question Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script in Developer forum

Stopping business rule processing on background script

tahnalos — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:18:35 GMT

We are attempting to retroactively update a batch of change records (about 2000) to populate a field that was developed as mandatory. No problem there, developed a background script.

Only problem is that the script appears to be triggering business rules left, right, and center upon the update() call. Which we don't want (one of the business rules is resetting all the approvals, a definite no-no).

Anybody have an idea on how to stop further business rule processing? Or trigger an update without business rule processing?

Thanks

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

vant — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:28:04 GMT

You want to try to add this tag to the script so that it doesn't update the Updated field, which should skip other business rules from kicking off.

gr.autoSysField(false); // so that the records don't have system updates

gr.setWorkflow(false); // so no business rules are run

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

akt_snow — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 01:51:20 GMT

you can use setWorkflow(false) to prevent rules from firing.

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

anupama8 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:25:45 GMT

Hi,

In your background script, before the update() line you should write "gr.setWorkflow(false);" It will work fine without executing the business rules.

Assuming gr is your Glide object.

PS: Hit answered, like, Helpful or Correct depending on the impact of the response.

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

vaibhavdesai — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:28:48 GMT

Hello,

I had same issue once. You can use gr.setWorkflow(false);

Regards,

Vaibhav

PS: Hit answered, like, Helpful or Correct depending on the impact of the response.

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

tahnalos — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 16:06:33 GMT

Thanks Van. Used gr.setWorkflow(false); and it worked like a charm.

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

saschawildg — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:54:09 GMT

To identify the business rules and flows that run on a record when inserting, updating, deleting, displaying or querying the record the DevTools' WhatRuns button comes in handy.

As the name suggests it shows you what runs on a record (including business rules on parent tables).

DevTools contains a truckload of re-usable functions and features for developers.

Fork at will:

https://github.com/saschawildgrube/servicenow-devtools

Re: Stopping business rule processing on background script

Ton ThalesNL — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:40:37 GMT

Important note, the correct method name is, plural:

gr.autoSysFields(false);

Details.. but without the 's' it will not work.