This walkthrough provides an overview of how to import external data into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. In the following example, you import item data from an external system into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Prerequisites
Template | Description | Sample file |
|---|---|---|
TI_CS_ITEM.IN | STAEDEAN Template: Import Items | ItemDemo.xml |
Story
This connection uses the File Reader endpoint to read the items in XML format from the file system. The XML file to import does not match the D365 BC table structures, so a Mapper activity maps the external (source) document to the internal (target) document. The Splitter activity creates one message for each item. The Record Generator activity creates records and updates the D365 BC Item table.

Setup
Import the Connectivity Studio Connection-TI_CS_ITEM.IN.zip configuration package.

Open the TI_CS_ITEM.IN connection. On the connection page, edit the File Reader settings and enter the folder name. You can also choose to leave the files on the file system.

Copy the sample file
ItemDemo.xml(from the software package) to a shared file location.
Process
Process the connection.
Check the result in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Two items (Chalkboard Xtra Large and Highlighter Pink) are created.
Note
Data in related tables is also generated. In this scenario: a new Base Unit of Measure PCS2 is created, and a new Gen. Prod. Posting Group BLOCK is created.
Result

This imports items from an external system and populates related data in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.