Pros and Cons of using setWorkFlow(false)?

[newhand · Accepted solution]

@Joshua Prakash1 
answer from chatGPT

The setWorkflow(false) method is used to disable the automatic execution of business rules, workflows, and scripts when updating a ServiceNow record through a GlideRecord object. While using setWorkflow(false) can provide some benefits in specific scenarios, it also has some potential drawbacks.

Pros:

• Improved performance: Disabling workflow execution can reduce the processing time for updating records, especially if the workflow contains complex business rules or scripts.
• Customized updates: When workflow execution is disabled, you can perform customized updates to the record without triggering any associated workflows or business rules.
• Controlled updates: You can control when to execute the workflow and business rules by using setWorkflow(true) after completing the required updates to the record.

Cons:

• Risk of incomplete or incorrect updates: Disabling workflow execution means that any associated workflows or business rules will not be triggered, which may lead to incomplete or incorrect updates to the record. This can cause unexpected behavior and may result in data integrity issues.
• Increased risk of errors: When workflow execution is disabled, there is an increased risk of errors as the updates may not be properly validated or checked for compliance with associated workflows and business rules.
• Limited visibility: Disabling workflow execution can limit visibility into the changes made to the record, as any associated workflows or business rules that could have logged the changes will not be triggered.

In summary, using setWorkflow(false) can improve performance and provide more control over updates, but it also carries risks of incomplete or incorrect updates, increased errors, and limited visibility. Therefore, it is recommended to use setWorkflow(false) judiciously and only in scenarios where it provides clear benefits and the risks can be effectively managed.