---
title: "Documents"
slug: "bc-bis-documents"
tags: ["BC", "BIS", "Business Central", "Business Integration Solutions", "Concept"]
updated: 2026-06-25T09:59:07Z
published: 2026-06-25T09:59:07Z
canonical: "docs.staedean.com/bc-bis-documents"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.staedean.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Documents

A document is a definition of information sent from or received by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

## Usage

Use a document to describe the following information structure with names, data types, and other descriptors:

- An external information structure, such as an external XML document or an API-readable format.
- An internal Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central table and field structure.

## Concept

When you export data from the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central database, an internal document defines which data is exported. An internal document is a representation of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central table structure, which includes tables, fields, and relationships. An internal document defines the structure in which the Microsoft D365 BC data is exported.

When you import data into the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central database, an external document indicates how the external data is delivered in terms of nodes, hierarchy, and data types. An internal document defines how this external data must be processed into the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central database.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**
> 
> You can link the internal and external documents using a [Mapper activity](/business-central/docs/bc-mapper-activity).

## Setup

For more information on how to set up a document, see:

- [Set up an internal document](/business-central/docs/bc-set-up-an-internal-document)
- [Set up an external document](/business-central/docs/bc-set-up-an-external-document)

## Related

- [Set up an internal document](/bc-set-up-an-internal-document.md)
- [Set up an external document](/bc-set-up-an-external-document.md)
- [MAPPER activity](/bc-mapper-activity.md)