What's new: Server and Database (2026 release wave 2)

Overview

This 14-minute video from the Business Central team covers the server and database area of the 2026 release wave 2. It starts with the AL runtime: the NST now runs on .NET 10, Excel files are opened with a streaming implementation that uses less memory, and a new virtual table exposes recent records to AL.

The main part covers the table extension data model. Extension fields are stored back on the base table, so reads of base and extension fields together need no joins. The video then covers index management (discoverability, runtime enablement, cross-table indexes), system fields in analysis mode and profiles, permissions overview navigation, and telemetry for Excel exports.

Key points

• The NST runs on .NET 10, so the AL runtime gets the improvements of that platform.
• Opening Excel files uses a streaming implementation, which lowers memory usage and avoids out-of-memory errors on large files.
• A recent records virtual table is exposed to AL. It lets you query and delete the recent records shown in the UI when pages open, and is otherwise read-only.
• Table extension fields are stored back on the base table, which removes all joins between base and extension fields. Reads are faster, and delete, update, insert and modify are up to 30 percent faster in the shown benchmark.
• Indexes can be defined with enabled equal false and enabled or disabled at runtime in code, for example based on feature usage. Indexes can also span base table and extension fields.
• Index management is easier to find: Tell me search (including semantic search) opens an index management list where you pick a table, and the table information page has a new manage indexes button. SIFT indexes are now listed so they can be disabled too.
• System fields (created by/on, last modified by/on, system ID) show in analysis mode column pickers, and system fields such as modified by can be added to profiles in the page designer. Telemetry tag RT 0056 records who opens data in Excel, and the permissions overview can be reached from permission sets and table information pages.

Features

A status with a roadmap link comes from the Microsoft 365 roadmap feature this part of the video covers (matched by Haiku; links Opus dropped are not used); other statuses need a status word in the video itself.

AL objects mentioned

As heard in the captions. A name that matches one object page by exact type and name links to it; the others stay as named.

• other “recent records virtual table” at 1:30
• table “GL Entry” at 4:55

Not found in BC28-30: table “GL Entry”.

Quotes

• 0:33 “with this version the NST now runs on .NET 10, the latest and greatest in the net”
• 0:59 “now we’re using a streaming based implementation for open Excel way more way less memory usage when you want to open up big uh”
• 2:52 “fields back on the base table there will be no more joints”
• 3:15 “will be up to uh 30% faster. You can see uh the different um numbers here from our benchmark”
• 4:42 “you can both find in normal tellme by searching indexes or you can use the advanced one via semantic search and you will now”
• 6:53 “we can now add an index that spans both the base table and your extension fields”
• 7:27 “you can now use system fields uh in analysis mode and also in profiles.”
• 12:05 “we have had an ask for adding telemetry on who did open in Excel. the like the the best fraud example I can come”

Presenters (as heard): Kenny Pabidan, Mascot.