Getting Started with Decision Tables - Workflow Automation CoE

Lisa Holenstein · ‎10-24-2022

Workflow Automation CoE > Decision Tables > Getting Started with Decision Builder

What are Decision Tables?

Decision Tables decouple conditional logic from your flows and scripts into business decisions that can be edited in an intuitive interface or exported to, edited in, and imported from MS Excel. This grants process managers the option to edit decisions without needing to touch, commit, and deploy other business logic like flows. Decisions are available directly from flows or any script field on the Now Platform® and can drive your logic and replace complex if-then-else or case/switch constructs for better readability and maintenance.

Who can use Decision Tables?

Decision Tables are available for all levels of developers, including no- and low-coders. When working with Decision Tables, it’s important to consider who will be creating and maintaining the decisions.

For no- and low-coders, decision inputs can be kept simple (String, Decimal, Choice, etc.), while developers who are more experienced can use reference tables as inputs and build conditions based on multiple fields from the same table. This makes it faster to call the decision from flows or scripts later because it requires fewer inputs and you don’t risk asking for data that is not present on that table.

Further along the developer spectrum, you may want to include business process owners who don’t work in ServiceNow at all. Your developers will collect their decision requirements, set up the decision table with inputs, condition columns, and result columns, then export the decision table to Excel, allowing the decision owners to maintain and edit the decisions to be re-imported by the ServiceNow developer later.

How do I get started with Decision Tables?

Decision Tables are available in Workflow Studio for all customers. We recommend to check the Application Manager for the latest version and upgrade regularly.

Step 1: Documentation

Step 2: Training

Step 3: Guidance

& Best Practices

Step 4: Further Resources

Step 1: Documentation

To familiarize yourself with the complete spectrum of Decision Tables features and the newest enhancements in a given release, ServiceNow Docs is the place to go.

Decision Tables in Workflow Studio Docs

Release Highlights

Yokohama

Decision tables in Workflow Studio release notes

Filter condition and result columns in decision tables to show only relevant rows, simplifying large table edits.
Use the lookup icon to select a reference record from the default list view and the info icon to preview the record.
Use the pagination feature to switch between pages by selecting the page you'd like to see.
Activate rows or Deactivate rows to include or exclude the logic in that row while executing the decision tables.

Xanadu

Decision tables in Workflow Studio release notes

Create a decision table inline while authoring a flow or subflow in Workflow Studio.
Use decision tables directly in your playbooks in Workflow Studio. Add the Make a Decision - First
Match activity with inputs from your playbook to manage complex decisions.
In large decision tables, scroll within the table to see more rows.
Rank the order in which decision rows are read in your table, and reorder rows as needed.

Washington DC

Decision Tables in Workflow Studio Washington DC Release Notes

Decision Builder is now integrated into Workflow Studio. Access Decision Builder alongside other powerful tools such as Flow Designer and Playbooks to seamlessly integrate decision tables with workflows.
Duplicate full decision tables under 300 rows or just the decision table structure (inputs and columns) for larger decision tables.
Execute the decision table from any script and make it easier to replace hard-coded logic with decisions by inserting decision table code snippets copied from Decision Builder.
Save time and effort writing decision rules by strategically duplicating rows of your decision table.
View and access related objects that your decision tables are used in.

Step 2: Training

ServiceNow University Learning Paths and Courses

We're currently working on creating a dedicated course for Decision Tables. Meanwhile, you can check out the other available Workflow Automation courses and paths on ServiceNow University (formerly known as NowLearning):

https://sn.works/CoE/Training

Knowledge

CreatorCon is a special program of sessions and training that runs every year during our Knowledge conference. Every year, we get access to new great presentations and courses about our Workflow Automation Products.

Developer Program

Next, request a Personal Developer Instance (PDI) to practice what you learned.

Step 3: Guidance and Best Practices

Whether you’re a first-time implementer or an experienced developer, if you’re only just starting to use the Workflow Automation products, or are looking to migrate off your legacy tech stack, the following resources will help you understand how to best approach using Decision Builder.

Step 4: Further Resources

Developer Program

In addition to PDIs and courses, the developer program publishes blogs, podcasts, and videos about our Workflow Automation products.

Creator Toolbox | Decision Builder Testing and Publishing in Vancouver

Live Coding Happy Hour | Decision Table APIs in Utah

Creator Toolbox | Decision Builder

Live Coding Happy Hour | Decision Builder in San Diego

Community Content

Our greatest asset is YOU. Our ServiceNow community has a wide array of amazing ServiceNow developers, practitioners, admins, and content creators. Thank you!

Article: Smarter Case Assignment Using Decision Tables + Flow Designer (Author: Voona Rohila, Release: Yokohama)

Article: How I Optimized 60+ Inbound Actions to Just 6 Using Decision Tables in ServiceNow (Author: Voona Rohila, Release: Yokohama)

Article: Validate Decision Table result values using Instance Scan (Author: Mark Roethof, Release: Rome)

Platform: Decision Management || Knowledge & Troubleshooting Resources (Author: Maik Skoddow, Release: San Diego)

Article: Populate Service Catalog Variable Choices from a Decision Table (Author: Laszlo Balla, Release: Vancouver)