Unable to configure the Guided Setup created under Adoption Services to my Custom Application page

[KrithikaV]

Hi,

I created a Guided Setup using the Guided Setup builder under Adoption Services menu. I see an entry in the Guidance (help_guidance) table. However, I want to set this up as the Guided Setup under the System Application->My Company Application -> <My application> page  as shown below. The Guided Setup in the page has a reference to the gsw_content table. What is this guided setup and how is it different from what I created using Adoption Services. 

How can I integrate the Guided Setup created under Adoption Services into my custom application?

[SasiChanthati]

You created a Guided Setup using the Guided Setup Builder under Adoption Services. This created entries in the `help_guidance` table, which relates to help guidance content and onboarding help. 

when you go to System Applications → My Company Applications → [your app], the "Guided Setup" link looks for entries in the `gsw_content` table, not in `help_guidance`.

The confusion comes from the fact that ServiceNow has two different types of Guided Setup experiences. 

First, there’s the Adoption Services Guided Setup, which is built using the Guided Setup Builder and stores its data in the `help_guidance` table. This type is mainly used for light guidance, help panels, and walkthroughs, not full application onboarding.

 Second, there is the Application Guided Setup, which is a deeper, structured onboarding process linked directly to an application. This second type uses the `gsw_content`, `gsw_category`, and `gsw_task` tables, and it appears as a "Guided Setup" button directly within your application under System Applications.

The main differences are: Adoption Services Guided Setups are used for lightweight help and show up inside products as side panels or small walkthroughs, while Application Guided Setups are structured, complete onboarding experiences integrated into an application’s shell. Adoption Services use `help_guidance` and don’t automatically integrate into the Application Manager. Application Guided Setups use `gsw_content` and related tables and do integrate with the System Application framework automatically.

So, the answer to your main question is that the Guided Setup you built under Adoption Services is not automatically recognized as a true "Application Guided Setup." 

To fully integrate a Guided Setup into your custom app (the same way ITSM, CSM, or HR apps do), you will need to create a true Guided Setup record under the `gsw_content` table.

To do this, you should go to All → Guided Setup → Contents. There, create a new Guided Setup record. In this record, you must set the "Application" field to point to your custom application, and fill in the title, description, and other details. Once you save it, your app will display the "Guided Setup" button. After that, you create categories and tasks linked to this guided setup using the `gsw_category` and `gsw_task` tables. 

These tasks can point to forms, URLs, scripts, or setup steps.

Optionally, you could link some tasks back to your Adoption Services walkthroughs if you want to reuse that work, but they remain technically two different systems.

Best practice advice: use `gsw_content` if you want a professional and complete Guided Setup experience integrated into your app. Use `help_guidance` for lightweight help or in-product tips. Keeping these separate will give a cleaner and more understandable user experience.

In short, your current setup uses the help_guidance model, but what you need is to create a new Guided Setup using the `gsw_content` model to integrate it fully into your application like a standard ServiceNow app.

[KrithikaV]

Hi @SasiChanthati ,

Thank you for the detailed explanation.  
Now, I'm unable to locate All → Guided Setup → Contents. (see attachment). Is there any plugin that needs to be installed to see All → Guided Setup → Contents? I'm using the Yokohawa version. The 'gsw_content' table has been moved to the Legacy application (see attachment). I suspect that this has been removed or I'm missing certain plugin installation.
But still, I think I can go to `gsw_*` tables and create necessary entries to set up the necessary pages  and link to  System Applications → My Company Applications → [my app] -> "Guided Setup

Thank you for the guidance.