NetSuite 2021 Release 2 includes significant enhancements to the SuiteCloud platform for developers and administrators to get more value out of the suite. The latest platform features focus on improved integration, support for Microsoft VS Code, improved programmatic access to SuiteAnalytics Workbooks and security enhancements.
- Integrating NetSuite with external applications and data sources using SuiteTalk REST Web Services becomes even easier as customers and partners now have access to the full range of query functionality included with the now fully GA (no longer beta) service.
The REST query service provides a rich environment for developers building integrated solutions that directly access NetSuite data via high performance SuiteQL (NetSuite’s query language based on SQL-92) commands and provides access to data and features available in SuiteAnalytics Workbooks such as stored query execution.
Other SuiteQL query capabilities include the ability to perform multi-level joins across datasets (as described in the next section), filter and sort page results, and manage aliases. Query access to the NetSuite data model is entirely consistent with all SuiteScript and SuiteAnalytics Connect APIs.
- NetSuite is adding SuiteCloud support for Microsoft Visual Studio (VS) Code in this release. Available from Visual Studio Marketplace as well as open-source distribution on GitHub, this new extension lets developers and DevOps build and manage NetSuite applications and customizations with this widely-adopted industry standard code editor.
- The extension tightly integrates with the SuiteCloud Development Framework (SDF) to support CLI-driven software lifecycle management using Node.js command syntax within the VS Code Terminal. The command palette provides interactive command execution and supports a wide range of SDF project and lifecycle capabilities such as Web OAuth authentication, Jest unit testing and advanced development options including hooks, modules and structures.
- NetSuite continues to provide a global platform experience with recent enhancements to the SuiteCloud Development Framework that allow SDF developers to build and distribute country-specific SuiteApps packaged with financial reports and display in users’ native language.
- SDF can now manage financial reports and layouts within SuiteApps by virtue of XML custom object representations. All XML that is exported with reports is fully encoded to prevent modification by end customers, and the Financial Report Builder has been extended with a convenient download XML action button.
- The SuiteAnalytics Workbook API now provides programmatic access to a wide range of Workbook capabilities, enabling developers to create powerful business intelligence applications.
For example, users could link multiple datasets to display relationships of interest within pivot tables. They can then execute pivots (optionally asynchronously) for subsequent report generation and save datasets directly from custom scripts. This release also supports conditional formatting and more meaningful error messages.
- Ensuring a highly secure environment is one of the NetSuite product team’s top priorities, and it’s taking steps in this release to eliminate potential vulnerabilities by updating all hashing algorithms associated with SuiteScript APIs. Hashing techniques are commonly used to index and retrieve data, digitally sign files, detect duplicates and checksums among a range of common tasks and functions. NetSuite is replacing older, less secure algorithms — specifically MD5 and SHA1 — with more secure alternatives such as SHA256. Please note that moving to these new types is required for all custom scripts.
All affected customers and partners have been notified of this change. However, if you have further concerns or questions, please contact NetSuite Product Support for additional information.
Ready for the release? Find out more.
Any customer who's gone through previous NetSuite refreshes knows that no blog post can do justice to all of the new functions and capabilities in NetSuite 2021 Release 2.
For a more complete picture of what the new features are in the release, read the release notes(opens in new tab).
Most importantly, don't forget to request access to your Release Preview(opens in new tab) test account. Nothing substitutes for hands-on access to see how all the new features will work with your data, workflows and customizations.
The preceding is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, timing, and pricing of any features or functionality described for Oracle’s products may change and remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation.