A finance employee may benefit greatly from information about balances, ledger entries, and outstanding amounts. A customer service employee may be more interested in contact details, interactions, and recent orders.
Therefore, try not to use one FactBox layout for everyone.The right information depends on the user's role and responsibilities.
3. More FactBoxes does not automatically mean more insight
A common mistake is wanting to make as much information available as possible.
The result is a sidebar with ten different FactBoxes, making important information harder to find. When users have to search through a huge amount of information, FactBoxes lose their most important function: providing relevant context quickly.
For every FactBox, ask yourself: does this actually add value for the user?
4. Make sure users can drill down
A good FactBox does not only display information; where possible, it also provides a quick route to the underlying data.
For example, if you can see that a customer has five outstanding entries, it is particularly useful if you can immediately drill down to those entries from the FactBox.
This makes a FactBox more than a static information block: it becomes a quick entry point to the underlying data.
Can FactBoxes slow down Business Central?
Yes, they can. Not because FactBoxes themselves are bad for performance, but because of the amount and complexity of the information they need to retrieve.
For example, pay attention to the following situations:
- There are many FactBoxes displayed on a page at the same time.
- A customized FactBox performs heavy calculations.
- A FactBox retrieves large amounts of related data.
- Data is repeatedly loaded as the user navigates between records.
This can be particularly relevant with customizations. A FactBox that performs complex calculations for every record can cause a page to become noticeably slower.
So when a user says,"Business Central suddenly feels so slow", it is worth looking beyond just the main content of the page. The FactBoxes may also play a role.
Frequently asked questions about FactBoxes
What is a FactBox in Business Central?
A FactBox is an information panel that displays additional information about the record you are currently viewing. This could include statistics, related documents, outstanding entries, attachments, and notes.
Where can you find FactBoxes?
FactBoxes are usually located on the right-hand side of card and list pages. You can find them, for example, on customer, vendor, item, and various sales and purchase document pages.
Other pages within Business Central can also use similarpage parts to display additional information.
Can FactBoxes slow down Business Central?
That is possible. A large number of FactBoxes, or FactBoxes that perform complex calculations and process large amounts of data, can have an impact on performance.
Can I hide or customize FactBoxes?
In many cases, users can turn the FactBox pane on or off and use personalization to determine which information is displayed.
The options available may depend on the user's permissions and the way Business Central has been configured within the organization.
What is the difference between a FactBox and a FastTab?
AFastTab contains the main fields you use on a page. AFactBox provides additional information about the record you are viewing.
In short: FastTabs are part of the main content of the page, while FactBoxes provide additional context.
Can users customize or hide FactBoxes?
In many cases, yes. Users can generally:
- turn the FactBox pane on or off;
- personalize the page;
- show or hide certain FactBoxes.
There are some limitations, however. An organization may restrict certain personalization options or choose to use a standardized page layout for its users.
Conclusion
FactBoxes are a powerful part of Business Central when used correctly. They provide users with relevant information at the moment they need it and can therefore prevent a lot of unnecessary navigation.
The most important rule, however, is:do not add a FactBox simply because it is technically possible, but because the information actually adds value.
An organized page with a few well-chosen FactBoxes is ultimately much more valuable than a screen where everything is visible at once.
