post Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier in In other news

Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Jochen Geist — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:48:32 GMT

In case a Global Scope Applications like Incident Management needs to be modified, this is usually done by just directly updating the objects in question. However, by utilising Global Scope App developers are able to

easier to keep track of what has been changed on the platform for each process or use case
use the Studio UI for development
unlock Source Control capabilities via git
make deployment easier by moving away from Update Sets

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Tom Hauri — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 10:59:45 GMT

There is a "Move to application..." UI Action available both on global detail and list view... very practical to move objects around outside of studio. So I don't think "Claiming" objects is only possible via the Studio UI. is actually true 😉

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Jochen Geist — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:06:04 GMT

Thank you Tom, thats a valuable hint. I updated the post.

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

paulmorris — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:58:01 GMT

This approach is tantalising and I have a few follow up questions:

If you remove or "uninstall" your globally scoped app, do the "claimed" global objects revert back to OOB?
Once an object is claimed, are modifications outside of Studio captured?
If you merge a "claimed" object when upgrading ServiceNow, is that change applied to your global app?
Is this the new best practice for all 'customisations' to OOB?

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Shiva Thomas — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:14:13 GMT

Thank you Jochen for this article. I also recommend the approach!

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Jochen Geist — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:42:49 GMT

Hi Paul, I am sorry, I missed your comment. Thank you for the questions.

If you remove or "uninstall" your globally scoped app, do the "claimed" global objects revert back to OOB?

In Quebec, you cant remove a Global Scope App if it still has metadata in it. I unfortunately cant test the uninstall myself.

Once an object is claimed, are modifications outside of Studio captured?

Yes, but make sure to still have the Application Scope and depending on your deployment process the correct Update Set selected in the header.

If you merge a "claimed" object when upgrading ServiceNow, is that change applied to your global app?

Yes.

Is this the new best practice for all 'customisations' to OOB?

I would call it a proven practice for larger setups that require a certain level of governance and separation between teams.

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Andrew122 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:39:23 GMT

If you've already made customizations to the Global Scope and want to move them to your new Global Scope App, how would you go about doing that? I know how to move updates from one update set to another, but I don't know how one would move an update set from one Scope to another

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Jochen Geist — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 08:31:03 GMT

Hi Andrew, you can follow this approach to move files from your Update Sets into a Global Scope app:

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/sandiego-application-development/page/build/applications/task/add-multiple-files-to-global-app.html

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

James Fricker — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 01:18:07 GMT

What if an OOTB object needs to be modified for 2 completely different processes. Do you have to place it in a core application? How are dependencies between global apps handled?

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

Jochen Geist — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:40:37 GMT

@James Fricker
An Application File can only ever be claimed by one Global Scope App. You either create a common/core application for shared objects or the team/app that has done more changes to the object takes ownership and collaborates with the other teams/apps.

Dependency Management works the same way as with Custom Scoped Apps: https://docs.servicenow.com/csh?topicname=c_ApplicationDependencies.html&version=latest

Re: Using Global Scope Apps to make Customizations in Global Scope easier

tolga1 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:30:50 GMT

great article! i'm glad you wrote this down. I recommended this approacha a lot of times, now I can just forward your article 😃 big thanks, you make my life easier!