How to create a UI Action that populates a List Collector without saving the record?

NowNinja727
Tera Contributor

3 weeks ago

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to create a UI Action on a form that will automatically populate certain values inside a List Collector field when the button is clicked.
 
The part I’m struggling with is this:
I want the List Collector to be updated on the form only, but I do not want the record to save when the UI Action is clicked.
 
I’ve tried different combinations of client/server UI Actions, return false, and avoiding current.update(), but either:
  • the list collector updates only in the database (requires a save), or
  • the form reloads and loses the populated values, or
  • nothing happens at all.
Has anyone successfully built a UI Action that:
  1. Populates a List Collector field client‑side,
  2. Leaves changes visible on the form,
  3. But does not save or submit the form automatically?
Any guidance or examples would really help. Thanks!
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AniketC85155510
Kilo Patron

3 weeks ago

Hello @NowNinja727 ,

 

Some of the suggestions shared are already on the right track.nYou can achieve this using a setup like the one below. It keeps everything client-side, avoids hard-coded values, and works for both new and existing records.

Just try to adjust them based on your use case...........

 

1. Store the values in a System Property

Instead of embedding values directly in the UI Action, store them in a configurable system property.

Example Property Name

standard_division_ids

Value (comma-separated sys_ids)

id1,id2,id3,id4,...

 

2. Create a Script Include (Client Callable)

The Script Include’s responsibility is only to return the sys_ids from the system property

var StandardDivisionUtils = Class.create();
StandardDivisionUtils.prototype = Object.extendsObject(AbstractAjaxProcessor, {

    getStandardDivisionIds: function() {
        var value = gs.getProperty('standarddivisionids', '');
        if (!value)
            return '';

        // Trim whitespace if any
        return value.replace(/\s+/g, '');
    },

    type: 'StandardDivisionUtils'
});

Make sure Client callable = true.

 

3. Client-side UI Action (No Save, No Refresh)

UI Action configuration

  • Client: true

  • Form button: true

  • OnClick: addStandardDivisions

UI Action Script

function addStandardDivisions() {

    var ga = new GlideAjax('StandardDivisionUtils');
    ga.addParam('sysparmname', 'getStandardDivisionIds');

    ga.getXML(function(response) {

        var node = response.responseXML.documentElement;
        var answer = node && node.getAttribute("answer") ? node.getAttribute("answer") : '';

        if (!answer) {
            g_form.addErrorMessage('No standard divisions configured.');
            return;
        }

        // Parse sys_ids from the system property
        var standardIds = answer.split(',');

        // Existing list collector values
        var existingValue = g_form.getValue('division_field') || '';
        var existingList = existingValue ? existingValue.split(',') : [];

        // Merge and de-duplicate
        var merged = {};

        existingList.forEach(function(x) {
            if (x) merged[x] = true;
        });

        standardIds.forEach(function(x) {
            if (x) merged[x] = true;
        });

        var finalValue = Object.keys(merged).join(',');

        if (finalValue === existingValue) {
            g_form.addInfoMessage('All standard divisions already exist.');
            return;
        }

        // Update field on the form only (NO SAVE)
        g_form.setValue('division_field', finalValue);

        g_form.addInfoMessage('Standard divisions added. Review and save if needed.');
    });
}

 Replace division_field with the actual List Collector field or variable name.

 

🔹 Please mark ✅ Correct if this solves your query, and 👍 Helpful if you found the response valuable.

 

Best regards,
Aniket Chavan
🏆 ServiceNow MVP 2025 | 🌟 ServiceNow Rising Star 2024

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