---
title: "SetAutoCalcFields"
tags: ["AL","Performance"]
categories: ["Best Practice"]
---

In Business Central, `SetAutoCalcFields` is an essential method for optimizing the retrieval of calculated fields, such as FlowFields. Without `SetAutoCalcFields`, FlowFields require explicit calculation via `CalcFields`, which adds performance overhead. By automatically computing FlowFields upon retrieval, `SetAutoCalcFields` reduces unnecessary calls and improves efficiency when reading FlowFields from multiple records in a loop.

See the documentation on learn.microsoft.com for more information about [SetAutoCalcFields](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/methods-auto/record/record-setautocalcfields-method).

{{% alert title="Note" color="info" %}}
Starting in Business Central 2025 release wave 1, the SetAutoCalcFields is also available on the RecordRef data type.
{{% /alert %}}

## Why Use SetAutoCalcFields?

Using `SetAutoCalcFields` ensures that FlowFields are computed automatically when retrieving a record, eliminating the need for additional `CalcFields` calls for each record.

## General Guidelines for SetAutoCalcFields

- Use `SetAutoCalcFields` before retrieving records (`FindSet`, `Find('-')`, etc.) when FlowFields need to be accessed.
- Avoid redundant `CalcFields` calls if `SetAutoCalcFields` has already been used.


## Examples
### Bad Code

```AL
Customer.SetFilter(Balance, '>%1' , LargeCredit);   
if Customer.FindSet() then 
    repeat  
        Customer.CalcFields(Balance);  
        if Customer.Balance > MaxCreditLimit then begin   
            Customer.Blocked := true;   
            Customer.Modify();   
        end else 
            if Customer.Balance > LargeCredit then begin   
                Customer.Caution := true;   
                Customer.Modify();   
            end;   
    until Customer.Next() = 0;
```

In this example, an extra call to `CalcFields` still must be issued for the code to be able to check the value of `Customer.Balance`. You can optimize this further by using the new `SetAutoCalcFields` method.

### Good code

```AL
Customer.SetFilter(Balance, '>%1', LargeCredit);   
Customer.SetAutoCalcFields(Balance)   
if Customer.FindSet() then 
    repeat   
        if Customer.Balance > MaxCreditLimit then begin   
            Customer.Blocked := true;   
            Customer.Modify();   
        end else 
            if Customer.Balance > LargeCredit then begin   
                Customer.Caution := true;   
                Customer.Modify();   
            end;   
    until Customer.Next() = 0;
```