Workflow editor
Summarize
Summary of Workflow editor
The Workflow Editor is a ServiceNow interface designed for creating and modifying workflows by arranging and connecting activities to automate processes. As of the Zurich release, new customers no longer receive legacy workflows; instead, Workflow Studio is the recommended and actively enhanced tool for workflow creation and management. Existing legacy workflows remain editable only for customers who upgraded from previous versions.
Show less
The Workflow Editor supports managing multiple workflows simultaneously, creating custom activities, and utilizing existing activities as data sources. It is accessible to users with the workflowcreator role for creation and the workflowadmin role for full workflow lifecycle management, including modification, deletion, and publishing.
Access and UI Considerations
To open the Workflow Editor, navigate to Workflow > Workflow Editor. Note that the classic Workflow Editor is not fully supported in the Next Experience UI; users should utilize the Core UI for the best interface experience.
Workflow Editor Interface Components
- Welcome Screen: Displays active published workflows, workflows checked out by the current user, and help resources. Provides options to create new workflows.
- Workflow Canvas: The main working area where workflows are created or edited by dragging activities from the palette onto the canvas and configuring transitions.
- Palette Tabs: Organize available activities and subflows into categories such as Workflows, Core activities, Orchestration Packs, Custom activities, and Data outputs (some tabs visible only if the orchestration plugin is installed).
- Title Bar: Shows the workflow’s name and status (e.g., Checked out or Published) and provides controls for configuring, testing, and validating workflows.
Key Features
- Manage multiple workflows on a single screen.
- Create and use custom workflow activities.
- Use existing activities within workflows as data sources.
- Accessibility support through keyboard navigation for users with disabilities.
- Ability to revert the Workflow Editor welcome page to the latest Zurich version if previously customized.
Practical Recommendations for ServiceNow Customers
Customers upgrading to or using the Zurich release should transition to Workflow Studio for new workflow development, as it is the focus for future enhancements. The Workflow Editor remains available for editing existing legacy workflows but is not the preferred tool for new content. For the best user interface experience, especially when working with the classic Workflow Editor, use the Core UI rather than the Next Experience UI.
Ensure your user roles are properly assigned to enable workflow creation and administration capabilities. Familiarize yourself with the canvas and palette interface to efficiently build and customize workflows. If you have customized the welcome page prior to Zurich, consider reverting it to the standard Zurich version for consistency and support.
The Workflow Editor is an interface for creating and modifying workflows by arranging and connecting activities to drive processes.
You can manage multiple workflows in the same screen, create custom workflow activities, and use existing activities as data sources. Users with the workflow_creator role can create workflows. Users with the workflow_admin role can create, modify, delete, and publish workflows.
Welcome screen
The editor opens with the Welcome page, which displays a list of active, published workflows. From this tab, you can open existing workflows, create new workflows, and open help resources related to workflow.
List display filters- Published: Click to view list of published workflows
New Workflow button- Click to create a new workflow
Palette tabs- Workflows: Workflow activities and workflows you can use as subflows.
Navigate to . In the UI page record for workflow_editor_welcome, scroll to the Versions related list. Select the row for the version corresponding to the upgrade to Zurich, right-click and select Revert to this version.
Workflow canvas
After you open or create a new workflow, the system displays the workflow canvas. On the canvas you interact with the Workflow Editor through several different elements: the canvas itself, the canvas tabs, the title bar, the palette, and the palette tabs.
The drawing canvas is where you add activities and configure transitions for checked out workflows. Add an activity by dragging it from the palette to the workflow in the canvas. For more information, see Create a workflow.
- Canvas tabs: Contains tabs for accessing workflows being edited or created.
- Title bar: Displays the workflow name and status. Provides a menu and controls for configuring, testing, and validating workflows.
- Canvas: Provides the working surface for creating new workflows or editing existing ones.
- Palette tabs: Contains tabs for accessing activities being edited or created.
- Palette: Contains all available workflow activities and existing workflows you can use as subflows. Drag activities and subflows to the canvas to create new workflows or edit existing ones.