The Txt2Al Conversion Tool: How to Export Dynamics NAV objects (.txt) and converting to AL

Hi folks,

In this article, I will show you how you can use Txt2Al conversion tool that is the part of NAV 2018 and Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise.

Using this Txt2Al conversion tool you can take existing Dynamics NAV objects that have been exported in .txt format and convert them into the new .al format and use these .al format file directly using Visual Studio Code to develop/build extensions for Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Converting the NAV objects consists of following 2 steps:

1. Exporting the objects from C/SIDE [Either from Development Environment or using PowerShell Command]
2. Converting the objects to the new syntax.

You can find Txt2Al tool in following location if you installed Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise on your machine:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central\140\RoleTailored Client\Txt2Al.exe

Steps to use the Txt2Al conversion tool: Reference
Step 1: Compile your Dynamics NAV DB
Step 2: Export all baseline objects sue following steps: using following command line:
* Create 2 folders in any drive where you want to export NAV objects and want to put converted .al files

Example :- Drive = C  >> Folder = TXT2AL  >> Subfolder 1 = AL  and Subfolder 2 = Tab.

* Open Command Prompt as Administrator
* Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central\140\RoleTailored Client\
command line: cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central\140\RoleTailored Client
* And execute following command line to export all table object:
finsql.exe Command=ExportToNewSyntax, File=C:\TXT2AL\Tab\AllExportedTableObjects.txt, Database="Demo Database NAV (14-0)", ServerName=.\SQLSERVER,Filter=Type=table;
 
* After Successful execution of above command you will get the .txt file that contains all table objects in it

To export specific table object use following command line:
finsql.exe Command=ExportToNewSyntax, File=<path\filename.txt>, Database="<databasename>", ServerName=<servername> ,Filter=Type=table;ID=<tableID>
e.g. finsql.exe Command=ExportToNewSyntax, File=C:\TXT2AL\Tab\exportedNewModifiedObjects.txt, Database="Demo Database NAV (14-0)", ServerName=.\SQLSERVER ,Filter=Type=table;ID=50001
Similarly, for
Tables: 
Type= table; ID='50000..50005';
Pages: 
Type= 'page'; ID='50000..50005';
Queries:
Type= 'query'; ID='50000..50005';
Reports:
Type= 'report'; ID='50000..50005';
Menusuite:
Type= 'menusuite'; ID='50000..50005';
XMLPort:
Type= 'xmlport'; ID='50000..50005';
NOTE: TXT2AL requires objects exported in New Syntax

To export all new and/or modified objects use following command line:
finsql.exe Command=ExportToNewSyntax, File=<filename.txt>, Database="<databasename>", ServerName=<servername> ,Filter=Type=table;Modified = Yes
e.g. finsql.exe Command=ExportToNewSyntax, File=C:\TXT2AL\Tab\AllExportedTableObjects.txt, Database="Demo Database NAV (14-0)", ServerName=.\SQLSERVER ,Filter=Type=table;Modified = Yes

Step 3: After getting .txt files in Tab folder, just run these 2 commands..

(1) cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central\140\RoleTailored Client

(2) Now use Txt2Al tool to convert the exported object to AL:

Syntax: txt2al --source --target --rename --type --extensionStartId --injectDotNetAddIns --dotNetAddInsPackage --dotNetTypePrefix --translationFormat --addLegacyTranslationInfo

Example :-

txt2al --source=C:\TXT2AL\Tab\ --target=C:\TXT2AL\AL\ --rename --extensionStartID 50100

Output :-

Now if you go in AL folder you will get the converted AL file.

I hope this article will help you when you will try to convert Dynamics NAV C/AL object (.txt) source code to AL.

Keep in touch for more articles!!!!