question Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code? in ITOM forum

Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

alexthunder — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 21:48:13 GMT

Dear All,

I wonder if someone could point us in the right direction with our challenge.

We are new to ServiceNow development, and making our first attempts ot implement a new Application. We have reeached the Workflows Definition section.

In the Workflow Activity Definition we can see the "Script" part which looks like the source-code written on either Java or JavaScript and it looks like opening the endless possibilities, BUT the questions is - how do we discover what is available from the source code of the script?

Let's say I write "var x =" and then what? What are the functions that are available to be called, what classes are available for making new instance of, what is the content of "this", what is the way to access the record in the database that is the subject of Workflow for the thread of code currently executed, or what is the way to make queries to other database tables?

I gues the general question is - where is the source of knowledge for finding answers to all these questions?

Cheers!

Alex

Experieco

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

Michael Fry1 — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 01:41:06 GMT

Are you referring to the Run Script Workflow Activity? If yes, you can click the arrow on the right of the script box and it will expose the code you can use. Hope that helps.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

alexthunder — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:40:36 GMT

Thank you Michael,

but no - I'm referring to Workflow Activity Definition, which is available under Workflow / Administration / Activity Definitions. I am attempting to create my own Activity which I would hope to be responsible for resolving the values for some data columns based on input provided in other columns of the same record.

In the Workflow Activity Definition form there is no button that you illustrated in your comment.

May be I am approaching it from the wrong angle though. Can you tell me how do I get to the form which is in your screenshot?

Thanks!

Alex

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

rebecca_dias — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:52:47 GMT

Hi Alex,

What version of the platform are you running on? I would recommend using Activity Designer instead of Activity Definitions. Activity Designer provides support for Application Scoping.

The right design patter for Application Development is to use Application Scoping.

Activity Designer allows you to easily create reusable activities with well defined inputs and outputs. Activities created with Activity Designer leverage the Databus. So when you orchestrate activities, you can see the data flow through the system on the live workflow context.

You wont need to think about the code as much in Activity Designer. You have pre-processing scripts for validation of inputs and data transformation before the execution command is run. You have post processing for manipulation of data before outputs.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

Uncle Rob — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:52:47 GMT

Michael is showing the "run script" activity available on the WorkFlow editor, which lets you execute raw javascript as part of the workflow.

What you're talking about is crafting your own activity definition, which I would *not* be doing unless you already had a clear cut use-case for doing so.

Not only because most things can be done via a Run Script that calls a Script Include, but also because custom Workflow Activity Definitions now requires the purchase of the Orchestration suite.

As for what objects you can access from an Activity Definition, you can probably get all that stuff answered via the Scripting in Servicenow training course, which details most of the objects unique to SN.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

rebecca_dias — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:56:40 GMT

Use Run Script when you need access to the scratchpad; otherwise, use the Java Script template in Activity Designer.

The difference between Run Script and Activity Designer is that you have well defined inputs and outputs specific to the purpose of that script. Also, with Activity Designer you have reuse. You can reuse the activity in numerous workflows. You can see where the activity is used in. Even if you don't plan to reuse the activity, for troubleshooting purposes and best design practices, we recommend using Activity Designer. Activities created with Activity Designer give you access to the Databus.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

Uncle Rob — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:07:46 GMT

Is activity designer available without an orchestration license? Sources are telling me no.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

alexthunder — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:10:49 GMT

Thank you Rebecca,

we are using version "F" (Fuji) and we can't seem to be able to find neither Activity Designer nor Application Scoping within the keywords exposed via UI.

Can you give us the tip on where do we click to get there?

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

rebecca_dias — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:12:42 GMT

Yes, Activity Designer requires Orchestration. This thread was in the Orchestration section, so assumed you were working with an external system.

Any external call from Workflow requires Orchestration.

Custom Activity Definitions are traditionally licensed through Orchestration as well. Generally customers use Custom Activity Definitions for the purpose of Orchestration.

If you are using them for something related to work within ServiceNow, then no Orchestration is required.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

rebecca_dias — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:13:09 GMT

You would need to install the Orchestration Plugin. After you install the Orchestration Plugin, you will see the

'Packs', 'Custom', and 'Data' Tabs

Packs are where Orchestration Applications will show up. So if you create a scoped application that wraps SAP for example it will be there. Or if you download a scoped application which includes activities, you will see them there.

'Custom' is where you go to create new activities with Activity Designer.

The Data tab is where you see available data on a workflow you are developing.

See a screenshot where I created numerous workflow activities including ones for Hadoop and Twitter automation.

Re: Workflow Activity Definition - what is evailable from the script code?

Uncle Rob — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:22:20 GMT

In as friendly a way as I can say it, if you guys don't have a firm grasp on Application Scoping in ServiceNow, you should probably not be deploying apps for it.