Journal Input and Journal Variable

[RanjaniM]

Can anyone help me to understand the difference between journal input and journal variable

[Thomas Lai]

testing

[SN_Learn]

Hi @RanjaniM ,

Journal Input: Journal Input refers to a field or section within a ServiceNow form where users can provide additional information or updates related to a record. Typically, this field is a rich-text field or a journal field, allowing users to enter free-form text, including formatting, attachments, and timestamps. The Journal Input field serves as a chronological log of activities, comments, and relevant details related to the record.

For example, in an incident management process, the Journal Input field allows IT staff or end-users to provide updates on the incident's progress, add notes, record conversations, or attach relevant documents. Each entry in the Journal Input is timestamped and provides a historical trail of the record's updates.

Journal Variable:
Journal Variables are a specific type of variable that can be used within workflows and ServiceNow activities. They are used to store and manage journal entries programmatically, allowing for automation and processing of journal records.

Journal Variables can be created and manipulated using workflow activities such as "Create Journal Entry," "Add Journal Entry," or "Get Journal Entry." These activities enable developers or workflow designers to dynamically generate or update journal entries as part of an automated process. Journal Variables are particularly useful when you want to programmatically add entries to a record's Journal Input field.

In summary, Journal Variables provide a programmatic interface to create, modify, and retrieve journal entries within workflows, while Journal Input refers to the user-facing field where manual entries and updates are made by users.

Both Journal Input and Journal Variables contribute to the overall tracking and documentation of activities, discussions, and important information associated with a record in ServiceNow.

Links:  Journal Input

Journal 

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[Karan Chhabra6]

HI @RanjaniM ,

Journal fields display all the entries on the form itself, the entries are displayed below the journal field itself. 

On the contrary, Journal Input fields does not display any entries on the form, if you type something in a field which is of journal_input type, after saving the form you will not find that entry anywhere, for this reason, Journal Input type fields are used in conjunction with Journal Lists. 

Journal List displays all the entries which were made on the journal input or journal field

Journal list fields are made dependent on the journal_input type fields, example : the work_notes field on the incident form is of the type journal input

If my answer has helped with your question, please mark it as correct and helpful

Thanks!