I am confused that, why can't we use dot-walking instead of Ajax call to auto populate fields?

[rkreddy]

Hi Everyone,

I have a doubt that, when I want to populate Manager, Department, Title or some other fields depending on some reference field( which is referring to user table), why can't we use Dot-walking instead of GlideAjax. For example I have a Requested for field on form referring to user table, and I have Manager, Title fields which needs to be auto populated depending on Requested for field. Here Can I user dot-walking instead of GlideAjax?

Thanks.

[AbhishekGardade]

Hello rkreddy,

Use of GlideAjax and dot walking a fields are two different things. 

1. In your case mentioned above, yes we can use dot-walking and show the values on form. But lets consider you don't have read access of user table fields. Here you wont see the dot-walk fields values. So you need to use glideajax and store the values in fields created to store Manager, Department, Title or some other field.

2. When you have variable called Requested For on catalog form. Will you able to dot walk on portal /service Catalog ? No, In this case, you need to use glideAjax and then you can store the values into variables created.

3. GlideAjax is used to peform Server Side scripting and perform operation based on what input you are receiving from client side scripting. Because we cant use server code in client side scripts.

For example, when you want to set some values based on the logic implemented on Script Include and based on return values, you want to set some values on form. here you need to use GlideAjax and not the dot-walking. Because it wont help at all.

There are various use and use cases depend on we can decide when to use GlideAjax and Dot-walking of Fields.

Please mark as Correct Answer and Helpful, if applicable.
Thank You!
Abhishek Gardade
ServiceNow MVP 2020

[AbhishekGardade]

@rkreddy ,

Can we close this thread by marking correct answer if your issue got resolved? If not, please let me know so we can help you on that.

Thank you,

-Abhishek Gardade