What is use of getReference().

[niveditakumari]

Hi, 

What is use of getReference(). 

Can anyone please give me one example for this. 

Regards, 

Nivedita

[Cris P]

It can be used client side to grab the record in a reference field. g_form.getReference(‘caller’); If you use the above on incident table, you pass it the caller field. You will then be able to access the sys_user record for that caller You can also pass it a callback function which you can do some processing async (so it does not block user input)

[Brad Bowman · Accepted solution]

Hi Nivedita,

You can see an example here on the Docs site.

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/rome-application-development/page/script/client-scripts/concept/c...

You use it in a client script to retrieve the entire record of a reference field/variable, then you can use another column on the same record in the script to setValue of another field/variable, etc.

Here's an example which sets the value of a location variable to the location that is on the user record of the requested for.

function onChange(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading) {
   if (isLoading || newValue == '') {
      return;
   }

	var userref = g_form.getReference('requested_for', userLookup);
	  function userLookup(userref){
	    g_form.setValue('location', userref.location.toString());
	  }
}

[Kieran GFUK]

It returns a gliderecord object of a given record. Note, don't use it, it's awful on performance.

Client Side Scripting: Go for GlideAjax (with getXMLAnswer)!

[Nirmalya Datta1]

• The functionality is about is the g_form getReference callback API
• It is a ServiceNow Client Side Scripting
• It’s extremely useful, but can also be a huge performance killer if not used correctly

• Returns a Reference Object's record client-side

  1. Request a record from the database
  2. Requested record returned from the database
  3. Execute logic after the object returns from the server

• It runs "asynchronously" when used with a callback function
• If callback function is not used, it executes a "synchronous" call
• Generic syntax is g_form.getReference()

Example: without a callback (Not Recommended because it is a synchronous call and might hamper system usability)

When: onChange
Field: caller_id

function onChange(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading) {
 var caller = g_form.getReference('caller_id');
 if (caller.vip == 'true')
alert('Caller is a VIP!');
}

**Synchronous getReference() method calls lock the form until the requested record is returned from the database.

Example: with a callback (recommended, it is a asynchronous call and should not hamper system usability)

When: onChange
Field: caller_id

function onChange(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading) {
 var caller = g_form.getReference('caller_id', doAlert); // doAlert is our callback function
}
function doAlert(caller) { //reference is passed into callback as first arguments
if (caller.vip == 'true')
alert('Caller is a VIP!');
}

**Asynchronous execution allows users to continue using the form while the method call executes.

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