Workflow drawing canvas keyboard commands

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Workflow Drawing Canvas Keyboard Commands

    ServiceNow's Workflow Editor allows users to efficiently navigate and operate the workflow drawing canvas using keyboard commands. This feature enhances productivity by streamlining the workflow design process without relying solely on a mouse.

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    Key Features

    • Select Workflow Actions: Use Tab to highlight the context menu and Enter to open it. Navigate with the down arrow to select commands.
    • Set Workflow Properties: Press Tab to access and modify general workflow properties.
    • Navigation Between Activities: Use Tab or arrow keys to move between activity boxes, though the sequence may vary based on complexity.
    • Edit Activity: Select an activity box with Enter to enter Edit mode for accessing properties and options.
    • Add Conditions: Access Condition Properties within an activity box to specify conditions.
    • Create Connections: Use the Node conditional context menu to link activities or delete existing connections.
    • Add Activities: Select Node conditional port options to add core or custom activities.
    • Move Activity Boxes: Use arrow keys to reposition selected activity boxes, holding Shift for finer adjustments.
    • Validate and Run Workflows: Validate with Tab and Enter, and run workflows as permitted by database table conditions.
    • Close and Publish Workflows: Use Tab to navigate and Enter to close the canvas or publish the workflow.
    • Jump to Top: Press Enter at the bottom of the canvas to quickly return to the top.

    Key Outcomes

    By mastering these keyboard commands, ServiceNow customers can navigate the Workflow Editor more efficiently, speeding up workflow design and management. This facilitates a more streamlined user experience, allowing for quicker adjustments and validations, ultimately enhancing overall productivity in workflow management tasks.

    Use keyboard commands to navigate and operate the Workflow Editor canvas.


    Workflow Editor Drawing Canvas - Tab Sequences / Elements
    Task or Action Keyboard Commands
    Select Workflow Actions menu command (for example, Validate Workflow or Publish Workflow)
    1. Press Tab until the context menu () is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open the context menu.
    3. Use the down arrow key to move to the command, then press Enter to select it.
    Set general workflow properties
    1. Press Tab until Information icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open Workflow Properties.
    Navigate from activity box to activity box. Simply press Tab or use the arrow keys (right, left, up and down) to navigate from activity to activity within the workflow.
    Note:
    Depending on the complexity and number of activity boxes in the workflow, the sequence of navigation is not always predictable. Depending on how you are navigating within the workflow, the navigation sequence is generally (but not always) row-by-row, and focus is usually placed on the nearest activity box.
    Modify a selected activity.
    1. Navigate to the activity box, then press Enter to select it and place it in Edit mode. When you select an activity box, it appears as highlighted.
    2. Once in Edit mode, use Tab to move around within the activity box to change or access elements such as:
      • Activity Properties ()
      • Title
      • Node context menu
      • Delete Node ()
      • Condition Properties ()
      • Node conditional context menu ()
      • Node conditional port options ()
      Note:
      All elements in a selected activity are only accessible when working with a checked out workflow. When working with a published workflow, you can only access its activity properties and title,
    3. Press Enter to select an element, or press Esc to escape an element without making changes.
    Add a condition to an activity.
    1. Within an activity box, select Condition Properties icon to access Condition Properties.
    2. In Condition Properties, specify the conditions for the activity.
    Create a connection from a condition on one activity to the next activity that follows
    1. Within an activity box, select Node conditional context menu ().
    2. Select Link to... to create a connection to the next activity box that follows, or select Delete to delete an existing connection.
    Add a core or custom activity
    1. Within an activity box, select Node conditional port options ().
    2. Select Add Core Activity to access Workflow Activity Definitions to add a new core activity, or select Add Custom Activity to add a custom activity to the workflow.
    Move an activity box
    1. Press Tab to navigate to the activity box, enter press Enter to select it.
    2. Use the arrow keys to move the activity box. To move the activity box one pixel at a time, press Shift while using the arrow keys.
    Validate a workflow
    1. Press Tab until Validate icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to validate the workflow.

    You can also select Validate from the Workflow Actions menu.
    Run a workflow
    1. Press Tab until Run icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to run the workflow.
    Note:
    If the workflow is tied to a database table, this function is disabled. The workflow runs when the proper table conditions are activated (for example, insertion of a new record into the table).
    Close workflow drawing canvas
    1. Press Tab until Close icon (on the right side of the tab that contains the name of the workflow) appears.
    2. Press Enter to close the canvas.
    Publish a workflow
    1. Press Tab until the context menu () is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open the context menu.
    3. Use the down arrow key to move to the Publish command, then press Enter to select it.
    Jump to Top After tabbing through the entire workflow, The Jump to top button appears at the bottom of the listing. Press Enter to jump to the top of the Workflow drawing canvas.