Create Task activity

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Create Task activity

    The Create Task activity enables you to generate a task record from pre-existing or dynamically gathered data within a playbook. This activity is commonly available and can be added by users with admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles. It provides a structured way to assign, track, and manage tasks as part of automated workflows.

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    Inputs

    Configure the activity through its properties panel, specifying key inputs to tailor task creation and behavior:

    • Label and Description: Define the title and explanatory text for the activity's display.
    • Run condition: Set conditions that determine when the activity or stage runs, using data from prior steps.
    • Start Rule: Choose when the playbook stage or activity begins, either at process start or after specific stages or activities complete, with optional delays.
    • Assigned To: Designate the user responsible for completing the task.
    • Short Description: Provide a summary for the task.
    • Wait for user input: Optionally pause the playbook until a user completes or skips the activity (editable by playbook.admin role only).

    Advanced Inputs

    Additional configuration includes:

    • Assignment Group for this Process Step: Specify the group authorized to perform the activity, controlling access to task data.
    • Assigned to this Process Step: Specify individual users allowed to perform the activity, further refining access.
    • Both assignment fields default to the parent record’s Assignment Group and Assigned To, ensuring consistent access permissions.
    • Task Table: Select the task table extension where the task will be created; the activity completes when this task completes.
    • Field values: Define task fields and their values upon creation.
    • Fields to show after creation: List fields to display for the created task record.
    • Wait for Task completion: Optionally pause the playbook until the created task is marked complete.

    Outputs

    This activity provides outputs that can be used as inputs in subsequent playbook activities:

    • Table: The name of the table containing the new task record.
    • Record: A reference to the created task record.

    Practical Benefits

    ServiceNow customers can leverage the Create Task activity to automate task generation within playbooks, ensuring tasks are assigned, tracked, and completed in a controlled manner. Access controls through assignment fields enable secure collaboration and data editing. The ability to pause playbooks based on user input or task completion improves workflow accuracy and timing.

    Create a task record from previously gathered or generated data.

    Roles and availability

    This activity is available as a common activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pd_author can add this activity to a playbook.

    Inputs

    Open the activity properties panel and configure your activity to add values for the following inputs. If the input value varies, use the pill-picker to show where to get the value. To learn more about the pill-picker, see Dot-walking examples.
    Input Type Description
    Label String Title to display as activity and playbook card.
    Description String Information to display about activity usage or outcome.
    Run condition Condition Builder Conditions that must be met to run an activity or stage. You can use data from prior activities to build conditions.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Start Rule Choice Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your stage should start running:
    • When process starts: Your stage starts running as soon as the playbook starts.
    • After specific stages: Your stage starts running after specified stage(s) have finished running.
    Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your activity should start running:
    • When stage starts: Your activity starts running as soon as its stage starts running. Your stage starts running when your playbook is triggered.
    • After specific activities: Your activity starts running after specified activities have finished running.
    Start with delay True/False Option to wait for a duration of time before running an activity or stage. When enabled, this input displays the Start with delay input properties.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Assigned To Reference.User [sys_user] User responsible for completing the task associated with the activity.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Short Description String Summary of the task to complete.
    Wait for user input Choice Option to pause the playbook until the end user manually completes or skips the activity. Only users with the playbook.admin role can edit this field. By default, the activity waits for user action or data before it completes.

    Advanced inputs

    After configuring the required inputs for your activity, you can also choose to configure additional inputs. In the side panel, select Show additional options to display these advanced inputs. For more information, see Activity experience.
    Input Type Description
    Assignment Group for this Process Step Reference.Group [sys_user_group] Assignment group allowed to perform this playbook activity. If you don't set any values for Assignment Group or Assigned To, any user can read and edit the collected data. The Assignment group and Assigned to fields limit who has access to do so. To specify only individual users, use the Assigned To field. The same users do not need to be specified in both fields.
    Note:
    By default, these fields are mapped to the Assignment Group and Assigned To fields of the trigger record. This means that users assigned to work on the parent record have access to submit, view and edit the collected data by default.
    Assigned to this Process Step Reference.User [sys_user] User allowed to perform this playbook activity. If you don't set any values for Assignment Group or Assigned To, any user can read and edit the collected data. The Assignment group and Assigned to fields limit who has access to do so. To specify only individual users, use the Assigned To field. The same users do not need to be specified in both fields.
    Note:
    By default, these fields are mapped to the Assignment Group and Assigned To fields of the trigger record. This means that users assigned to work on the parent record have access to submit, view and edit the collected data by default.
    Task Table Table Name Name of the task table extension in which you want to create a task. The activity completes when this task is complete.
    Field values Choice The field that you want to add to your task.
    Add Field Template Value Field values to assign when creating the task record.
    Fields to show after creation String Comma-separated list of fields to display for a created record.
    Wait for Task completion True/False Pause the playbook until the created Task record is complete.

    Outputs

    These outputs can provide data to other activities in your playbook. You can access this data as activity inputs when you configure your activity:
    Output Type Description
    Table Table Name Table containing new record.
    Record Reference.Task[task] Reference to record created.