question Re: How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body: in Developer forum

How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body:

AbW — Thu, 28 May 2026 07:55:50 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am new to ServiceNow and trying to write an onCellEdit client script.

My requirement is: If the Category of a record is "Inquiry / Help", I want to prevent users from changing the State column directly from the list view (make it read-only/uneditable).

I have already successfully implemented this using ACLs and Data Policies, but for this specific use case, I specifically need to achieve it using onCellEdit.

Could someone please show me a simple, beginner-friendly example of how to write this onCellEdit script?

Thank you!

Re: How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body:

Sanjay191 — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:34:00 GMT

Hi @AbW

Please refer the below thread i hope it will work for you!

https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-blog/learn-servicenow-oncelledit-client-script-servicenow-oncelledit/ba-p/2333499

If my answer has helped with your question, please mark my answer as accepted solution and give a thumb up.
Thank You

Re: How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body:

Ankur Bawiskar — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:15:48 GMT

@AbW

you can use before update BR and validate this and abort the update

💡 If my response helped, please mark it as correct ✅ and close the thread 🔒— this helps future readers find the solution faster! 🙏

Re: How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body:

Tanushree Maiti — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:22:43 GMT

Hi @AbW

Can you try this once - onCellEdit on state field. For me first choice is always ACL here.

function onCellEdit(sysIDs, table, oldValues, newValue, callback) {
var saveAndClose = true;
var gr = new GlideRecord('incident');
gr.addQuery('sys_id', 'IN', sysIDs);
gr.addQuery('category', 'inquiry');
gr.query();
if (gr.hasNext()) {
alert("State cannot be changed from the list view for Inquiry / Help records.");
saveAndClose = false;
}
callback(saveAndClose);
}

Re: How to make a list column read-only based on another field using onCellEdit?Body:

Deepak89 — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:49:44 GMT

@AbW

try this

On cell edit on state
client script :

function onCellEdit(sysIDs, table, oldValues, newValue, callback) {

//Type appropriate comment here, and begin script below

var ga= new GlideAjax("DB_GroupType");

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

ga.addParam("sysparm_id",sysIDs);

ga.getXMLAnswer(output);

function output(response){

alert(response);

if(response== "true"){

alert("you can not modify the sate for this category");

callback(false);

} else{

callback(true);

}

SI :

getCategory: function() {

var id = this.getParameter("sysparm_id");

var gr = new GlideRecord("incident");

if (gr.get(id)) {

if (gr.category == "inquiry") {

return true;

} else {

return false;

}

let me know if work and accept it