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Creating Fields & Field Types

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In this lesson, you will learn:

  • Three ways to create a new field
  • The most common field types, and when to use each
  • What to check before you create a field

1 Why add a field?

SNWR’s Room Booking table needs a new field: Needs projector. Admins add fields all the time. But first, pick the right type. You can’t easily change it later! 🧩

Key term: Field type

The kind of data a field holds, like text, a number, a date, or a link to another record. It decides how the field looks and what you can type in it.

2 Common field types

Twelve common ServiceNow field types with examples. String for short text like Short description. Integer for whole numbers like Attendees. Decimal for numbers with decimals. True/False for a checkbox like Needs projector. Date and Date/Time for dates like Booking date and Opened. Choice for a drop-down like Category. Reference for a link to one record like Caller. List for many records like Watch list. Journal for a running log like Work notes. HTML for formatted text like a knowledge article body. Email and URL for addresses and links.
Figure 1. Pick the type that matches the data.

💡 Good to know: Use a Choice field instead of free text when there’s a fixed set of answers. It keeps data clean and makes reports easy.

3 Three ways to create a field

Way How
Form Builder Open a form, then Configure > Form Builder. Drag a field type from the Field Types tab onto the form
Form Layout Configure > Form Layout. Use the Create new field section at the bottom
Table record System Definition > Tables, open the table, and click New in the Columns related list

📝 Note: In the global scope, custom fields get the u_ prefix. “Needs projector” becomes u_needs_projector.

4 Before you create a field

  • Check if it already exists. Look at the table, and its parent tables (use the schema map from Lesson 31.4).
  • Pick the right table. A field on Task shows on every child table. A field on Incident shows only on incidents.
  • Pick the right type. Changing the type later can lose data.
  • Use a clear label. People read labels. Scripts use names.

⚠️ Heads up: Don’t add fields straight to production. Build them in snwrdev, and move them with an update set (Chapter 45).

⭐ Remember: Right table + right type + clear label. Custom global fields start with u_.

5 Let’s try it: add two fields

  1. Open a Room Booking record (from Lesson 29.3). Choose Configure > Form Layout.
  2. In Create new field, enter Name Needs projector, Type True/False. Click Add.
  3. Add another: Meeting type, Type Choice. Click Add, then Save.
  4. Check the form. Right-click each new label and open Configure Dictionary. What are the column names?

6 Quick recap

  • The field type decides what data a field holds
  • Common types: String, Integer, True/False, Date, Choice, Reference, List, Journal
  • Create fields with Form Builder, Form Layout, or the table’s Columns list
  • Check first: does it exist, and is it the right table?

7 Check yourself

Think of your answer first. Then tap to check.

1 Which type would you use for a yes-or-no checkbox? Show answer

True/False.

2 You add a field called “Floor” in the global scope. What’s its column name? Show answer

u_floor.

3 You add a field to the Task table. Where will it show up? Show answer

On Task and every table that extends it, like Incident, Problem, and Change.

Nice work! You finished this lesson. 🎉

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