bc_run_report
Execute a Business Central report by its numeric ID, capture printable output as PDF, Excel, or Word, or fill request-page fields to run with specific parameters.
Instructions
Execute a Business Central report by its numeric report ID. If the report has a request page (parameter/filter dialog), the response's requestPage carries its fields plus a requestPage.pageContextId and requestPage.formId. Fill parameters with bc_write_data against that pageContextId, then run the report with bc_respond_dialog { dialogFormId: requestPage.formId, response: "ok" }. The report runs server-side on the BC service tier.
Pass format: "pdf", "excel", or "word" to capture the rendered output as base64-encoded bytes (this path auto-drives the request page, so no bc_write_data/bc_respond_dialog is needed). The tool drives the BC "Send to..." flow (SystemAction 410) internally: opens the format-selection dialog, selects the requested format by SaveValue-ing the matching text label into the SelectionControl, confirms with OK (300), then fetches the file from DynamicFileHandler.axd. Returns download.bytes (base64), download.contentType, and download.fileName. If the BC_REPORT_DIR env var is set the file is also saved to disk and savedPath is returned.
Format availability depends on the report's installed layouts -- not all reports offer all three formats. If the report does not offer the requested format, an error is returned listing the available option texts. "pdf" is always BC's default and requires no SaveValue; "excel" prefers the "data only" variant; "word" targets any option containing "Word".
Use this tool for reports that perform server-side actions (batch posting via Report 295, inventory adjustments, data processing) or to inspect and fill request page parameters. Common reports: 1306 (Customer Statement), 120 (Aged Accounts Receivable), 6 (Trial Balance), 295 (Batch Post Sales Orders).
Do NOT use this for viewing data -- use bc_open_page and bc_read_data for data retrieval. Do NOT confuse reports with pages -- reports are processing/printing objects, pages are UI views.
Example (open request page): { "reportId": 6 } Example (capture PDF): { "reportId": 6, "format": "pdf" } Example (capture Excel): { "reportId": 6, "format": "excel" } Example (capture Word): { "reportId": 6, "format": "word" }
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| format | No | Rendered output format to capture via the BC "Send to..." flow. "pdf" captures a PDF (BC default); "excel" captures Excel (prefers "data only" layout); "word" captures a Word document. Format availability depends on the report's installed layouts -- reports without the requested layout return an error listing available formats. Omit to open the request page only without executing. | |
| reportId | Yes | Numeric BC report ID to execute (e.g., 1306 for Customer Statement, 6 for Trial Balance). |