How to generate a Customization Analysis Report (CAR) in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations?

Maintaining code quality and adhering to best practices is critical in every Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations implementation. Microsoft provides a tool called the Customization Analysis Report (CAR) to help identify BP (Best Practice) violations, errors, and warnings within custom models.

This blog will guide you through generating the CAR report, which can assist you in preparing for code upgrades, solution reviews, and overall quality assurance.

What is a CAR report?

The Customization Analysis Report (CAR) is a diagnostic report generated using the xppbp.exe tool available on the D365 F&O development VM. It scans the metadata of a selected model and provides:

• BP errors and warnings
• Fix suggestions
• A list of all custom objects (tables, forms, enums, etc.)

How do you generate the CAR Report in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations?

Step 1: Launch CMD as an administrator

Ensure you’re running the Command Prompt with administrative privileges to access and execute the necessary tools.

Step 2: Navigate to the XPPBP tool directory

cd K:\AosService\PackagesLocalDirectory\bin

Note: The path K:\AosService\PackagesLocalDirectory\bin is standard for DEV VMs in Dynamics 365 environments.

Step 3: Run the CAR report command

xppbp.exe -packagesroot=”K:\AosService\PackagesLocalDirectory” -metadata=”K:\AosService\PackagesLocalDirectory” -all -model=”LS_HISOL” -xmlLog=C:\temp\BPCheckLogcd.xml -module=”LS_HISOL” -car=c:\temp\DynamicsCommunityCARReport.xlsx

Here is an explanation of the parameters:

• -model=”LS_HISOL”: Name of the model you want to analyze
• -car=…: Path and filename for the output Excel report
• -xmlLog=…: Location for the XML log (optional but useful for troubleshooting)

Expected Output

After running the command, the tool will take approximately 15–20 minutes, depending on the model size. The result will be an Excel file (DynamicsCommunityCARReport.xlsx) containing:

• Violations with severity levels
• Suggestions for fixes
• Object metadata summary

Why use CAR reports?

• Pre-upgrade assessment: Identify and fix upgrade-blocking issues early.
• Code quality assurance: Catch non-compliance with Microsoft’s coding standards.
• Documentation: Provides a high-level overview of customizations.
  

Conclusion

The CAR report is an essential tool in a D365 developer’s toolkit. Whether you’re preparing for a major upgrade or want to clean up technical debt, CAR reports offer visibility into the state of your customizations and can significantly streamline your development lifecycle.

Need help generating or analyzing your CAR report? Contact our experts at marketing@confiz.com for guidance and support tailored to your Dynamics 365 environment.