Overview
The Description Setup page is where administrators define named templates that control how automatic descriptions are assembled from the three core components of an Information Entry: the Information Code Description, the Information Value Description, and the technical Value code. Each setup record specifies which of these components to include, what separator characters to place between them, and the sequence in which they are combined. These templates are then referenced on Information Codes, Information Values, and Information Entries to drive automatic description generation throughout the system.
When Is This Page Used
This list page is used during initial system configuration and whenever the business needs a new or modified description format. Administrators open it to create or review the available description templates that control how the system builds descriptive text strings — for example, when an item's long description, type description, or report description needs to follow a specific format. The page is also opened automatically as a lookup whenever a Description Setup code is selected on Information Code, Information Value, or Information Entry records.
Who Are Typical Users
- Master Data Administrator — creates and maintains description format templates as part of the overall master data setup.
- Implementation Consultant — configures the standard set of templates during project setup to match the customer's naming conventions.
- Data Steward / Product Manager — reviews available templates to understand how descriptions will appear on items, documents, and reports.
Accessing the Page
The Description Setup page does not have a UsageCategory set and is therefore not directly searchable from the Business Central search menu or Role Center. It is accessed in the following ways:
| Source | How It Opens |
|---|---|
| Information Code List → Merge Descriptions Setup action | Opens as a full list page for managing all setup records. |
| Information Code Card → Merge Descriptions Setup action | Opens as a full list page for managing all setup records. |
| Information Value fields Include in Long Description, Include in Type Description, Include in Report Description | Opens as a lookup when selecting a Description Setup code on an Information Value record. |
| Information Code fields Long Description, Item Description, Information Setup Description, Report Description | Opens as a lookup when selecting a Description Setup code on an Information Code record. |
| Information Entry fields Include in Long Description, Include in Type Description, Include in Report Description | Opens as a lookup when selecting a Description Setup code on an Information Entry (Configuration) record. |
Auto-initialisation: If no records exist in the table when the page is opened, the system automatically runs the Default Setup routine and creates the full set of standard templates. This ensures the page is always populated with a working starting point.
Page Components
How Description Assembly Works
When the system builds an automatic description for an Information Entry, it looks up the Description Setup code referenced on that entry and follows its configuration. The description is assembled from up to three components in the sequence defined by the Order field:
- Information Code Description (CC) — the descriptive label of the Information Code (e.g.,
Color). - Information Value Description (CV) — the descriptive label of the Information Value (e.g.,
Red). - Value (V) — the technical code value (e.g.,
#FF0000).
Each component can be individually included or excluded, and a separator character string (such as : , , , or a space) can be appended after each included component to control formatting. The Sign after Master Name field adds a separator between the preceding master data name (e.g., the item description) and the first component of this entry's contribution.
Example: With the template IC_IV (Information Code then Information Value, no Value), using Sign after Information Code = ': ' and Sign after Information Value = ', ', a color entry would produce: Color: Red,
Fields
| Field | Purpose | Example | Key Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | The unique identifier for this description template. | IC_IV, V, IC_IV_V |
Used as a reference key on Information Code, Information Value, and Information Entry records. Up to 50 characters. |
| Sign after Master Name | A separator appended after the master record's own name before the first component of this entry's description is added. | , |
Applies when this description is appended to an existing description string (e.g., the item's base name). |
| Include Information Code Description | Whether the Information Code's description text is included in the assembled description. | Yes |
When enabled, the Information Code description (e.g., Color) is appended at the position defined by Order. |
| Sign after Information Code Description | A separator appended immediately after the Information Code description, if included. | : |
Only applied when Include Information Code Description is enabled. Common values are : , , , or a space. |
| Include Information Value Description | Whether the Information Value's description text is included in the assembled description. | Yes |
When enabled, the Information Value description (e.g., Red) is appended at the position defined by Order. |
| Sign after Information Value Description | A separator appended after the Information Value description, if included. | , |
Only applied when Include Information Value Description is enabled. |
| Include Value | Whether the technical Value code is included in the assembled description. | No |
When enabled, the raw Value field from the Information Value (e.g., #FF0000) is appended at the position defined by Order. |
| Sign after Value | A separator appended after the Value code, if included. | |
Only applied when Include Value is enabled. |
| Add description | Whether the entry's own Description field is appended at the end of the assembled text. | No |
Use when the free-text Description of the Information Entry itself should be part of the generated description. |
| Sign after Description | A separator appended after the Description text, if Add description is enabled. | , |
Only applied when Add description is enabled. |
| Order | Defines the sequence in which the three components are assembled in the description string. | Information Code - Information Value - Value |
Six options are available covering all permutations of the three components. See the Order Options section below. |
The following field is present in the table but is hidden by default in the list:
| Field | Purpose | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| Force Sign After | Forces the separator sign to be appended even if it would normally be omitted (e.g., when it is the last component). | Hidden by default. Used in advanced formatting scenarios. |
Order Options
The Order field controls the left-to-right sequence in which the three components are concatenated. Only included components contribute to the output — excluded ones are simply skipped.
| Order Value | Sequence |
|---|---|
| Information Code - Information Value - Value | IC Description → IV Description → Value |
| Information Code - Value - Information Value | IC Description → Value → IV Description |
| Information Value - Information Code - Value | IV Description → IC Description → Value |
| Information Value - Value - Information Code | IV Description → Value → IC Description |
| Value - Information Code - Information Value | Value → IC Description → IV Description |
| Value - Information Value - Information Code | Value → IV Description → IC Description |
Actions
This page has no actions. All management of Description Setup records is performed directly in the list by adding, editing, or deleting rows.
Default Setup & Templates
When the page is first opened and no records exist, the system automatically creates the following 13 standard templates. These cover the most common description combinations and orderings and serve as a complete starting point for most implementations.
| Code | Includes | Order | Sign after IC | Sign after IV | Sign after V | Sign after Master Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC | IC Description only | IV - V - IC | : |
— | — | , |
| IV | IV Description only | IV - V - IC | — | , |
— | , |
| V | Value only | IV - V - IC | — | — | — | , |
| IC_IV | IC Description + IV Description | IC - IV - V | : |
, |
— | , |
| IC_IV_V | IC Description + IV Description + Value | IC - IV - V | , |
: |
— | , |
| IC_V_IV | IC Description + IV Description + Value | IC - V - IV | : |
, |
|
, |
| IV_IC | IV Description + IC Description | IV - IC - V | , |
: |
— | , |
| IV_IC_V | IC Description + IV Description + Value | IV - IC - V | , |
: |
— | , |
| IV_V | IV Description + Value | IV - V - IC | — | : |
|
, |
| IV_V_IC | IC Description + IV Description + Value | IV - V - IC | — | : |
— | , |
| V_IC_IV | IC Description + IV Description + Value | V - IC - IV | , |
: |
, |
, |
| V_IV | IV Description + Value | V - IV - IC | — | , |
|
, |
| V_IV_IC | IC Description + IV Description + Value | V - IV - IC | , |
: |
, |
, |
Purpose of Default Templates
The default templates are designed to cover all practical combinations of the three description components and all six possible orderings. They provide a ready-to-use library that can be referenced immediately on Information Codes and Information Values without any custom setup:
- Single-component templates (
IC,IV,V) — use when only one element is needed in the description, for example when only the Information Value description is relevant. - Two-component templates (
IC_IV,IV_IC,IC_IVvariants,IV_V,V_IV) — combine two of the three components for concise descriptions, useful when the third element adds no value to the output. - Three-component templates (
IC_IV_V,IC_V_IV,IV_IC_V,IV_V_IC,V_IC_IV,V_IV_IC) — include all three elements and are available in all six orderings, allowing the description to match any preferred format or language convention.
The Order code embedded in the template name (e.g., IC_IV_V = Information Code first, then Information Value, then Value) makes it straightforward to select the right template at a glance. Customers can rename, modify, or supplement these defaults to fit their specific requirements.