Installation

Step-by-step installation procedures for deploying BRC Connect to Business Central.

Installation Overview

BRC Connect is installed as a per-tenant extension (PTE) in Business Central Cloud. The installation process deploys the app files, creates database objects, and runs installation codeunits to initialize the system.

Installation Time: 10-15 minutes Downtime: None (users can continue working) Reversible: Yes (can be uninstalled, though data will be lost)

Before You Begin

Ensure you have:

  • ✅ Verified all Prerequisites
  • ✅ Business Central administrator access
  • ✅ Extension Management permissions
  • ✅ Backup of BC environment (recommended for production)
  • ✅ BRC Connect app package (.app file) from BrightCom or AppSource

Installation Methods

Choose the appropriate installation method:

For SaaS customers with AppSource access:

  1. Open Business Central

    • Log in to your BC environment
    • Ensure you’re in the target environment (sandbox or production)

  2. Navigate to AppSource

    • Search for Extension Management or AppSource Marketplace
    • Choose Marketplace
    • Select AppSource

  3. Search for BRC Connect

    • Enter “BRC Connect” in search
    • Select BRC Connect by BrightCom Solutions AB
    • Review app details and ratings

  4. Install the App

    • Choose Get it now or Free trial (if applicable)
    • Accept terms and conditions
    • Choose Install

  5. Monitor Installation

    • Installation status appears in notification area
    • Wait for “Installation completed” message
    • Refresh browser if needed

  6. Verify Installation

    • Go to Extension Management
    • Confirm BRC Connect appears with status “Installed”
    • Note the installed version number

Method 2: Manual Upload (Per-Tenant Extension)

For customers with app package from BrightCom:

  1. Obtain App Package

    • Download BRCConnect_25.0.25051.1.app from BrightCom portal
    • Verify file integrity (check file size, no corruption)
    • Save to accessible location

  2. Open Extension Management

    • In Business Central, search for Extension Management
    • Choose Manage → Upload Extension

  3. Upload App File

    • Choose Browse or drag-and-drop
    • Select the .app file
    • Wait for upload to complete (progress bar shown)

  4. Configure Installation Options

    • Language: Select default language (English, Swedish, etc.)
    • Accept License Agreement: Check the box
    • Install for: Choose Current environment or All environments

  5. Deploy the Extension

    • Choose Deploy
    • Monitor deployment status
    • Installation runs in background

  6. Wait for Completion

    • Deployment typically takes 5-10 minutes
    • Status changes from “Uploading” → “Installing” → “Installed”
    • Notification appears when complete

  7. Refresh Browser

    • Refresh BC to load new extension UI
    • Log out and log back in if necessary

Method 3: PowerShell Deployment

For administrators deploying to multiple environments:

# Install BC PowerShell module (if not already installed)
Install-Module -Name "Microsoft.Dynamics.Bccontainer.Helper"

# Connect to BC environment
$tenant = "your-tenant-name"
$environment = "Production"

# Publish and sync extension
Publish-BcContainerApp `
    -containerName $environment `
    -appFile "C:\Path\To\BRCConnect_25.0.25051.1.app" `
    -sync `
    -install

# Verify installation
Get-BcContainerAppInfo -containerName $environment -name "BRC Connect"

Note: PowerShell method requires BC PowerShell modules and appropriate Azure AD authentication.

Installation Process Details

What Happens During Installation

The BRC Connect installer performs these actions:

  1. Database Schema Creation

    • Creates BRC Connect tables (ID range 12073500-12073968)
    • Creates indexes and keys for performance
    • Sets up table relationships

  2. Codeunit Registration

    • Registers ~75 codeunits for processing logic
    • Configures event subscribers
    • Initializes HTTP client

  3. Page Deployment

    • Creates UI pages for setup and operations
    • Registers actions and navigation links
    • Deploys control add-ins (JSON Viewer)

  4. Permission Set Creation

    • Creates BRC CONNECT - EDIT permission set
    • Creates BRC CONNECT - VIEW permission set
    • Grants permissions to object range

  5. Default Data Initialization

    • Creates default BRC Connect Type records
    • Sets up standard field mappings (can be customized)
    • Initializes BRC Connect Setup with defaults

  6. Navigation Setup

    • Adds BRC Connect entries to search
    • Creates role center links (if applicable)
    • Registers keyboard shortcuts

Installation Codeunit

The installation logic is in:

  • Codeunit 12073538: ConnectInstall
    • OnInstallAppPerCompany() trigger
    • Creates default BRC Connect Types
    • Initializes setup table with sensible defaults
    • Configures codeunit assignments

Data Upgrade:

  • Codeunit 12073506: BRCConnectDataupgrade
    • Handles upgrades from previous versions
    • Migrates data schemas if needed
    • Runs on upgrade installations

Post-Installation Steps

1. Verify Installation Success

Check Extension Status:

  1. Open Extension Management
  2. Find BRC Connect in the list
  3. Verify:
    • Status: “Installed”
    • Version: 25.0.25051.1 (or current version)
    • Publisher: BrightCom Solutions AB

Test Basic Functionality:

  1. Search for BRC Connect Setup
  2. Page should open without errors
  3. Default values should be present
  4. Fields should be editable

2. Assign Permissions

Create User Groups (if not using permission sets directly):

  1. Search for Permission Sets
  2. Locate BRC CONNECT - EDIT and BRC CONNECT - VIEW
  3. Assign to appropriate users or user groups

Test Permissions:

  1. Log in as non-admin user
  2. Verify access to BRC Connect Setup (if assigned EDIT)
  3. Verify access to BRC Connect Entries (if assigned VIEW)

3. Review Default Configuration

Open BRC Connect Setup:

  1. Search for BRC Connect Setup
  2. Review default values set by installer:
    • Integration Active: OFF (correct - don’t enable until configured)
    • Auto Download Documents: OFF
    • Process Entry Max Count: 100
    • Webservice Retries: 3
  3. Do not enable Integration Active yet

Review BRC Connect Types:

  1. Search for BRC Connect Type
  2. Verify default types exist:
    • DOCUMENT
    • CUSTOMER
    • ITEM
    • INVENTORY
    • PRICE
    • PAYMENT
    • SHIPMENT
  3. Note codeunit assignments for each type

4. Check Database Objects

Verify Tables Created:

Run this from AL:

// In AL development environment
Table.Get(Database::"BRC Connect Entry"); // 12073500
Table.Get(Database::"BRC Connect Setup"); // 12073501
Table.Get(Database::"BRC Connect Content"); // 12073502

Or search for these pages to confirm backend tables exist:

  • BRC Connect Entries
  • BRC Connect Content
  • BRC Outgoing Synce Queue

5. Review Event Log

Check for Installation Errors:

  1. Search for BC Admin Center or Telemetry
  2. Filter for events from today
  3. Look for errors related to “BRC Connect” or “BrightCom”
  4. Common benign messages:
    • “Extension installed successfully”
    • “Default data created”
    • “Permission sets registered”

6. Initial Health Check

Run Basic Tests:

  1. Open BRC Connect Entries
  2. Verify list page opens (should be empty)
  3. Verify actions are available (Get All Documents, etc.)
  4. Close page

Do NOT run “Get All Documents” yet - API credentials not configured.

Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Issue: Installation Fails with “Dependency Missing”

Cause: Required BC extensions not installed

Resolution:

  1. Check Extension Management for missing dependencies
  2. Install dependent extensions first
  3. Retry BRC Connect installation
  4. BRC Connect should have no external dependencies (only base BC)

Issue: Installation Hangs at “Installing…”

Cause: Large transaction, server busy, or timeout

Resolution:

  1. Wait 15-20 minutes (some installations are slow)
  2. If still hung, contact BC support
  3. Check Service Health in Microsoft 365 admin center
  4. Retry during off-peak hours

Issue: Permission Denied During Installation

Cause: Insufficient user permissions

Resolution:

  1. Verify user has D365 FULL ACCESS or SUPER permission set
  2. Verify user assigned to administrator role in User Security Status
  3. Log out and log back in to refresh permissions
  4. Retry installation

Issue: “This extension cannot be installed” Error

Possible Causes and Solutions:

App not compatible with BC version:

  • Verify BC version is 25.0 or later
  • Update BC to compatible version
  • Obtain correct app version from BrightCom

App signature invalid:

  • Re-download app from trusted source
  • Verify file not corrupted
  • Contact BrightCom for new package

App already installed:

  • Check Extension Management for existing installation
  • Uninstall previous version first
  • Retry installation

Issue: Tables or Pages Missing After Installation

Cause: Incomplete synchronization or browser cache

Resolution:

  1. Refresh browser (Ctrl+F5)
  2. Clear browser cache
  3. Log out and log back in
  4. Re-sync extension from Extension Management:
    • Select BRC Connect
    • Choose Uninstall
    • Wait for completion
    • Choose Install again

Upgrading from Previous Versions

If upgrading from an older BRC Connect version:

Pre-Upgrade Checklist

  1. Backup Environment

    • Create sandbox copy of production
    • Export BRC Connect data if possible
    • Document current configuration

  2. Review Release Notes

    • Check what changed in new version
    • Identify breaking changes
    • Plan configuration updates

  3. Test in Sandbox

    • Install new version in sandbox first
    • Test key workflows
    • Verify data migration

Upgrade Process

  1. Disable Integration

    • Open BRC Connect Setup
    • Set Integration Active = OFF
    • Wait for active jobs to complete

  2. Upload New Version

    • Go to Extension Management
    • Choose Upload Extension
    • Select new .app file
    • System detects upgrade and runs data migration

  3. Run Data Upgrade

    • Codeunit 12073506 (BRCConnectDataupgrade) runs automatically
    • Migrates schema changes
    • Updates default values

  4. Verify Configuration

    • Review BRC Connect Setup for new fields
    • Check BRC Connect Type for updated codeunit assignments
    • Test field mappings still valid

  5. Re-Enable Integration

    • Set Integration Active = ON
    • Monitor BRC Connect Entries for issues
    • Review BRC Connect Error List

Rollback Procedure

If upgrade fails:

  1. Restore Sandbox Backup

    • Use BC’s environment restore functionality
    • Restore to pre-upgrade state

  2. Uninstall New Version

    • Extension Management → Select BRC Connect
    • Choose Uninstall

  3. Reinstall Previous Version

    • Upload previous .app file
    • Install as normal

  4. Contact BrightCom Support

    • Report upgrade issue
    • Provide error messages and telemetry
    • Get guidance on resolution

Multi-Environment Deployment

For organizations with multiple BC environments:

Development → Sandbox → Production

  1. Development Environment

    • Install and configure initially
    • Test field mappings
    • Validate codeunit customizations (if any)

  2. Sandbox Environment

    • Deploy configuration from development
    • Perform end-to-end testing
    • Train users

  3. Production Environment

    • Deploy after successful sandbox testing
    • Use same configuration
    • Monitor closely during initial days

Configuration Export/Import

BRC Connect configuration can be exported/imported:

  1. Export Configuration (from sandbox):

    • Use RapidStart Services or Configuration Packages
    • Export these tables:
      • BRC Connect Setup
      • BRC Connect Type
      • BRC Content Type Field Setup
      • BRC Mapping

  2. Import Configuration (to production):

    • Create Configuration Package in production
    • Import exported data
    • Verify API credentials updated for production

Next Steps

After successful installation:

  1. ✅ Installation complete - BRC Connect is deployed
  2. ➡️ Proceed to Configuration to set up API connection and field mappings
  3. ➡️ Review Prerequisites if you missed any steps
  4. ➡️ Contact BrightCom Support if installation issues persist

Installation Checklist

  • BRC Connect installed via AppSource or manual upload
  • Extension status shows “Installed” in Extension Management
  • Version number confirmed as 25.0.25051.1 or current
  • BRC Connect Setup page opens without errors
  • Default BRC Connect Types created
  • Permission sets (BRC CONNECT - EDIT, BRC CONNECT - VIEW) available
  • Permissions assigned to appropriate users
  • Installation errors reviewed in event log (none critical)
  • Integration Active = OFF (do not enable until configured)
  • Ready to proceed to configuration

Support Information

Installation Support:

Microsoft Business Central Support:

  • For BC platform issues (not BRC Connect specific)
  • Access via BC Admin Center → Support

Community Resources:

  • BRC Connect documentation site
  • BrightCom customer portal
  • BC community forums (for BC-related questions)
Last modified December 4, 2025: Merge roadmap examples and other updates from BRC-Docs-Test (92ea440)