Export Update Sets as word document

Eric Liao3
Tera Contributor

Document Utility for Update Set Export 

Hello ServiceNow Community,

I’m excited to share a utility I developed to solve a common pain point: the tedious, manual process of creating documentation from Update Set exports.


Current Limitations of Update Set Export Functionality

While ServiceNow natively supports exporting Update Sets via Excel, CSV, PDF, and XML, these formats often present hurdles when generating official documentation:

  • Data Redundancy: Native export files frequently include duplicate records, especially when managing complex Parent-Child structures.

  • Extensive Manual Effort: Significant time is required to reformat these export files into a clean, professional, and stakeholder-ready layout.

  • Format Restrictions: There is no native option to generate a formatted Word document that includes interactive links and deduplicated data.


 The Solution: Update Set Export Utility

This UI Action automates the workflow, allowing you to generate professional Word-based export files with a single click.

Key Features:

  • Direct Export to Word: Instantly generates a downloadable Word document (RTF) ready for immediate use.

  • Smart Deduplication: Automatically filters out redundant update records for a concise, clean summary in the final file.

  • Instant Traceability: Each record in the export file includes an active hyperlink pointing directly back to the system update in ServiceNow for easy auditing.


📂 Getting Started

I have attached a PowerPoint (.pptx) file to this post which contains everything you need to get started:

  1. User Guide: Step-by-step instructions on setup and usage.

  2. Installation File: The Update Set XML is included for easy import.


🔓 Open Source & Community Driven

I am sharing this with my fellow developers as a completely free, open-source tool with no licensing requirements.

  • Modify it: Feel free to tweak the code to your liking.

  • Enhance it: Add your own custom features or branding.

  • Share it: Pass it along to your teammates and colleagues.


I hope this utility saves you as much time as it has saved me. I look forward to hearing your feedback and seeing your enhancements!

 

2 REPLIES 2

Marcos Kassak
Kilo Sage

Hi @Eric Liao3,

 

It would be great if you can upload a video of the application, and also, please add your project to ServiceNow Share

 

Thanks for sharing!

Eric Liao3
Tera Contributor

ServiceNow Update Set Installation Steps

Navigator: Retrieved Update Sets

  1. Upload the update set XML file AsBuiltDocUtil v1.1.xml

  2. Preview the update set.

  3. Commit the update set.


As-Built Document Generation Usage

Option 1: Create an As-Built Document from the Parent Update Set

Navigator: Local Update Sets

  1. Locate the parent update set.

  2. Click Create As-Built Doc under Related Links.

  3. Download the As-Built document from the update set’s Attachments section.


Option 2: Generate an As-Built Document from Selected Local Update Sets

Navigator: Local Update Sets

  1. Search for the relevant update set(s).

  2. Select the checkbox(es) for the update set(s) to include.

  3. Click Actions on selected rows, then select Generate As-Built Document.

  4. Download the document from the pop-up dialog.