What updates the activity of the record linked to the watermark of received email?

ShumaS
Tera Contributor
I deactivated all OOTB Inbound Mail Actions. I want to stop the action that comments automatically input by email.
But the record was updated and the description of the mail was automatically commented on feed(comments or work notes).
I recognized that behavior about records of tables inheriting task, such as Incident, HR Case, Legal Request.
Email state is not Processed, but Ready. Logs whose Source is the mail are only three.
1st. Email is classified as reply for triggers execution.
2nd. Received id = <xxx>Classified as reply to 'INC~' via watermark 'Ref:~' in message.
3rd. Ready for update.
I suspect that the behavior was caused by BR, Script Include or Flow Designer, but I cannot identified by logs or debugger.
1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

kaushal_snow
Mega Sage

Hi @ShumaS 

 

What Triggers the Activity Update Despite Deactivated Inbound Actions....

 

1. ServiceNow uses a watermark embedded in outgoing notifications, typically formatted like Ref:INC0001234 to match incoming emails to existing records. This watermark is stored in the sys_watermark table and drives the auto-association logic.

 

2. Once the system recognizes the email as a match, it updates the record, often adding the email's content to Work Notes or Comments, even without an active inbound email action script. This is part of ServiceNow’s default processing behavior for watermarked emails.

 

Implement logic (via Business Rule, Inbound Email Action) to explicitly intercept or bypass processing when certain conditions apply. Alternatively, adjust email notification or watermark behavior, but keep in mind watermark driven routing is fundamental to replies and its not included as per servicenow best practices.

 

Check below aricles:

 

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

 

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

 

If you found my response helpful, please mark it as ‘Accept as Solution’ and ‘Helpful’. This helps other community members find the right answer more easily and supports the community.

 

 

 

Thanks and Regards,
Kaushal Kumar Jha - ServiceNow Consultant - Lets connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushalkrjha/

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2

kaushal_snow
Mega Sage

Hi @ShumaS 

 

What Triggers the Activity Update Despite Deactivated Inbound Actions....

 

1. ServiceNow uses a watermark embedded in outgoing notifications, typically formatted like Ref:INC0001234 to match incoming emails to existing records. This watermark is stored in the sys_watermark table and drives the auto-association logic.

 

2. Once the system recognizes the email as a match, it updates the record, often adding the email's content to Work Notes or Comments, even without an active inbound email action script. This is part of ServiceNow’s default processing behavior for watermarked emails.

 

Implement logic (via Business Rule, Inbound Email Action) to explicitly intercept or bypass processing when certain conditions apply. Alternatively, adjust email notification or watermark behavior, but keep in mind watermark driven routing is fundamental to replies and its not included as per servicenow best practices.

 

Check below aricles:

 

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

 

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

 

If you found my response helpful, please mark it as ‘Accept as Solution’ and ‘Helpful’. This helps other community members find the right answer more easily and supports the community.

 

 

 

Thanks and Regards,
Kaushal Kumar Jha - ServiceNow Consultant - Lets connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushalkrjha/

Dr Atul G- LNG
Tera Patron
Tera Patron

Hi @ShumaS 

 

These links worth reading

 

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bundle/yokohama-platform-administration/page/administer/notification...

 

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If my response proves useful, please indicate its helpfulness by selecting " Accept as Solution" and " Helpful." This action benefits both the community and me.

Regards
Dr. Atul G. - Learn N Grow Together
ServiceNow Techno - Functional Trainer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dratulgrover
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LearnNGrowTogetherwithAtulG
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