Conditional filters and operators for indicators and breakdowns

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated October 28, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Conditional filters and operators for indicators and breakdowns

    This content explains how conditional filters and operators function within indicators and breakdowns in ServiceNow's Yokohama release. It highlights best practices for applying filters efficiently to optimize data collection and clarifies operator availability and configuration requirements at different levels—indicator sources, indicators, and data visualizations.

    Show full answer Show less

    Conditional Filters on Indicators and Indicator Sources

    Conditional filters can be applied both on indicator sources and individual indicators. To improve data collection efficiency, apply common conditions at the indicator source level when they affect multiple indicators using the same source. Regularly review indicators and their conditions to ensure no unnecessary data is collected.

    Important limitations include:

    • Conditions referencing Roles must only be applied on indicator sources, not on indicators.
    • If conditions use only dot-walked fields, at least one breakdown must be associated with the indicator.
    • Avoid dot-walking to sysid or display values to reduce costly table joins.

    Unsupported Operators on Indicator Conditions

    Certain operators are not supported when applied directly on indicators but can be used on indicator source conditions. These include:

    • Keywords like greater than field, less than field, greater than or is field, less than or is field
    • "Is one of" and "Is (Dynamic)" operators

    "Is one of" and "Is (Dynamic)" Operators on Breakdown Conditions in Data Visualizations

    When filtering scores by breakdown elements in data visualizations, the availability of "is one of" and "is (dynamic)" operators depends on the indicator's configuration and aggregation method:

    • "Is one of": The aggregation method cannot be AVG or COUNT DISTINCT. This applies to automated indicators and formula indicators. For formula indicators, the option to allow aggregation of multiple breakdown element scores must be enabled.
    • "Is (dynamic)": In addition to the aggregation method restrictions above, the breakdown source field must be a reference field, and the breakdown source requires an elements filter with a dynamic conditional filter configured. Formula indicators must have the aggregation option enabled as well.

    This configuration enables dynamic and flexible filtering of indicator data in visualizations, enhancing reporting capabilities.

    Conditional filters for indicator data cascade from indicator and breakdown sources up to data visualizations. Where conditions are applied can affect data collection efficiency. Some condition operators are only available at some levels, or in some conditions.

    Conditional filters on indicators and indicator sources

    Conditional filters can be applied to both automated indicators and indicator sources. In general, conditions that are applied to all indicators with the same source should be applied on the indicator source. To verify that your conditions are well designed, list the indicators for an indicator source and include the Conditions field in the view. You should have at least one indicator that only uses the conditions on the indicator source. Otherwise, your indicator source is probably collecting unused data. In this case, consider moving common conditions from the indicators to the indicator source, or splitting the indicator source.
    List of indicators for the Incidents.Open indicator source, showing that some do not have conditions on the indicator
    Warning:
    To avoid a data collection job completing with errors, follow these limitations:
    • Do not add a condition that references Roles to an indicator. You can reference the Roles table only in an indicator source.
    • If you define conditions that refer only to dot-walked fields, you must associate at least one breakdown with the indicator.

    In general, try to avoid dot-walking to sys_id or the display value of a table, as doing so creates unnecessary table joins.

    Unsupported operators on indicator conditions

    The following operators are not supported on indicators. You can use these operators on the indicator source conditions instead:
    • keywords
    • greater than field
    • less than field
    • greater than or is field
    • less than or is field

    "Is one of" and "Is (Dynamic)" operators on breakdown conditions in data visualizations

    When you select an indicator data source for a data visualization, you have the option to filter the scores by breakdown element.
    Conditional filter for indicator data source on data visualization.
    The availability of the "is one of" and "is (dynamic)" operators depends on how you configure the indicator. The indicator must support multi-element aggregates. The required configuration settings follow:
    Is one of
    • The aggregation method must not be AVG or COUNT DISTINCT. This requirement applies to automated indicators including the contributing indicators of formula indicators.
    • If the indicator is a formula indicator, the Allow aggregation of multiple breakdown element scores option must be on.
    Is (dynamic)
    • The aggregation method must not be AVG or COUNT DISTINCT. This requirement applies to automated indicators including the contributing indicators of formula indicators.
    • The field in the breakdown source must be a reference field.
    • An elements filter must be defined for the breakdown source, and this elements filter must have a dynamic conditional filter. For an example, see the Me elements filter on an instance. For more information, see Element filters.
    • If the indicator is a formula indicator, the Allow aggregation of multiple breakdown element scores option must be on.