Item Attribute Synchronization

Item Attribute Synchronization bridges the gap between Business Central's native Item Attributes feature and the richer specification data managed by Master Data Information. By linking an Information Code to a standard Business Central Item Attribute, you ensure that both systems always reflect the same values — eliminating the need to maintain item data in two separate places.

Feature Overview

Business Central includes a built-in Item Attributes feature that allows companies to tag items with simple key-value properties. Master Data Information extends this with a more powerful and flexible specification framework built around Information Codes and Information Values. Without a connection between the two, teams who rely on both risk data getting out of sync — a value updated in one place may not be reflected in the other. Item Attribute Synchronization solves this by creating a persistent, configurable link between a specific Information Code and a Business Central Item Attribute. Once the link is in place, changes made on either side are automatically carried across to the other, keeping item data consistent across the entire system.

You control exactly how the synchronization works: the Item Attribute Integration with field on the Information Code Card lets you specify which part of the Master Data Information entry (the Information Value, the Value, or the Description) should be mapped to the corresponding item attribute value. You can also choose between running the synchronization on demand — using the Synchronize Item Attributes action — or enabling Continuous Item Attribute Integration so that any insert, change, or deletion on either side is instantly reflected on the other.

Typical Use Cases

As a product data manager, I want changes made to an item's colour specification in Master Data Information to be reflected automatically in the standard Item Attributes list so that colleagues who rely on the native Business Central attribute view always see up-to-date information without any manual intervention.
As a system administrator onboarding a new product range, I want to run a one-time Synchronize Item Attributes to push all existing Master Data Information entries into the corresponding Business Central item attributes so that the two datasets are aligned from day one, without re-entering data manually.
As a sales administrator, I want updates entered by the procurement team directly on the Business Central Item Attribute Value page to flow back into our structured specification data automatically so that the information used in sales documents and specification searches stays accurate.
As a data governance lead, I want to prevent the same Business Central Item Attribute from being linked to more than one Information Code so that we avoid conflicting or duplicated attribute values across our item catalogue.
As an IT consultant configuring the app for a new client, I want to map each of the client's existing Business Central item attributes to the appropriate Information Code so that they can continue using their familiar attribute view while benefiting from the full power of Master Data Information specifications.

Key Concepts

Information Code — the Master Data Information equivalent of a Business Central Item Attribute. It defines a specific specification category (such as colour, weight, or voltage) and is configured on the Information Code Card.
Item Attribute — Business Central's native feature for assigning simple descriptive properties to items, accessible from the standard item card.
Item Attribute Integration with — the field that controls which part of the Master Data Information entry (Information Value, Value, or Description) is kept in sync with the linked item attribute value.
Continuous Item Attribute Integration — when enabled, synchronization happens automatically in real time whenever either side is updated. When disabled, synchronization must be triggered manually using the Synchronize Item Attributes action.
Synchronize Item Attributes — the manual action on the Information Code Card that performs a one-time synchronization of all existing entries for that Information Code with the corresponding Business Central item attributes. This is typically used during initial setup or after a period where continuous integration was not active.

Relations to Other Features or Apps

Information Code Card — the synchronization is configured entirely within the Item Attributes section of the Information Code Card. The Item Attribute Name, Item Attribute Integration with, Continuous Item Attribute Integration, and Synchronize Item Attributes action are all found here.
Specification Search — because Item Attribute Synchronization keeps specification data consistent, searches performed using the Specification Search feature can be trusted to return accurate results regardless of which interface was used to update the item data.
Specifications on Pages — specification values maintained through the Specifications on Pages feature (fields embedded directly on item cards and document lines) are part of the same Information Entry data that synchronization keeps aligned with Business Central's native item attributes.
Standard Business Central Item Attributes — this feature works with Business Central's native item attribute framework. Items and their attribute values are managed through the standard Item Attributes and Item Attribute Value Mapping functionality, and no additional modules are required on the Business Central side.

When This Feature Adds Value

Your organisation uses both Business Central's native Item Attributes and Master Data Information specifications, and keeping values consistent between the two has become a manual, error-prone task.
You are migrating from a setup that relied solely on standard item attributes and want to adopt Master Data Information without losing the attribute visibility that other users or integrations depend on.
An external integration or reporting tool reads directly from Business Central's item attribute data, and you need that data to stay aligned with what is maintained in Master Data Information.
You are setting up Master Data Information for the first time and want to perform an initial bulk synchronisation of existing item attribute values into the new specification framework before enabling continuous updates.