PSA: How to View Variables in Lists

Bradford Shelle
Kilo Guru

After having to play around with variables quite a bit in a recent project, I thought I'd share how to display variables on a list of Requested Items / Catalog Tasks. This applies to lists and related lists, as reports have their own method of displaying variables. Important note: This was performed on Fuji. Your experience may differ on older versions of ServiceNow.

Step 1 Identify the variables you'd like to display on your list, then copy the sys_id for each variable. This is as simple as heading to the Catalog Item, and jumping into the variable(s) in question. We'll need the sys_id to add the column into the list.

Step 2 Head over to System UI -> Lists

Step 3 Identify the list you'd like to display the variable(s) on. We're looking for one of two things here. Either the name of the view of the list you'd like to include the variable(s) on (I highly recommend creating a new view instead of using the Default view for this, as most likely the variables will apply to certain catalog items instead of every single one), or for a related list look at the Parent and Relationship columns for the table and name of the tab for the related list. Head into the list when you've found it.

find_real_file.png

Step 4 Create a new List Element(s) from the related list at, using "variables.sys_id" (no quotes) in the actual Element field on the List Element form. Create a new List Element for each variable you wish to add.

find_real_file.png

Step 5 Head over to the list where variables were just added. They won't show up immediately, so don't panic. Edit the list layout, and move around the variables to the spots you'd like them in the list (even if the position is already how you'd like it, move a variable one position up/down, then move it back and save). At this point, the variables should be visible!

Hope this helps at least one person out there. Take care!

27 REPLIES 27

Mussie
ServiceNow Employee
ServiceNow Employee

Thanks Bradford, this really helped me address one of my issues. However, the variables in the view I created are not visible by people who don't have a role. Any idea how I can address that?


Mussie


Hi Mussie,



Thanks for being patient in waiting for a response.



The table which stores the info for all the variable answers is sc_item_option. I'd head over there and take a look at the ACLs. Make sure there is a read ACL on the table, and then don't include any roles to be able to view it (we're not going for the public role here so people still need to auth in order to see the table data). Hopefully this works!


Thanks Bradford, yes it was an ACL issue. I have documented the steps here:


Adding catalog variables to the list view


Apparently, your post seems to be the only place where this is documented, I certainly wouldn't have done it without your help, thank you.


Mussie


stephaniemccall
Giga Contributor

THANK YOU FOR POSTING! I have been searching for this solution for a couple months and finally came across your thread today.   Again thank you!   Worked like a charm!