Not able to store the attachment in the sys_attachment table

Praju_123 — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:00:02 GMT

I have created a custom widget in ServiceNow and added it to a Record Producer using a custom type variable field. The purpose of this widget is to upload attachments to the sys_attachment table. Additionally, I have created Category (choice) field to associate a category with each attachment.

To achieve this, I opted for a custom widget instead of using the out-of-the-box (OOB) attachment widget. I also created a Script Include, which I’m calling from the widget’s client controller script.

However, when I click the attachment upload button, I encounter the error:
"Unhandled exception in GlideAjax".
I have already wrapped the logic in a try-catch block, but the error message remains unclear and doesn’t provide specific details.

Could you please advise on how to troubleshoot or resolve this issue?

widget code
html

<button class="btn btn-link" ng-click="c.openModal()">
<i class="fa fa-paperclip"></i> Add attachments
</button>

<div ng-if="c.uploadedAttachments.length > 0" class="uploaded-attachments mt-3">
<div class="attachment-card" ng-repeat="attachment in c.uploadedAttachments track by $index">
   <div class="attachment-info">
     <div class="attachment-preview">
       
       <img ng-if="attachment.isImage && attachment.previewUrl"
            ng-src="{{attachment.previewUrl}}"
            alt="{{attachment.name}}"
            class="attachment-image">
       
       <div ng-if="!attachment.isImage" class="attachment-icon">
         <i class="fa fa-file-o fa-2x"></i>
       </div>
       
       <div ng-if="attachment.isImage && !attachment.previewUrl" class="attachment-loading">
         <i class="fa fa-spinner fa-spin fa-2x"></i>
       </div>
     </div>
     <div class="attachment-details">
       
       <div class="attachment-meta">
         <span class="file-name">{{attachment.displayFileName}}</span>
         <span class="file-size">({{attachment.fileSize}})</span>
         <span class="upload-time">{{attachment.uploadTime}}</span>
       </div>
       <div class="attachment-category" ng-if="attachment.category">
         Category: {{attachment.category}}
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
   <div class="attachment-actions">
     <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-link" ng-click="c.editAttachment($index)" title="Edit">
       <i class="fa fa-pencil"></i>
     </button>
     <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-link text-danger" ng-click="c.deleteUploadedAttachment($index)" title="Delete">
       <i class="fa fa-times"></i>
     </button>
   </div>
</div>
</div>

<div class="modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" ng-show="c.modalOpen" style="display:block; background:rgba(0,0,0,0.3);">
<div class="modal-dialog" role="document">
   <div class="modal-content" style="margin-top:80px;">
     <div class="modal-header">
       <h4>Attach file(s)</h4>
       <button type="button" class="close" ng-click="c.closeModal()">×</button>
     </div>
     <div class="modal-body">
       
       <div class="upload-zone text-center p-4 mb-3 border-dashed"
            ng-drop="true"
            ng-drop-success="c.handleDrop($event)">
         <i class="fa fa-paperclip fa-2x"></i>
         <div>Drag and drop files here</div>
       </div>
       <div class="text-center my-2">OR</div>
       
       <button class="btn btn-secondary" type="button" ng-click="c.selectFiles()">
         Select file(s)
       </button>
       <input type="file" id="fileInput" multiple style="display:none"
              onchange="angular.element(this).scope().c.handleFileSelect(this.files)">
       
       <div ng-if="c.attachments.length > 0" class="mt-4">
         <table class="table table-sm">
           <thead>
             <tr>
               <th>Preview</th>
               <th>Name</th>
               <th>File</th>
               <th>Category</th>
               <th></th>
             </tr>
           </thead>
           <tbody>
             <tr ng-repeat="a in c.attachments">
               <td>
                 <img ng-if="a.isImage && a.previewUrl" ng-src="{{a.previewUrl}}" class="table-preview-image">
                 <i ng-if="!a.isImage" class="fa fa-file-o"></i>
                 <i ng-if="a.isImage && !a.previewUrl" class="fa fa-spinner fa-spin"></i>
               </td>
               <td>
                 <input class="form-control" ng-model="a.name" ng-change="c.updateFileName(a)" required>
               </td>
               <td>{{a.displayFileName}}</td>
               <td>
                 <select class="form-control" ng-model="a.category" ng-options="cat for cat in c.categories"></select>
               </td>
               <td>
                 <button type="button" class="btn btn-danger btn-sm" ng-click="c.removeAttachment($index)">
                   <i class="fa fa-trash"></i>
                 </button>
               </td>
             </tr>
           </tbody>
         </table>
       </div>
     </div>
     <div class="modal-footer">
       <button class="btn btn-secondary" ng-click="c.closeModal()">Cancel</button>
       <button class="btn btn-primary" ng-disabled="!c.attachments.length" ng-click="c.uploadAttachments()">Attach</button>
     </div>
   </div>
</div>
</div>

client controller

api.controller = function($scope, $element, spUtil) {

var c = this;

// Modal visibility control

c.modalOpen = false;

// Arrays for attachments

c.attachments = []; // Temporary attachments in modal

c.uploadedAttachments = []; // Final uploaded attachments displayed on form

c.editingIndex = -1; // Track if we're editing an existing attachment

// Categories -- update per your requirement

c.categories = [

'Photo of affected shipment', 'CCTV Screenshots / Images', 'Photo - Others',

'Document - POD (Delivery note)', 'Document - AWB & invoice',

'Document - ULD breakdown manifest', 'Document - ULD build-up manifest',

'Document - Survey Report / GHA Investigation Report',

'Document - Claims letter', 'Document - Others'

];

// Image file types

c.imageTypes = ['image/jpeg', 'image/jpg', 'image/png', 'image/gif', 'image/bmp', 'image/webp'];

c.openModal = function() {

c.attachments = [];

c.editingIndex = -1;

c.modalOpen = true;

};

c.closeModal = function() {

c.modalOpen = false;

c.editingIndex = -1;

$element.find('#fileInput').val(""); // Clear file input

};

c.selectFiles = function() {

$element.find('#fileInput')[0].click();

};

// Helper function to check if file is an image

c.isImageFile = function(file) {

return c.imageTypes.indexOf(file.type.toLowerCase()) !== -1;

};

// Helper function to get file extension

c.getFileExtension = function(filename) {

return filename.slice((filename.lastIndexOf(".") - 1 >>> 0) + 2);

};

// Helper function to get filename without extension

c.getFileNameWithoutExtension = function(filename) {

return filename.slice(0, filename.lastIndexOf('.')) || filename;

};

// Function to update display filename when name changes

c.updateFileName = function(attachment) {

if (attachment.name && attachment.originalExtension) {

attachment.displayFileName = attachment.name + '.' + attachment.originalExtension;

}

};

// Helper function to read image file and create preview

c.createImagePreview = function(file, attachment) {

if (!c.isImageFile(file)) {

attachment.isImage = false;

return;

}

attachment.isImage = true;

attachment.previewUrl = null; // Loading state

var reader = new FileReader();

reader.onload = function(e) {

attachment.previewUrl = e.target.result;

$scope.$apply(); // Trigger digest cycle to update view

};

reader.readAsDataURL(file);

};

c.handleFileSelect = function(files) {

for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {

var originalFileName = files[i].name;

var nameWithoutExt = c.getFileNameWithoutExtension(originalFileName);

var extension = c.getFileExtension(originalFileName);

var attachment = {

originalFileName: originalFileName,

originalExtension: extension,

displayFileName: originalFileName, // Initially same as original

file: files[i],

category: c.categories[0],

isImage: false,

previewUrl: null

};

c.attachments.push(attachment);

c.createImagePreview(files[i], attachment);

}

$scope.$apply();

};

c.handleDrop = function(event) {

var dt = event.dataTransfer || (event.originalEvent && event.originalEvent.dataTransfer);

if (dt && dt.files && dt.files.length) {

c.handleFileSelect(dt.files);

}

};

c.removeAttachment = function(idx) {

c.attachments.splice(idx, 1);

};

// Helper function to format file size

c.formatFileSize = function(bytes) {

if (bytes === 0) return '0 Bytes';

var k = 1024;

var sizes = ['Bytes', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB'];

var i = Math.floor(Math.log(bytes) / Math.log(k));

return parseFloat((bytes / Math.pow(k, i)).toFixed(1)) + ' ' + sizes[i];

};

c.uploadAttachments = function() {

// Move attachments from modal to uploaded list

/*for (var i = 0; i < c.attachments.length; i++) {

var attachment = c.attachments[i];

var uploadedAttachment = {

originalFileName: attachment.originalFileName,

displayFileName: attachment.displayFileName,

originalExtension: attachment.originalExtension,

fileSize: c.formatFileSize(attachment.file.size),

category: attachment.category,

uploadTime: 'just now',

file: attachment.file, // Keep reference for actual upload later

isImage: attachment.isImage,

previewUrl: attachment.previewUrl

};*/

var ga = new GlideAjax('x_icpa_gbs_secur_0.storeAttachmentToTable');

ga.addParam('table_value', 'x_icpa_gbs_ltr_l_0_letter_request]');

ga.addParam('cat_value', "name");

//ga.addParam('file_value', attachment.file);

ga.getXMLAnswer(function(response) {

// Optionally, use response for feedback or logging

// alert(response);

});

alert(uploadedAttachment.category + " " + uploadedAttachment.file);

/*if (c.editingIndex >= 0) {

// Replace existing attachment if editing

c.uploadedAttachments[c.editingIndex] = uploadedAttachment;

c.editingIndex = -1;

} else {

// Add new attachment

c.uploadedAttachments.push(uploadedAttachment);

}

}*/

var targetTable = 'x_icpa_gbs_secur_0_gbs_security_incident'; // <-- Your table name

// var targetSysId = $scope.data.sys_id; // <-- Make sure to set this on the widget (from page)

var targetSysId = "9e733d76931b22103d4a701efaba1048";

if (!targetSysId) {

spUtil.addErrorMessage('Target record sys_id missing.');

return;

}

for (var i = 0; i < c.attachments.length; i++) {

(function(attachment) {

var reader = new FileReader();

reader.onload = function(e) {

// Remove data&colon;image/...;base64, prefix if present

var base64Content = e.target.result.split(',')[1];

var ga = new GlideAjax('storeAttachmentToTable');

ga.addParam('sysparm_name', 'storeAttachmentRecord');

ga.addParam('sysparm_table_value', targetTable);

ga.addParam('sysparm_sys_id', targetSysId);

ga.addParam('sysparm_cat_value', attachment.category);

ga.addParam('sysparm_file_name', attachment.displayFileName);

ga.addParam('sysparm_file_content', base64Content);

ga.getXMLAnswer(function(response) {

alert(response);

});

// Add to uploadedAttachments list

c.uploadedAttachments.push({

originalFileName: attachment.originalFileName,

displayFileName: attachment.displayFileName,

originalExtension: attachment.originalExtension,

fileSize: c.formatFileSize(attachment.file.size),

category: attachment.category,

uploadTime: 'just now',

isImage: attachment.isImage,

previewUrl: attachment.previewUrl

});

};

reader.readAsDataURL(attachment.file);

})(c.attachments[i]);

};

c.closeModal();

// Here you would implement the actual file upload to ServiceNow

// For now, just show success message

spUtil.addInfoMessage(c.attachments.length + ' attachment(s) added successfully');

// Clear the modal attachments

c.attachments = [];

};

// Edit an uploaded attachment

c.editAttachment = function(index) {

var attachment = c.uploadedAttachments[index];

c.editingIndex = index;

// Pre-populate modal with attachment data

var editAttachment = {

originalFileName: attachment.originalFileName,

displayFileName: attachment.displayFileName,

originalExtension: attachment.originalExtension,

file: attachment.file,

category: attachment.category,

isImage: attachment.isImage,

previewUrl: attachment.previewUrl

};

c.attachments = [editAttachment];

c.modalOpen = true;

};

// Delete an uploaded attachment

c.deleteUploadedAttachment = function(index) {

if (confirm('Are you sure you want to delete this attachment?')) {

c.uploadedAttachments.splice(index, 1);

spUtil.addInfoMessage('Attachment deleted successfully');

}

};

};

script include code

var storeAttachmentToTable = Class.create();

storeAttachmentToTable.prototype = Object.extendsObject(global.AbstractAjaxProcessor, {

storeAttachmentRecord: function() {

try {

// Parameter retrieval from GlideAjax

var tableName = this.getParameter('sysparm_table_value');

var recordSysId = this.getParameter('sysparm_sys_id');

var catoption = this.getParameter('sysparm_cat_value');

var fileName = this.getParameter('sysparm_file_name');

var base64Data = this.getParameter('sysparm_file_content');

// Validate required parameters

if (!tableName || !recordSysId || !fileName || !base64Data) {

return "Missing required parameters.";

}

// Decode base64 to bytes

var contentBytes = GlideStringUtil.base64DecodeAsBytes(base64Data);

// Write attachment record to sys_attachment

var gsa = new GlideSysAttachment();

var sysAttachmentId = gsa.write(tableName, recordSysId, fileName, contentBytes);

// Optional: Set category (custom field) if provided

if (catoption) {

var attachmentGR = new GlideRecord('sys_attachment');

if (attachmentGR.get(sysAttachmentId)) {

attachmentGR.u_categoryoption = catoption; // Pass real value, not hardcoded '2'

attachmentGR.update();

}

// Return new attachment sys_id

return sysAttachmentId;

} catch (e) {

gs.error('storeAttachmentToTable ScriptInclude error: ' + (e.message || e));

return 'Error: ' + (e.message || e);

}

// MUST be client-callable for GlideAjax usage

type: 'storeAttachmentToTable'

});

Re: Not able to store the attachment in the sys_attachment table

sonamsharma8789 — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:15:00 GMT

Hi @Praju_123 ,

The code you pasted is very big and hard to understand in this format. But still there are some reason for the "Unhandled exception in GlideAjax" which means that a GlideAjax call from a Client Script/UI Policy/UI Action tried to call a Script Include, but something broke on the server-side response.

Reasons:

Check Script Include if it is not Client Callable-If you want to use a Script Include in GlideAjax, it must be:Active,Client Callable = true,Extend AbstractAjaxProcessor.
Method Name Mismatch-The value of sysparm_name must exactly match a function in the Script Include.
Server-side Error Inside Script Include-Check System Logs > All for a stack trace.
Script Include Not Accessible in Scope-If you’re in a scoped app, but the Script Include is global (or vice versa), you might hit scope access issues.Fix: Check "Accessible from" in the Script Include.
Return Type is Wrong-Sometimes we try return inside the method instead of return "value"; at the right place.For getXMLAnswer(), you must return stringValue; from Script Include.

Check these few things in your script. Please mark helpful.

question Not able to store the attachment in the sys_attachment table in Community Central forum

Not able to store the attachment in the sys_attachment table

Re: Not able to store the attachment in the sys_attachment table