March 2020 release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations is scheduled to include a new grid control, which inherently supports totaling fields displayed in the grid as well as support for faster data entry.

Since this is a new control, we expect that most existing forms will retain their current set of functionalities, and over time existing forms will be updated to utilize the new grid. Developers should consider using the new grid control when developing custom forms, as it will have better performance for data entry, more intuitive scrolling, as well as a feature to display sums of information.

Functionality to see totals for what is displayed in a grid typically is done via a data method displayed on a form, which requires code to calculate the total, or a fact box control which is linked to the data source. Seemingly, this grid-based feature will be “what you see is what you get,” allowing for a closer link between what the user expects to see and what is displayed. Since it’s built into the grid, we can expect it to have superior performance over the other options that require another query into the data.

The fast data entry feature seems to provide an alternative to records validating and saving when the focused record changes. This could provide faster response time when entering records.

Have any questions about the upcoming improved D365FO grid control, future updates, or D365FO in general, do not hesitate to reach out to one of our experts!