question Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip in HRSD forum

Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Gabriel Alowa — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:19:10 GMT

Recently Servicenow added a new variable type named attachment and it works great. Here is my question. When that variable is used on the catalog item , it attaches the file in the work note in the case created. That location is different from where the files is attached when using the paper clip . Is here a way to make the new variable attachment add the file to the top of the case as when you use the paper clip?

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Brad Bowman — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 20:43:59 GMT

Hi Gabriel,

I'm personally not a fan of the attachment variable type. There may be something more to this that I'm not aware of, but from what I can see I am absolutely shocked that ServiceNow has implemented it this way. First of all, you can only add one file, and it (almost) replicates existing functionality, so what is the point? And putting the attachment in the Work note instead of where it belongs? Wwwhhhyyy? So much confusion. I've used a Macro variable with this simple XML to create an Attachments button that I can order wherever within the variables, and it opens the same dialog window as the the paper clip, so same functionality, no excessive records on the attachments table, and they appear where you expect them to. This method doesn't work in Service Portal since Macro variables are not supported.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<j:jelly trim="false" xmlns:j="jelly:core" xmlns:g="glide" xmlns:j2="null" xmlns:g2="null">
	
	<button class="request_catalog_button_with_icon btn cat-btn btn-primary" onclick='attach()'>Attachments</button>
		
    <script language="javascript">
        
		function attach() {
			saveCatAttachment(gel('sysparm_item_guid').value, 'sc_cart_item');
		}
		   
    </script>
	<!-- 	</td></tr></table> -->
</j:jelly>

The thing I'm most shocked about is that when you attach your one file on the request form then submit the item, you will see in the sys_attachment table that there are now TWO records for the same file - the very thing they preach against the copy attachment utility - they're unnecessarily bloating the database unbeknownst to most. The ZZ_YYsc_cart_item record serves no purpose and should be deleted when the RITM and it's attachment are created, if they're going to do it that way.

If you prefer the look/functionality of the variable over a UI Macro button, a simple before or after Insert Business Rule on the sys_attachment table should put the attachment where it belongs and should have been in the first place, but there seems to be something in place preventing this from working, so there's more than one way to skin this cat. Create an after Insert Business Rule on the sc_req_item table, with no Filter Conditions. Your script will look like this.

(function executeRule(current, previous /*null when async*/) {
	var attach = new GlideRecord('sys_attachment');
	attach.addQuery('table_name', 'ZZ_YYsc_req_item');
	attach.addQuery('table_sys_id', current.sys_id);
	attach.query();
	while(attach.next()){
		attach.table_name = 'sc_req_item';
		attach.update();
	}
})(current, previous);

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Gabriel Alowa — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:15:19 GMT

Thank you Brad

My intend here was to be able to make that attachment mandatory when some values are selected on the preview variable and when I saw this new attachment variable , I said horah but that was too soon. Do you or anyone found a way to make this paper clip mandatory only for some other variable value on the catalog? In case I have to go back to the paper clip

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Brad Bowman — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:43:55 GMT

Are you using the native UI, Service Portal, or both? Do you have a script to make the variable mandatory under these conditions?

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Gabriel Alowa — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:56:15 GMT

I am using both , I have created catalog UI policy with the catalog UI poly actions to make the variable mandatory . I want to say that I like the look of the new attachment variable but not sure how to properly use the script you provided me with. What table to use.

var attach = new GlideRecord('sys_attachment'); attach.addQuery('table_name', 'ZZ_YYsc_req_item'); attach.addQuery('table_sys_id', current.sys_id); attach.query(); while(attach.next()){ attach.table_name = 'sc_req_item'; attach.update();

Thank you for your help on this

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Ankur Bawiskar — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:04:38 GMT

@Gabriel Alowa

I have shared working solution in this link below

Disable ZZ_YY prefix from attachment when added through record producer

Adding the same here for your reference:

1) I created Async After Insert BR on the sc_req_item table

2) Script as this

a) Remove the ZZ_YY

b) Then use the Copy Attachment functionality

(function executeRule(current, previous /*null when async*/) {

	// Add your code here
	var gr = new GlideRecord("sys_attachment");
	gr.addQuery("table_name", "ZZ_YY" + current.getTableName());
	gr.addQuery("table_sys_id", current.sys_id);
	gr.query();
	if (gr.next()) {
		gr.table_name = current.getTableName();
		gr.update();
		new global.VariableUtil().copy(gr.sys_id, current.getTableName(), current.sys_id); 
	}

})(current, previous);

Regards
Ankur

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Brad Bowman — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:07:51 GMT

This will run after your request form is submitted, and after the RITM has been created, so it runs on the sc_req_item table

I have an onSubmit Catalog Client script that works well in the native UI. It calls a GlideAjax Script Include, then prevents submission if there is not an attachment, so you could apply your criteria to that, but there are different issues with the Service Portal. Nothing insurmountable, but it sounds like it's best to use the Business Rule in your case, and hit me up later if you decide to go back to the paper clip icon.

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Gabriel Alowa — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 18:19:55 GMT

As you can see below I follow instruction from the scrip but it is getting attached only in the ZZ_YY table_name. What Am I missing ? should I change the table name in the scripts?

Thank you

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Brad Bowman — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:23:31 GMT

Yes, change the table name in 2 places in the Business Rule script (once with the ZZ_YY, and once without per the sc_req_item example, then change the Business Rule to run on the sn_hr_core_case_workforce_admin table instead of sc_req_item.

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Ankur Bawiskar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 03:39:49 GMT

@Gabriel Alowa

yes please change it as I have shared in my script if you are referring that.

Regards
Ankur

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when using the paper clip

Lakshmi Royyala — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:26:41 GMT

Hey Brad,

I'm on the same boat. Not a fan of Attachment variable for the reasons you mentioned.

Since Macro's aren't supported on Portal, any ideas on how to replicate the functionality of opening paper clip Add Attachment (SC Catalog Item widget) when clicking on a custom button on portal?

I tried a Macro with Widget and it didn't work.

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

davidpridemore1 — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:56:25 GMT

If anyone else is seeing this in 2023, the VariableUtil.copy() method is now VariableUtil.copyAttachment(). so you'll need to modify this line from:

new global.VariableUtil().copy(gr.sys_id, current.getTableName(), current.sys_id);

to:

new global.VariableUtil().copyAttachment(gr.sys_id, current.getTableName(), current.sys_id);

Not a huge fan of this functionality either, but this will make the BR above work again.

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

deepika46 — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:12:21 GMT

hello ankur,

i have the same query related to attachment variable. The attachment is getting downloaded by admin and not by any ITIL User. Is there any possible troubleshooting i can do to find the cause. I have posted one question also.

Re: Attachment not able to download from RITM - ServiceNow Community

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

deepika46 — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:12:58 GMT

hello Brad,

Re: Attachment not able to download from RITM - ServiceNow Community

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

Peter Williams — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:12:11 GMT

i have two attachment buttons on my form but this code will only work for one of them while the other attachment shows still as ZZ_YY

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

Brad Bowman — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:08:46 GMT

It sounds like you have two records that meet the GlideRecord criteria, so try changing the

if (gr.next()) {

while (gr.next()) {

or else look at the attachment table to see how the record that isn't getting changed differs, then add that as a second GlideRecord query. Also see the update that the copy function in the referenced Script Include has been renamed to copyAttachment.

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

Peter Williams — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:10:44 GMT

i tried that and it causing the attachment to double meaning if i have 2 attachemtns from the two buttons it will be 4 attachment. duplicates

Re: Make the Attachment variable used in the catalog item add the file to the top of case as when us

Peter Williams — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:14:23 GMT

but i think i found the solution for it

here is my updated code

(function executeRule(current, previous /*null when async*/) {
// Add your code here
var attachmentIDs = [];

var gr = new GlideRecord("sys_attachment");
gr.addQuery("table_name", "ZZ_YY" + current.getTableName());
gr.addQuery("table_sys_id", current.sys_id);
gr.query();

// Collect the attachment sys_ids
while (gr.next()) {
attachmentIDs.push(gr.sys_id.toString());
}

// Copy attachments using the collected sys_ids
for (var i = 0; i < attachmentIDs.length; i++) {
var attachment = new GlideRecord("sys_attachment");
if (attachment.get(attachmentIDs[i])) {
new global.VariableUtil().copyAttachment(attachment.sys_id, current.getTableName(), current.sys_id);
}
}
})(current, previous);