--- sourceDocument: Yokohama Build workflows sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/build-workflows Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama Build workflows ft:clusterId : - crworkflow bundleId : - crworkflow workflow : - Creator --- # Create a data gathering action for a dynamic inputs type input # Create a data gathering action for a dynamic inputs type input {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Yokohama * * Updated January 30, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Create a data gathering action to create arbitrary action inputs using a dynamic inputs type input. ## Before you begin Role required: admin Note: Dynamic inputs are not available in the base system. To use dynamic inputs in Workflow Studio, you must Request an Integration Hub plugin. ## Procedure 1. Navigate to AllProcess AutomationFlow Designer. 2. Select Create newAction. 3. In the Action name field, enter a name for your action, choose the proper Application scope, and then select Submit. 4. **Optional:** From the Action Outline, select Inputs. You may need to create one or more inputs to provide data for your dynamic inputs. For example, create a String input to store a table name. See [Create a data gathering action to add dynamic inputs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OLM0VkZwCTb6TjmQu~~kjg#create-data-gathering-action-to-add-dynamic-inputs "Create a data gathering action to add a reference type dynamic input.") for instructions. 5. In the Action Outline under the Inputs section, select the add a new step icon (![Add a new step icon]()) and select the Script step. 1. **Optional:** From Input Variables, select Create Variable, and create an input variable to store any action input values. For example create an input variable to store a table name, and map it to the matching action input. 2. In Script, enter a script to create a JSON output from the input variable. Your script needs to do these tasks. Create a new JSON object formatted for an action input : You must know the data structure of an action input to create a dynamic input. Your script must create a JSON object that has a property named `data`. The value of the data property must be an array of dynamic inputs. Each dynamic input must has its own required and optional properties. This example script sets an outputs variable named data. There is a property for each type of dynamic input available. (function execute(inputs, outputs) { outputs.data = { data: [{ label: 'Choice type input', name: 'choicetype', defaultValue: 'choice_1', type: "choice", choices: [ { label: "Choice 1", value: "choice_1" }, { label: "Choice 2", value: "choice_2" } ] }, { label: 'Datetime type input', name: 'datetimetype', type: 'datetime', }, { label: 'Decimal type input', name: 'decimaltype', type: 'decimal', }, { label: 'Email type input', name: 'emailtype', type: 'email', }, { label: 'HTML type input', name: 'htmltype', type: 'html', }, { label: 'Integer type input', name: 'integertype', type: 'integer', }, { label: 'Password2 type input', name: 'password2type', type: 'password2', }, { label: 'Reference type input', name: 'referencetype', reference: 'sys_user', type: 'reference', }, { label: 'String type input', name: 'stringtype', defaultValue: 'abcdef', type: 'string', mandatory: true }] } })(inputs, outputs); Note: A dynamic inputs type input can only support 40 input values before it risks running out of memory and producing unexpected behavior such as rendering errors and data truncation. Set the outputs object : Set the outputs object to return the dynamic inputs as a JSON object. See [Create a data gathering action to add dynamic inputs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OLM0VkZwCTb6TjmQu~~kjg#create-data-gathering-action-to-add-dynamic-inputs "Create a data gathering action to add a reference type dynamic input.") for an example of creating an output for a Reference field type action input. 3. From Output Variables, select Create Variable. This output variable stores the dynamic inputs your script creates. 4. For the output variable type, select JSON. The script output variable type must be JSON. {#create-data-gathering-action-dynamic-inputs__substeps_ymx_zp3_mxb} 6. In the Action Outline, select Outputs 1. Select Create Output. 2. Set the output label and name output. 3. Set the output type to JSON. Note: The action can have multiple outputs, but there can only be one of type JSON. 4. Select Exit Edit Mode. 5. Next to the Value field, select the data pill picker (![Data pill picker]()) and then select Script step output variable you created to store dynamic inputs. {#create-data-gathering-action-dynamic-inputs__substeps_dd5_yw3_mxb} 7. Click Save and [test the action](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/TuBmyE6~uJFlJjCUaV3MmA "Test an action before publishing it for other users."). In the execution details, your data gathering action runs successfully if the runtime value for `output` contains the `data` property in the proper format. 8. Click Publish to make the action available to other flows or actions within the same application scope. ## Result You can now use your data gathering action to add arbitrary action inputs to a parent action. **Related tasks** * [Get started with dynamic inputs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OLM0VkZwCTb6TjmQu~~kjg#getting-started-dynamic-input "Create a sample action that illustrates using all available types of dynamic inputs in a flow.") * [Create a data gathering action for a dynamic choice](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cjIgPUIe6Udo_8vMGcSmQw "Create a data gathering action to generate a list of choice options for a dynamic choice input.") * [Create a data gathering action for a dynamic template](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/nv69t~CqfBYBIIEJYQVZvw "Create a data gathering action to collect record field values for a dynamic template input.") **Related reference** * [Dynamic input configuration options](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/yaYj3xVPo_9B~J9It~qXqA "Use these options to configure dynamic inputs.") *[\>]: and then