Questionnaire activity - default value?

SNNoob · yesterday

Hi!

I'm building a Playbook and one of the activities I want to use is the Questionnaire activity. In it, one of the questions is a Reference type, to cmdb_ci table.

Can we set default values to these types of fields? Ideally, I would want it to prepolutate with CI value from the record the playbook is associated to, which in this case is Case. In Playbook Designer, there is not a way to set it.

If in backend I navigate to this particular question record, stored in sys_flow_data_var table, there is the Default Value tab there but using current. Etc. has not worked.

Other ideas or is this just impossible?

surajsengar · 2 hours ago

Setting default values in Playbook Questionnaire activities—specifically for Reference fields—is a common hurdle because the Questionnaire engine doesn't "listen" to standard Dictionary default values or Client Scripts in the same way a standard form does.

Since current isn't working in the sys_flow_data_var table (as that record isn't technically "aware" of your specific Case record during the definition phase), here are the most effective ways to solve this.

1. The "Data Pill" Mapping (Recommended)

The most modern way to handle this in the Playbook Designer is to ensure you are using the Inputs of the Questionnaire activity.

Open your Playbook in the Playbook Designer.

Select the Questionnaire activity.

In the configuration pane, look for the input variables for that questionnaire.

Instead of hardcoding a value, use the Data Pill Picker (the ⊕ icon).

Navigate to Trigger -> Case Record -> Configuration Item.

Note: This requires that the Questionnaire activity was built to accept an input for that specific question. If you are using a pre-defined assessment/survey, you may need to map the "Instance" or "Context" variables.

2. The Decision Table Approach

If the default value needs to be dynamic (e.g., "If Case Type is X, default CI to Y"), you should use a Decision Table.

In your Flow/Playbook, add a "Make a Decision" step before the Questionnaire.

Pass the output of that decision into the Questionnaire's reference field input.

3. The "Back-End" Workaround (sys_complex_object)

If you are determined to use the sys_flow_data_var record, current won't work because the Questionnaire is rendered via the Playbook Experience framework. Instead, you have to use a Scriptable Default.

Instead of current.cmdb_ci, try using a snippet that pulls from the parent record if the questionnaire is instantiated:

4. Why "current" isn't working

The sys_flow_data_var record is a definition, not an instance. When the Playbook runs:

It creates a Context.

It creates an Activity Instance.

The Questionnaire renders based on the Variable Definition.

At the moment the definition is read, current refers to the Variable record itself, not the Case record.