Importing 100,000+ Records & Multiple Journal Batches in Business Central? - Will it Really Work?

Uploading large volumes of data and working with multiple batches (such as General Journal batches) are common tasks during implementations and month‑end processes.

We often receive two frequent questions from clients everywhere:

1. Can we upload more than 100,000 records?
2. Can we import two or more different batches in the General Journal at the same time without locking?

According to Microsoft’s official documentation, Business Central recommends importing up to 25,000 records for smooth performance. But what if you have 100,000 records?
You might feel stuck. You want the process to be quick and seamless.
You wonder: “Is there any workaround? Is it possible at all?”

The answer is YES. Both are fully supported.

Below is a simple explanation with practical examples.

 

1. Uploading More Than 100,000 Records Using Configuration Package

Business Central can easily import 1 lakh+ rows through RapidStart / configuration packages if the data is prepared efficiently.

Tip: Select Only Required Fields for Faster Import

Most tables in Business Central contain 40-50 fields, but during Excel imports you usually need only 8-12 fields.

If you include only the required fields (with validation enabled), the import becomes significantly faster.

Why does this help?

• Fewer fields to validate
• Smaller Excel file
• Lower memory usage
• Faster commit cycles
• Reduced chances of timeouts

 

Example: Importing 100,000+ General Journal Lines

Assume a company wants to upload 120,000 General Journal lines for opening balances, recurring entries, and adjustments.

Instead of selecting all fields from the “Journal Line” table, you include only the following required fields:

Required Fields Used for Import (Example)

• Journal Template Name
• Journal Batch Name
• Line No.
• Account Type
• Account No.
• Posting Date
• Document No.
• Description
• Bal. Account No.
• Currency Code
• Amount
• Shortcut Dimension 1 Code
• Shortcut Dimension 2 Code

These match exactly with the fields shown in your screenshot.

 

Sample Excel Structure

Journal Template Name

Journal Batch Name

Line No.

Account Type

Account No.

Posting Date

Document No.

Description

Bal. Account No.

Currency Code

Amount

Shortcut Dimension 1 Code

Shortcut Dimension 2 Code

GENERAL

PAYMENTS

10000

G/L Account

40100

01‑01‑2026

JV‑0001

Vendor Payment

10100

USD

1500

DEPT‑FIN

PROD‑01

GENERAL

PAYMENTS

20000

Vendor

V00045

01‑01‑2026

JV‑0001

Vendor Settlement

10100

USD

-1500

DEPT‑FIN

PROD‑01

GENERAL

ACCRUALS

10000

G/L Account

60200

31‑01‑2026

ACC‑001

Salary Accrual

99999

USD

25000

HR‑01

DIV‑01

GENERAL

ACCRUALS

20000

G/L Account

99999

31‑01‑2026

ACC‑001

Accrual Offset

60200

USD

-25000

HR‑01

DIV‑01

This structure is fully sufficient for importing 120,000+ lines—and the import is fast because only essential fields are selected.

2. Importing Multiple Journal Batches Together (Without Locking)

You can upload multiple batches such as PAYMENTS, ACCRUALS, ADJUSTMENTS in the same Excel file or via separate uploads in different batches.

Important: No Locking Occurs

Business Central does not lock the General Journal when:

• Multiple batches are imported in a single file
• Multiple users are working in different batches
• Configuration packages insert lines into multiple batches

Each batch behaves as an independent container.

Scenario: Uploading Two Batches at Month-End

Your file contains:

• 60,000 rows in the PAYMENTS batch
• 60,000 rows in the ACCRUALS batch

Whether you upload them in:

• A single file, or
• Two parallel uploads (two different tabs)

…there will be no system locking.

Results:

• PAYMENTS batch gets all vendor and bank-related entries
• ACCRUALS batch gets all month-end adjustments
• Both batches remain separate and ready for posting
• Users can continue editing entries in parallel

Summary,

• Business Central can import more than 1 lakh records using configuration packages but with good structuring of an excel upload.
• Always select only required fields to speed up processing.
• You can import multiple General Journal batches in one Excel file or in parallel.
• No locking occurs because each batch is independent.
• These methods are ideal for implementations, data migration, and month-end postings.