Catalog Builder Approval stage: "Generate Catalog Builder URL"

mike555 · ‎08-19-2022

The ServiceNow YouTube video "Catalog Builder | Defining and configuring a pre-publish subflow".

At time 2:47 of the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtv8LPnfwbM&t=167s) there is a "Generate Catalog Builder URL" option.

This is a customisation, not included in SeviceNow.

Is there any information on how I can add this myself?

DavidB-ADT · ‎10-18-2023

Managed to build out and get the full approval mechanism working. There's some issues with the video, so I've written up my full solution in this main thread about the Catalog Builder Approval Subflow Mechanism.

What I wanted to also add here is that I added an additional output from this action to also generate a URL for the catalog record itself. I realized in my position as an Approver, I don't just want to look at the Preview of the submitted catalog item, but I also want to check out the fulfillment steps (if they're using a step-through vs. pre-set flow). Unfortunately, the catalog builder wizard view isn't available when it's been submitted, so my solution just goes to the old-school Maintain Items record in the main platform.

Here's the enhanced script I used:

(function execute(inputs, outputs) {
var instance = gs.getProperty('instance_name');
outputs.cat_preview_url = 'https://' + instance + '.service-now.com/now/build/catalog/preview/' + inputs.cat_item_sysid + '/params/ui-interface/Portal/preview-portal/swp/hide-open-in-new-tab/true';
outputs.cat_builder_url = 'https://' + instance + '.service-now.com/now/nav/ui/classic/params/target/sc_cat_item.do%3Fsys_id%3D' + inputs.cat_item_sysid
})(inputs, outputs);

My script outputs are cat_preview_url, and cat_builder_url. You'll need to create the additional action Output for this second URL.

View solution in original post

Michael Nemecek · ‎08-22-2023

Did you ever get this figured out? The video is still the same with no explanation to this step. So frustrating.

mike555 · ‎09-01-2023

No, had to move onto other work later.

I created a ticket with ServiceNow support about this, they said it is a customisation that they do not support.

DavidB-ADT · ‎10-17-2023

Came here looking for the answer to this question, and saw that it wasn't figured out. So, I watched the demo video again and I've figured out that the URL to generate a catalog item preview is the following:

https://<instance>.service-now.com/now/build/catalog/preview/<catalog_item_sysid>/params/ui-interface/Portal/preview-portal/swp/hide-open-in-new-tab/true

You just need to build a Flow action to generate that. Will update once I've built it myself.

DavidB-ADT · ‎10-17-2023

Okay, here's what I've built and tested as working:

1. New Flow Action, named 'Generate Catalog Builder URL'

2. Inputs: Create String input named 'catalog_item_sysid' (this is what you'll pass into the action).

3. Add a Script Step, with the following items:

3.1 Required runtime = Instance

3.2 Input Variables: Create an input named 'cat_item_sysid'; value is the input variable pill from step 2.

3.3 Script:

(function execute(inputs, outputs) {
var instance = gs.getProperty('instance_name');
outputs.cat_builder_url = 'https://' + instance + '.service-now.com/now/build/catalog/preview/' + inputs.cat_item_sysid + '/params/ui-interface/Portal/preview-portal/swp/hide-open-in-new-tab/true';
})(inputs, outputs);

3.4 Output Variables: Create an output named 'cat_builder_url', type=URL.

4. Outputs: Create a URL output named 'cat_builder_url'. Value is the script step 'cat_builder_url' pill from step 3.4.

Screenshot of the Script Step to aid with description.

Edits: formatting & spelling errors.