Upgrade codeunits and the DataTransfer object

MB-820 · Install, develop and deploy extensions · Updated 17 October 2026

When a new version of your extension changes the data model, an upgrade codeunit moves the data. For large tables, the DataTransfer object does it far faster than a record loop.

The upgrade codeunit

codeunit 50110 "Issue Upgrade"
{
    Subtype = Upgrade;

    trigger OnUpgradePerCompany()
    var
        UpgradeTag: Codeunit "Upgrade Tag";
    begin
        if UpgradeTag.HasUpgradeTag(IssueTypeTag()) then
            exit;
        MoveIssueCategories();
        UpgradeTag.SetUpgradeTag(IssueTypeTag());
    end;

    local procedure IssueTypeTag(): Code[250]
    begin
        exit('MYAPP-IssueType-20261017');
    end;
}

• OnUpgradePerCompany runs once per company. OnUpgradePerDatabase runs once in total.
• There are also OnCheckPrecondition... and OnValidateUpgrade... triggers.
• Upgrade tags make sure the same step doesn’t run twice.

DataTransfer

local procedure MoveIssueCategories()
var
    IssueCategory: Record "Issue Category";
    IssueType: Record "Issue Type";
    DT: DataTransfer;
begin
    DT.SetTables(Database::"Issue Category", Database::"Issue Type");
    DT.AddFieldValue(IssueCategory.FieldNo(Code), IssueType.FieldNo(Code));
    DT.AddFieldValue(IssueCategory.FieldNo(Name), IssueType.FieldNo(Name));
    DT.CopyRows();
end;

DataTransfer can only be used in upgrade and install code.

Learn more: Upgrading extensions and Transferring data using DataTransfer.