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Setting up the Repository

Document Central supports various repository types. For a production environment, it is recommended to use SharePoint or Azure Blob Storage. For quick setup and testing, the database type can be used. However, the database type should not be used for a production environment, as documents are stored directly in the Business Central database. Document Central provides wizards for configuring the different repository types.

Setting up Azure Blob Storage Repository

Azure Blob Storage can only be provisioned online in Azure. A valid subscription is required to configure a storage account in Azure.

To create a new Azure Blob Storage container, follow these steps:

  1. Start in the role Document Central - Administrator.
  2. Click on Setup in the ribbon bar and perform the action Repository.
  3. Perform the action New in the ribbon bar.
  4. Start the wizard with the action Begin.
  5. Enter the repository code by typing a code in the Repository Code field.
  6. Select the repository type Azure Blob Storage in the Repository Type field and click Next.
  7. Select the subscription in which Azure Blob Storage should be created in the Subscription ID field.
  8. The system checks if the company app still exists. If not, the company app will be created.
  9. Check the box Create new storage account and click Next.
  10. Specify whether multiple containers should be used for the storage account.
  11. Enter the container name in the Container Name field.
  12. Specify whether to use an existing Resource Group or create a new one.
  13. Enter the name of the storage account in the Storage Account Name field.
  14. Specify the region where the resource should be created in the Region field.
  15. Specify the redundancy if the resource should be created redundantly in the Redundancy field.
  16. Specify the access level in the Default Blob Access Level field and click Next.
  17. After clicking Next, a storage account will be created in Azure. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes. Do not close the dialog until the process is complete.
  18. Check the box Set as active repository to make this repository active.
  19. Azure Blob Storage is now connected and activated as the active repository.

Info

For creation by Document Central, the resource provider "Microsoft.Storage" must be registered in the Azure subscription.
To register the resource provider, open the desired subscription in the Azure portal, go to the Settings tab, and then to Resource Providers. Search for "Microsoft.Storage" there and click Register.

Warning

A storage account with multiple containers affects the functionality of Azure Blob Storage's full-text search. Azure Blob Storage must use Azure Cognitive Search to utilize the full-text search feature. To use full-text search, an indexer from Azure Cognitive Search must be assigned to a container in Azure Blob Storage. Using multiple containers requires more indexers, as each container must have its own indexers assigned. The number of indexers that can be created is limited by the tier of Azure Cognitive Search. The tier can be changed in the Azure portal, but this will affect the costs of Azure Cognitive Search.

Using an Existing Azure Blob Storage Account

If an existing storage account is to be used, the relevant information to connect to the storage account must be entered manually.

To use an existing Azure Blob Storage account, follow these steps:

  1. Start in the role Document Central - Administrator.
  2. Click on Setup in the ribbon bar and perform the action Repository.
  3. Perform the action New in the ribbon bar.
  4. Start the wizard with the action Begin.
  5. Enter the repository code by typing a code in the Repository Code field.
  6. Select the repository type Azure Blob Storage in the Repository Type field and click Next.
  7. Select the subscription in which Azure Blob Storage should be created in the Subscription ID field.
  8. The system checks if the company app still exists. If not, the company app will be created.
  9. Check the box Use existing storage account and click Next.
  10. Enter the name of the existing storage account in the Storage Account Name field or use the (...) button to select your storage account.
  11. Enter the key in the Storage Account Key field.
  12. If the Storage Account Name and Storage Account Key are correct, the connection status will show as Connected.
  13. Specify whether multiple containers should be used for the storage account and click Next.
  14. Check the box Set as active repository to make this repository active.
  15. Azure Blob Storage is now connected and activated as the active repository.

Info

To obtain the Storage Account Key, navigate to the Storage Accounts tab in the Azure portal and then go to the Access Keys tab. There you will find Key1 and Key2, which can be used as Storage Account Keys.

Warning

The storage account requires versioning and support for immutability at the version level to function properly with Document Central. It is recommended to create the storage account through Document Central.

Using an Existing Cross-Tenant Azure Blob Storage Account

If an existing Azure Blob Storage account from another tenant is to be used, the connection details must be entered manually. Since the storage account is in another tenant, the Subscription ID cannot be entered, and Azure Cognitive Search cannot be enabled.

To use an existing cross-tenant Azure Blob Storage account:

  1. Start with the role Document Central – Administrator.
  2. Click on Setup in the menu bar and perform the action Repository.
  3. Perform the action New in the menu bar.
  4. Start the wizard with the action Begin.
  5. Enter a code in the Repository Code field.
  6. Select Azure Blob Storage in the Repository Type field and click Next.
  7. Check the box Manually add Storage Account and click Next.
  8. Enter the existing Storage Account Name in the corresponding field.
  9. Enter the Storage Account Key.
  10. If the details are correct, the connection status will show as Connected.
  11. Specify whether multiple containers should be used and click Next.
  12. Check the box Set as active repository to make this repository active.
  13. The cross-tenant Azure Blob Storage is now connected and active.

Info

To obtain the Storage Account Key, open the storage account in the Azure portal → Access keys tab → copy key1 or key2.

Warning

The storage account must have versioning and version-level immutability enabled to function properly with Document Central. Azure Cognitive Search cannot be enabled in a cross-tenant configuration.

Database Repository

The database option should only be used for testing or demonstration purposes. All documents are stored directly in the database, which can drastically increase the database size.

To create the database repository type, follow these steps:

  1. Start in the role Document Central - Administrator.
  2. Click on Setup in the ribbon bar and perform the action Repository.
  3. Perform the action New in the ribbon bar.
  4. Start the wizard with the action Begin.
  5. Enter the repository code by typing a code in the Repository Code field.
  6. Select the repository type Database in the Repository Type field and click Next.
  7. Check the box Set as active repository to make this repository active.
  8. The database is now set as the active repository.

Warning

Files and documents are stored in the BLOB field when Database is selected as the repository type. This can lead to significant growth of the database.

See also