--- sourceDocument: Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform Administration sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/platform-administration Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich ServiceNow AI Platform Administration ft:clusterId : - platadm bundleId : - platadm workflow : - Platform --- # Exploring tables # Exploring ServiceNow AI Platform tables {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Zurich Updated July 31, 2025 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) 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 Exploring ServiceNow AI Platform tables The ServiceNow AI Platform® organizes data and processes using a table-based structure, including pre-built tables for common IT service management (ITSM) needs such as Incident, Problem, and CMDB. Tables can be extended to create parent-child relationships, enabling flexible data modeling and management. Data within these tables can be imported and exported in formats like CSV and XML. Show full answer Show less ## Table Administration Administrators play a central role in managing tables by creating custom tables tailored to business requirements, defining field properties, establishing relationships between tables, and extending existing tables without altering the originals. They also set access controls to ensure secure data handling, define business rules, and maintain table cleanliness by removing outdated records. The administration workflow includes: * Viewing and understanding table relationships and extensions. * Creating custom parent and child tables to extend functionality. * Defining access controls for data security. * Importing and exporting data to and from core and custom tables. ## Key Features and Benefits * **Model and Entity Relationships:** Define complex relationships across multiple tables to support diverse applications. * **Data Dictionary Tables:** Access detailed visual references of tables, columns, and field labels for better data understanding. * **Table Management:** Create, index, and delete custom tables to optimize your instance's data structure. * **Many-to-Many Relationships:** Link lists of multiple entries effectively, enhancing data connectivity. * **Task Table Management:** Organize and handle task-related data efficiently. * **Reporting Integration:** Use database views to connect tables for comprehensive reporting. ## Custom Tables and Table Relationships Custom tables allow you to extend the platform's functionality and build bespoke applications. Relationships between tables can be created via extensions, references, many-to-many connections, or database views. Table extension lets child tables share fields and records with parent tables, enabling inheritance and streamlined data management. Note that table extensions are defined only during table creation. ## Additional Concepts Storage aliases facilitate data manipulation and field creation, contributing to flexible data structuring within the platform. ## Practical Actions for ServiceNow Customers * Use table administration tools to customize and extend core tables without impacting original data structures. * Implement access controls to secure sensitive data and comply with organizational policies. * Leverage data import/export capabilities for data integration and migration tasks. * Create many-to-many relationships to model complex business scenarios. * Utilize database views for enhanced reporting across related tables. Applications use tables and records to manage data and processes, such as Incident, Problem, and CMDB. Tables can extend other tables, creating parent tables and child tables. ## Table administration overview {#exploring-table-administration__section_jdy_4z4_4xb} The ServiceNow AI Platform® uses a table-based data structure to store and organize information. Pre-built tables are included for common IT service management (ITSM) processes, with their data fully importable and exportable in CSV, XML, or other formats. ## Table administration users {#exploring-table-administration__cf-exploring-parent-users} {#exploring-table-administration__table_xtm_sly_hcc__entry__2} | User | Description | |-|-| | Administrator | Admins can create custom tables for specific business requirements, define field properties, create relationships between tables, and extend existing tables without modifying the originals. Administrators also define access controls to allow only approved user access to records, business rules for various tasks, and table cleanup policies for unused and outdated records. | [Table 1. Users] {#exploring-table-administration__table_xtm_sly_hcc} ## Table administration workflow {#exploring-table-administration__cf-exploring-parent-workflow} This infographic depicts how an administrator can extend both core tables and custom tables. Figure 1. Extending core tables and custom Tables 1. An administrator views table relationships and learns how table extension works on the ServiceNow AI Platform®. 2. The administrator creates a custom parent table and extends it by creating a custom child table. 3. The administrator defines access controls to restrict access to each table. 4. The administrator exports and imports data to core and custom tables as needed. {#exploring-table-administration__cf-exploring-parent-workflow-ol} ## Table administration benefits {#exploring-table-administration__section_hvn_p4y_mxb} {#exploring-table-administration__table_ivn_p4y_mxb__entry__3} | Benefit | Feature | Users | |-|-|-| | Define models and entity relationships across multiple tables. | [Data dictionary tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hQZaxbA1FiLUSueIWlYdDw "Access details related to tables, columns, and field labels in your instance.") | Admin | | Access visual references for tables and their contents. | [Viewing table references and extensions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5G4qt1iyiMJ8QvCBfr4Z4A "View table relationships in a visual manner using the schema map.") | Admin | | Store records for your instance. | [Create a table](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pbSAtv52AHeaCKvzblBTNA "Administrators and application developers can create custom tables to store application data. After you create a table, you can also modify field types and field labels.") | Admin | | Remove unneeded tables from your instance. | [Deleting custom tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Rh0XVw5io8Ihssz7cINaag "Administrators can delete custom tables that are no longer needed. For example, delete a table from an application that is under development because the business requirements change.") | Admin | | Quickly find data stored in a table. | [Create a table index](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ldsAemQesT05ow21fNh4Yw "Build indexes to access the data held in your tables more easily.") | Admin | | Connect a list to another list of multiple entries instead of a single field. | [Create a many-to-many table relationship](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/j6SzWoC9MalcjpkIpUAdbg "Create a bi-directional relationship between two tables, so that the related records are visible from both tables in a related list.") | Admin | | Organize and store task-related data. | [Working with the Task table](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pbY_GL5t73tDyNurYGIWUA "The Tasks [task] table is one of the core tables provided with the base system.") | Admin | | Connect tables for reporting purposes. | [Working with database views for reporting](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/7o6ByLwpjtaSopOAS9XVZg "A database view defines table joins for reporting purposes.") | Admin | [ ] {#exploring-table-administration__table_ivn_p4y_mxb} ## What to explore next {#exploring-table-administration__cf-exploring-parent-links} To learn more about using table administration features, see: * [Managing tables and indexes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3PA35ZN9sHu9KKfNy5rByQ "Administrators can modify the database structure using table administration tools.") * [Working with the Task table](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pbY_GL5t73tDyNurYGIWUA "The Tasks [task] table is one of the core tables provided with the base system.") * [Working with database views for reporting](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/7o6ByLwpjtaSopOAS9XVZg "A database view defines table joins for reporting purposes.") {#exploring-table-administration__ul_b5m_sly_hcc} * **[Custom tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hyP_BSu56Mr8Tl6FDQk6VA)** Custom tables enable you to expand the functionality of the ServiceNow AI Platform and create custom applications. * **[Data dictionary tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hQZaxbA1FiLUSueIWlYdDw)** Access details related to tables, columns, and field labels in your instance. * **[System dictionary](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NoVrPki30seh2GazFC6Bog)** View a list of all tables in columns in your instance from the system dictionary. * **[Table relationships](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BhZ9OxJuPdRYr_xQy70cmQ)** You can create relationships between tables by extending tables, referencing records in another table, creating many-to-many relationships, and joining tables in a database view. * **[Table extension and classes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BUxyXK477Tqn8ccS0fkp5A)** Enable one or more child tables to share fields and records with a parent table. Administrators and application developers can only extend tables during table creation. * **[Storage aliases](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/lX3kBaBb6LVYzvNVsyXXcw)** Learn about the role storage aliases play in data manipulation and field creation in the ServiceNow AI Platform.