C/AL

C/AL

C/AL (Client/Server Application Language) is a programming language used in Microsoft Dynamics NAV, a business management solution for small and medium-sized enterprises. C/AL is primarily used for developing the business logic of the application, allowing developers to customize and extend the functionality of Dynamics NAV.

History

C/AL was introduced with the release of the Navision product, which was later acquired by Microsoft in 2002. The language has evolved over time, with significant updates aligning with new versions of Dynamics NAV. In recent years, C/AL has been gradually replaced by AL, a more modern language used in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Syntax and Structure

C/AL is a procedural language that is similar in syntax to Pascal. It is designed to be easy to read and write, with a focus on business logic rather than low-level programming constructs.

Basic Structure

A typical C/AL program consists of:

• Variables: Used to store data values.
• Functions: Blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
• Triggers: Special functions that are automatically executed in response to certain events.

Example

Below is a simple example of a C/AL function:

```c PROCEDURE CalculateTotal@1(VAR SalesLine@2 : Record 37); VAR

 TotalAmount@3 : Decimal;

BEGIN

 TotalAmount := SalesLine.Quantity * SalesLine.UnitPrice;
 MESSAGE('The total amount is %1', TotalAmount);

END; ```

Development Environment

C/AL development is typically done within the C/SIDE (Client/Server Integrated Development Environment), which provides tools for writing, testing, and debugging C/AL code. C/SIDE is integrated into the Dynamics NAV environment, allowing developers to work directly with the application's data and objects.

Transition to AL

With the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft has shifted from C/AL to AL, a language that is more aligned with modern development practices. AL is used in conjunction with the Visual Studio Code editor and offers better integration with source control systems and cloud-based deployment.

See Also

• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• AL (programming language)
• C/SIDE

References

• C/AL Documentation on Microsoft Docs
• AL Language Documentation