How to add a calculated field for a newbie
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11-21-2014 08:28 PM
Hi,
I'm looking on some basic "how to" to add a calculated field to a table. I know a bit of how to do this, but I did not find anything like this in the Wiki. I've got the Eureka version. I know that generally one creates a new field on the form view and then specifies exactly what the calculation field does in the dictionary entry. I also know some basic scripting syntax.
For simplicity's sake, let's say I want to calculate the duration between the open and close of a ticket. I know that this already exists, but I'm just using it as an example. By the time I get to the corresponding dictionary entry for my calculated field, I knew to click on the tab that said something like "Calculations" to actually enter my script. But, in the particular calculated field I created, that did not happen. I navigated to the appropriate dictionary entry, and instead of there being a tab inside that entry called 'Calculations', there was a tab there instead that said 'Default Value'. So, that tells me that somewhere I did not tell Service Now that I want to enter a calculation, not just a value for this new field I want to create.
Can anyone tell me where one sets this? I'm sure the part of what I'm missing is rather a simple configuration step, but I haven't figured out a way to get this to work.
Thanks in advance.
Scotty
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11-21-2014 11:03 PM
For closure/resolution durations, I typically use the script here: Setting the Duration Field Value - ServiceNow Wiki

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11-22-2014 03:43 AM
Click the advanced view link to see the fields related to calculation
More info
http://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=System_Dictionary
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11-22-2014 08:06 AM
I would not use a Calculated Field for this, but create a Business Rule instead. To quote a friend, Capa JC, Calculated Fields are evil!!!
Calculated fields are calculated every time a row is read, whereas the BR will only run when needed. You can setup the BR to run when required to update the field.

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11-22-2014 08:14 AM
Super like. They are evil indeed I must have told that in my initial response .Thanks Jim