Extension Handling During Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Updates

When Microsoft updates your Business Central environment, you might notice that extensions disappear from your sandbox environments. This can raise questions about what's happening behind the scenes. This article aims to clarify the process and reassure you about the safety and continuity of your extensions during updates.

How Microsoft Manages Your App During Updates

During a service update, Microsoft proactively tests your app against the new version of Business Central. If the app functions correctly, the update proceeds smoothly. However, if any issues are detected that could break the app, Microsoft will roll back the update to the previous stable state. This means your production environment remains unaffected, and you may not even be aware that an issue was detected and resolved.

Uninstalling and Reinstalling Extensions

When you manually uninstall and reinstall an extension via the Extension Management page or AppSource, the platform intelligently decides whether to perform an install or an upgrade. It checks the version of the extension you previously had and carries out the appropriate action. Essentially, manually uninstalling and reinstalling an extension yields the same result as an automated upgrade.

Data Preservation During Extension Processes

One of the main concerns during uninstall, install, or upgrade actions is data loss. Rest assured, there is no data loss during these processes. Here's why:

• Separate Data Storage: Extensions store their data in separate tables within your tenant's database.
• Synchronization Before Installation: Before an extension is installed, the system automatically synchronizes and creates the necessary database tables.
• Data Retention After Uninstallation: When you uninstall an extension, its data tables are not deleted. This means when you reinstall or upgrade the extension, all your data is still available.

Important Considerations

While your data remains safe, there are some critical points to keep in mind:

• Extension Functionality During Uninstall: If any operations occur in your tenant while an extension is uninstalled, the extension's events and functionalities won't be active. This could lead to missed data or actions that the extension would normally handle.
• Optimal Timing for Processes: To prevent any loss of functionality, it's advisable to perform uninstall and reinstall actions when the tenant is not in use or during scheduled downtime.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or need assistance with updating extensions or implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solutions, feel free to reach out. We're here to help you ensure a smooth and successful experience Turnkey Technologies, Inc.