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Information Values

  • Updated on May 22, 2026
  • Published on Apr 30, 2026
  • 8 minute(s) read
  • AF
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Feature Overview

Information Values define the allowed options for an Information Code of subtype Specification. Where an Information Code describes what attribute you are capturing — for example "Colour" — an Information Value defines each valid choice for that attribute, such as "Red", "Blue", or "Green". Together they form the controlled vocabulary that keeps specification data consistent across all master data records.

Each Information Value belongs to exactly one Information Code. A value has three content fields that serve different purposes: Information Value is the short internal code used as the key (e.g. RED); Description is the human-readable label shown to users on pages and documents (e.g. Red); and Value is an optional technical identifier used for external system integration or webshop export (e.g. an EAN code or external ID). Display order in lookup lists and the Information Matrix is controlled separately by the Sorting Level field, not by Value. When specifications flow to documents or are used in Merge Descriptions, you control exactly which of these three fields is used as output through the Description Setup linked to the Information Code.

Information Values also carry their own language translations, extended text, and attachments — all configured via actions directly on the Information Value List. A value can have a translated description for each language code, meaning the correct description appears automatically on documents printed in a different language. If the associated Information Code is configured for Merge Descriptions, the value also inherits the merge settings and its sorting level in the merged output.

Key Facts

Area Detail
Where to set up Information Value List (accessed from the Information Code Card via the Information Values action)
Key fields Information Value (code), Description, Value, Sorting Level, Print Description
Per-value features Language translations, Extended Text (plain and HTML), Attachment
Integration points Information Codes, Translations, Extended Texts, Merge Descriptions, Logical Dependencies, Hierarchies

Getting Started

  1. Open the Information Code Card for the code you want to add values to.
  2. Choose the Information Values action to open the Information Value List filtered to this code.
  3. On a new line, enter an Information Value code — this is the internal key (up to 30 characters, no spaces).
  4. Enter a Description — this is the label users will see when selecting the value.
  5. Optionally enter a Value — use this for technical codes or identifiers needed by external integrations or webshop connectors.
  6. Set Sorting Level to control the order in which this value appears in lookup lists (lower numbers appear first; default is 99).
  7. Repeat for all values you want to make available for this code.
  8. If you need translations, select a value line and choose the Language action to add translated descriptions per language code.
  9. If you need longer rich-text content per value, use the Extended Texts or Extended Texts (HTML) actions.
  10. Save and close.

Related Features

Information Values depend directly on Information Codes — a value cannot exist without a parent code. Translations adds language-specific descriptions to individual values, ensuring that the correct text appears on documents for each language code. Extended Texts adds longer text content to a value, which can flow to documents alongside or instead of the short description. Merge Descriptions uses the Description, Value, or Information Value field of each value entry to build automatically generated descriptions on item records. Logical Dependencies uses specific Information Values as conditions and outcomes in dependency rules — for example, a rule that says "if Material Type = Metal, then Surface Treatment must be one of these values". Hierarchies can use Information Values as the basis for building specification-driven hierarchy structures between items.

User Stories

US-01: Define a controlled list of options for a Specification code

As a Business Manager
I want to define all valid colour options for the "Colour" Information Code
So that users can only select from approved colours and data is consistent across all item records

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Code Card for COLOUR and choose Information Values.
  2. Add a new line for each colour: enter the Information Value code (e.g. RED) and the Description (e.g. Red).
  3. Repeat for all colours.
  4. Set Sorting Level on each line to control the order in the lookup list.
US-02: Store a technical identifier on an Information Value for external integration

As a IT Manager
I want to assign a technical code in the Value field of each "Colour" Information Value
So that the webshop integration or external system can use this identifier to map MDI values to its own colour codes

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Value List for the COLOUR code.
  2. For each value, enter the external system's identifier in the Value field (e.g. the EAN code, the webshop's internal colour ID, or any other technical key the integration expects).
  3. Save. The external integration reads this field; it has no effect on sorting or display order within Business Central.

Note: The Value field does not control sorting in the Information Matrix or lookup lists — that is done by the Sorting Level field. If you want values to appear in a specific order, set Sorting Level on each value instead.

US-03: Translate Information Value descriptions for multilingual documents

As a Sales Manager
I want to provide German translations for all colour values
So that documents printed for German-speaking customers show the correct colour descriptions automatically

Setup:

  1. Ensure the Create Description field on the Information Code Card for COLOUR is set to a valid Description Setup code (e.g. IC_IV). This is a prerequisite — if Create Description is blank, the Description field on specification entries is never auto-populated from the Information Value, and the translation lookup during document output will find nothing to use.
  2. Open the Information Value List for the COLOUR code.
  3. Select the value line (e.g. RED) and choose the Language action.
  4. Add a line with Language Code DEU and Description Rot.
  5. Repeat for all values and all required languages.

Note: The Create Description field on the Information Code Card controls whether the Information Value's description is written to the specification entry at all. Without it, translations are stored but never reached during document output.

US-04: Add an extended marketing text to an Information Value

As a Sales Manager
I want to add a longer marketing description to the "Stainless Steel" material value
So that this text can flow to customer-facing documents alongside the short description

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Value List for the MATERIAL code.
  2. Select the STEEL value line and choose Extended Texts (HTML).
  3. Enter the longer description using the rich-text editor.
  4. Save. Configure Master Data on Documents to include the extended text from this code on the relevant document templates.
US-05: Attach a reference image to an Information Value

As a Business Manager
I want to attach a colour swatch image to each colour Information Value
So that users can visually identify the colour when entering specifications

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Value List for the COLOUR code.
  2. On the value line (e.g. RED), click the Attachment field to upload an image file.
  3. Use the Preview action to verify the image displays correctly.
  4. Repeat for all values.
US-06: Control the display order of values in lookup lists

As a Business Manager
I want to ensure that the most commonly used sizes appear at the top of the lookup list
So that users can find and select the right size quickly

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Value List for the SIZE code.
  2. Set Sorting Level on each line — lower numbers appear first. Set M to 10, L to 20, S to 30, etc.
  3. When prompted whether to update existing entries, confirm.
  4. Save.
US-07: Add a Print Description for use by the Sales Configurator

As a Sales Manager
I want to set a Print Description on each Information Value used in the Sales Configurator
So that the configurator can display a customer-facing label that differs from the internal Information Value code

Setup:

  1. Open the Information Value List for the relevant code.
  2. Enter the customer-facing label in the Print Description field for each value that requires it.

Note: The Print Description field is only visible in the Information Value List when the Sales Configurator app (a separately licensed Abakion app) is installed. It has no effect in standard Master Data Information document output — it is consumed exclusively by the Sales Configurator. If the Sales Configurator is not installed, this field is hidden and does not need to be set.

US-08: Use Information Values as conditions in Logical Dependency rules

As a Business Manager
I want to set up a rule so that selecting "Metal" as Material Type restricts the available values for "Surface Treatment"
So that users cannot select incompatible combinations

Setup:

  1. Ensure both MATERIAL-TYPE and SURFACE-TREATMENT Information Codes have their values defined.
  2. Open the Information Code Card for MATERIAL-TYPE and choose the Logical Dependencies action.
  3. Add a rule: Information Code = MATERIAL-TYPE, Information Value = METAL, Related Information Code = SURFACE-TREATMENT, Test Type = Can be, Related Information Value = each permitted value.
  4. See the Logical Dependencies article for full rule setup.

Field Reference

Field Where to find it What it does Default
Information Value Information Value List The internal key code for this value (up to 30 characters) —
Description Information Value List The label shown to users in lookups and on pages —
Value Information Value List Optional technical identifier for external integrations or webshop connectors — for example an EAN code or the external system's own ID for this value. Has no effect on sorting or display order within Business Central Blank
Print Description Information Value List Customer-facing label used by the Sales Configurator app (separately licensed). Only visible when the Sales Configurator is installed. Has no effect in standard MDI document output Blank

Note: For Information Value descriptions and their translations to appear on documents, the Create Description field on the parent Information Code Card must be set to a valid Description Setup code. This field controls whether the Description is written to specification entries at all — see the Information Codes article for details.
| Sorting Level | Information Value List | Controls the order in which this value appears in lookup lists | 99 |
| Attachment | Information Value List | File or image attached to this value | Blank |

Related articles
  • Information Codes
    Master Data Management > Master Data Information > Data Structure & Setup > Information Codes
  • Master Data Information
    Master Data Management > Master Data Information
  • Specification Entry
    Master Data Management > Master Data Information > Data Entry & Maintenance > Specification Entry

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