Most finance teams in Business Central hit the same wall. Standard reports and ledger pages only filter easily by two global dimensions, yet the business tracks departments, projects, provinces, sales channels, and more. Analysis Views solve this. They let you summarize your general ledger by any combination of up to four dimensions, without exporting to Excel or building a custom report.
This guide covers what analysis views are, how to set one up field by field, how to keep it updated, how to read the results, and how they differ from analysis mode.
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What Are Analysis Views in Business Central?
Analysis Views in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are pre-summarized views of your General Ledger (G/L) entries and budget entries, grouped by up to four dimensions and a date period you choose. They let you analyze financial data beyond the two global dimensions, for example, by department, project, customer group, or province, without running heavy reports or exporting to Excel.
Because the entries are summarized in advance, reports built on an analysis view run faster than reports that read every ledger entry. You can use an analysis view in three places: the Analysis by Dimensions matrix, the Dimensions – Detail and Dimensions – Total reports, and Financial Reports (formerly account schedules).
Note: Business Central also has item-based analysis views for sales, purchases and inventory. This article focuses on G/L analysis views, the type most finance teams mean when they search for "analysis views".
Benefits of Analysis Views in Business Central
Go beyond two global dimensions. Combine any four dimensions in one view, such as Department, Project, Province, and Sales Channel, even if they are not global or shortcut dimensions.
Faster reporting on large data. Entries are pre-summarized by date period, so reports read far fewer records than the raw G/L entry table.
Actual vs. budget in one place. With Include Budgets switched on, the view carries G/L budget entries alongside actuals, so you can compare them by dimension.
Dimension-based Financial Reports. Link a financial report row definition to an analysis view to build a department P&L or project income statement without customization.
Drill down to the source. From the matrix, you can open the underlying G/L entries behind any total.
Feeds Excel and Power BI. Export matrix results to Excel, or use Business Central's dimension data in Power BI for dashboards.
How to Create an Analysis View in Business Central
Setting up an analysis view takes about five minutes. You need your dimensions already set up under Dimensions.
Select the search icon (Alt+Q), enter Analysis Views, and open the page. It lists your existing views with their account source and four-dimensional codes.
Choose New to open the Analysis View Card.
Fill in the General FastTab:
Code and Name: a short ID and a clear name, for example, "Department and Project P&L."
Account Source: choose G/L Account for financial analysis or Cash Flow Account for cash flow forecasts.
Account Filter: limit the view to the accounts you need, for example, only income and expense accounts. Leave blank for all accounts.
Statistical Account Filter: optional; use it if you track non-financial figures such as headcount in statistical accounts.
Date Compression: how entries are grouped over time: None, Day, Week, Month, Quarter, Year, or Period. Months suit most management reporting.
Starting Date: entries before this date are compressed into one opening balance. Set it as far back as you need detailed history.
Include Budgets: switch on to include G/L budget entries for actual vs. budget comparisons.
On the Dimensions FastTab, select up to four dimensions in Dimension 1 Code to Dimension 4 Code, for example, Department, Project, Customer Group, and Region.
Choose Update in the action bar to populate the view. The Last Date Updated and Last Entry No. fields then show how current it is.
The Analysis Views list (CRONUS demo company).
An Analysis View Card: Month compression, a G/L account filter, and four dimensions (CRONUS demo company).
Tip: Create several focused views instead of one large view. A "Department + Project" view and a "Province + Channel" view are easier to read and faster to update than one view that tries to cover everything.
How to Update Analysis Views in Business Central
An analysis view only shows entries up to its last update, so pick an update method that matches how fresh your figures need to be.
| Method | How | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual update | Open the view and choose Update. | Month-end or ad hoc reporting | Figures are only as current as the last update. |
| Update on Posting | Choose Enable Update on Posting in the card's action bar. | Low-volume companies that need real-time figures | Every posting also updates the view, which can slow posting in high-volume companies. |
| Scheduled update | Run the update from a job queue entry, for example, nightly. | Most companies | Figures lag by up to one schedule cycle. |
The card's Last Date Updated and Last Entry No. fields show how current the view is.
When to reset: if you change the starting date, date compression, account filter, or dimensions on an existing view, Business Central clears the summarized data. Run Update again afterwards to rebuild it.
How to View and Report on an Analysis View (new section)
Once the view is updated, there are three ways to use it.
1. Analysis by Dimensions (the matrix)
On the Analysis Views list, select your view and choose Analysis by Dimensions.
Set Show as Lines and Show as Columns, for example, G/L Account as lines and Department or Period as columns.
Under Filters, set the Date Filter, an optional Budget Filter, and a filter for any of the view's dimensions.
Choose Show Matrix. Select any amount to drill down to the underlying G/L entries, or choose Export to Excel.
Analysis by Dimensions: choose lines, columns, and filters, then Show Matrix (CRONUS demo company).
The resulting matrix, with totals per G/L account and an export to Excel action (CRONUS demo company).
2. Dimensions – Detail and Dimensions – Total reports
Search for Dimensions—Detail or Dimensions—Total, pick the Analysis View Code, and run the report. Use these for printable or PDF dimension reports.
3. Financial Reports (formerly account schedules)
In a financial report's row definition, set the analysis view name to your view. The report can then filter and show columns by any of the view's four dimensions. This is how you build a department P&L or a project income statement with actual vs. budget columns.
Analysis Views vs. Analysis Mode in Business Central
The two features have similar names but do different jobs. Analysis views are a setup reporting layer for G/L data by dimensions. Analysis Mode is an ad hoc, pivot-table-style tool built into list pages.
| Analysis Views | Analysis Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A saved, pre-summarized view of G/L (or cash flow) entries by up to four dimensions | An interactive mode on list pages and queries for grouping, pivoting, and filtering |
| Where you open it | The Analysis Views page | The Enter analysis mode icon on a list page, such as G/L entries or customer ledger entries |
| Setup needed | Yes: an analysis view card with accounts, dates, and dimensions | No: switch it on and drag fields. |
| Data | Summarized by date period; needs updating | Live data on the page |
| Dimensions | Any four dimensions per view | Whatever fields the list or query exposes |
| Used in Financial Reports | Yes | No |
| Copilot | No | Yes: analysis assist builds tabs from plain-language prompts. |
| Best for | Recurring, dimension-based financial reporting | Quick questions on any list, such as aging, top customers, or monthly trends |
How to use Analysis Mode: open a supported list page or query, such as General Ledger Entries, and select the Enter analysis mode icon in the page's action bar. The list opens as an analysis tab with a Columns pane, Pivot Mode, Row Groups, Values, and Analysis Filters. You can save several analysis tabs per page and share them with colleagues, or use Copilot Create new analysis to build one from a plain-language prompt. Analysis Mode has been a standard feature since Business Central version 23 (October 2023).
General Ledger Entries in Analysis Mode, with Copilot's Create a new analysis prompt (CRONUS demo company).
Use both together: set up analysis. Views for month-end dimension reporting, and use Analysis Mode for one-off questions during the month.
Practical Examples of Analysis Views in Business Central
Each example below lists the exact settings to use, so you can build it in your own company.
| Example | Account Filter | Dimensions | Date Compression | Include Budgets | Where to report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department P&L | Income and expense accounts | Department, Cost Centre | Month | Yes | Financial Report: actual vs. budget by department |
| Project profitability | Project revenue and cost accounts | Project, Department | Month | Yes | Analysis by Dimensions: project as lines, period as columns |
| Results by province | Income and expense accounts | Province (or Region), Sales Channel | Quarter | Optional | Financial Report with one column per province |
| Marketing spend by campaign | Marketing expense accounts | Campaign, Department | Month | Yes | The matrix was filtered to the current fiscal year. |
Department P&L. Department managers often only see the company-wide P&L. With a Department + Cost Centre view linked to a Financial Report, each manager gets their own income statement, with budget variance, from the same G/L data.
Project profitability. Project-based firms need to know which projects make money. A Project + Department view shows revenue, cost, and margin per project by month, and you can drill down to the entries behind any number.
Results by province (for Canadian businesses). Companies operating in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Winnipeg often need to compare profitability by province, with each sales channel shown separately. Tag transactions with a Province dimension, then use an analysis view to report revenue and margin per province without separate companies or spreadsheets.
Marketing spend by campaign. Tag marketing invoices with a campaign dimension and compare spend against budget for each campaign and department.
Looking for sales by item, customer or location? Use Sales Analysis Views and Sales Analysis Reports instead. They are built on item ledger entries rather than the general ledger.
FAQ (People Also Ask)
What are analysis views in Business Central? Analysis views are pre-summarized views of General Ledger entries grouped by up to four dimensions and a date period. They let you report beyond the two global dimensions without exporting data to Excel.
How many dimensions can an analysis view have? Up to four per view, chosen on the Dimensions FastTab of the Analysis View Card. For more combinations, create several views.
How do I update an analysis view? Open the view and choose Update, choose Enable Update on Posting for real-time figures, or schedule the update with a job queue entry.
What is the difference between analysis views and analysis mode? Analysis views are a set-up reporting layer for G/L data by dimensions, used in the matrix and Financial Reports. Analysis mode is an ad hoc pivot tool on list pages that needs no setup.
Can I use analysis views in Financial Reports? Yes. Set the Analysis View Name on a Financial Report row definition to filter and show columns by the view's dimensions.
Does Update on Posting slow down Business Central? It can in high-volume companies, because each posting also updates the view. Most companies use manual or scheduled updates instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Analysis views are pre-summarized views of General Ledger entries grouped by up to four dimensions and a date period. They let you report beyond the two global dimensions without exporting data to Excel.
Up to four per view, chosen on the Dimensions FastTab of the Analysis View Card. For more combinations, create several views.
Open the view and choose Update, choose Enable Update on Posting for real-time figures, or schedule the update with a job queue entry.
Analysis views are a setup reporting layer for G/L data by dimensions, used in the matrix and financial reports. Analysis mode is an ad hoc pivot tool on list pages that needs no setup.
Yes. Set the Analysis View Name on a Financial Report row definition to filter and show columns by the view's dimensions.
It can in high-volume companies, because each posting also updates the view. Most companies use manual or scheduled updates instead.
