Knowledge Articles repeatedly 'checked out' with no edits?

[CaitlynD]

I've noticed a few instances of knowledge articles (usually a translated version of an article) being checked out so a new version appears in draft status. I receive the email to say that an article has been checked out but it gives no information as to who has done it. We've also checked the audit and it gives no information. If they were to send the article into review state it would pick up their name at that stage.

I would potentially consider this human error but it is always the same few articles. No edits are ever made that I can see and no one mentions anything when I delete the draft.

So - is there a way I can see who is checking out these articles please and is there anything OOB in ServiceNow that might be causing this?

[G Ponsekar]

Hi @CaitlynD ,

There is a field "Revised by" in article from which you can get to know who checked out article

If I could help you with your Query then, please hit the Thumb Icon and mark as Correct !!

Thanks, GP

[CaitlynD]

Hi GP

This is usually the case but the Revised by is coming up either blank or as system.

[Shashank_Jain]

@CaitlynD ,

OOB: There’s no automatic process that checks out articles — it’s almost always a user or integration.

Where to look for who checked out the article

1. Audit History

   • By default, ServiceNow audits changes to kb_knowledge, but checkout itself doesn’t always leave a clear "checked out by" stamp.

   • Check the audit history (System Diagnostics > Debug > Audit History) for the article record — sometimes the "updated by" will reveal who initiated the checkout.

2. Article Versions (kb_knowledge_version)

   • Each draft/checked-out version is stored in kb_knowledge_version.

   • This table has a sys_created_by field that tells you who created that draft.

   • You can query:

     table: kb_knowledge_version filter: knowledge = [article sys_id]

     → check sys_created_by.

3. System Logs

   • System Logs > All or a business rule log will capture when a record is written.

   • Filter on kb_knowledge or kb_knowledge_version.

Hope it helps!

[CaitlynD]

Thank you - I'll pass this information on to be checked. Will this information still show if I've deleted the drafts please?