---
sourceDocument: Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/xanadu/servicenow-platform

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities

ft:clusterId :

    - platcap

bundleId :

    - platcap

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Administering workflow contexts

# Administering workflow contexts {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

The workflow context performs the activities and transitions defined in the workflow
with the new record as current.
Workflow in ServiceNow names a running workflow a Workflow Context. The Workflow Context
maintains the state of the overall process in the Workflow Context record. The Workflow
Context maintains the state of the individual activities as they execute in a series of
related lists. These lists maintain the state of currently executing activities, the result
of finished activities, and the execution path the workflow took through the process model.

The Workflow Context canvas provides a visual representation of the execution path the
workflow took through the process model. The state of each activity (finished, executing,
cancelled, error) is represented using the color palette. The executed paths are represented
in the color blue; the non-executed paths are represented in grey. Active and historic
workflow contexts, as well as the activities within them, can be viewed using the Live
Workflows section of the Workflow application menu.

## Viewing a workflow context

Workflow contexts can be found in two places:

* From the Workflow Context related link on the form of the task being powered by the workflow.
* By navigating to WorkflowAll Contexts and selecting an active context.
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## Displaying workflow progress

Two related links on the Workflow Context form allow you to view the progress of a workflow in different formats.

* Show Timeline displays the workflow context as a [timeline](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/LrpaNarmWKHv4p3AUcPmmA#c_WorkflowTimelines "The system provides a timeline view of history activities associated with a workflow context.").
* Show Workflow displays the workflow context in the graphical Workflow Editor.
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## Graphical interface

To view the workflow context in the graphical Workflow Editor interface, click the Show Workflow link from either the workflow context record or the current record.Figure 1. Show workflow  
In the top right hand corner are two controls:

|-|-|
| ![Refresh icon]() | Refreshes the workflow context. |
| ![Color key icon]() | Displays a key of the colors used in the workflow to denote the state of activities and transitions: |
[ ]

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## Execution order {#r_AdministeringWorkflowContexts__section_lhs_b11_2cb}

View tooltip text in the workflow context graphical view to see the execution order of
individual activities.

In WorkflowLive WorkflowsActive Contexts or All Contexts, Open the context you want to
examine. Click Show Workflow, and point to a finished or executing
activity. The tooltip shows error data, execution time, and the order in which the activity
executed in the workflow. Use this data to help troubleshoot activities in an error
state.  
Figure 2. Execution order workflow
* **[Cancel a workflow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uLkvxahpHblfuKKUYlzpaQ#t_CancelingAWorkflow)**   
  Canceling a workflow stops the workflow from executing and sets the workflow context State to Canceled. To cancel an executing workflow, you can use the cancelContext(context) script. You can define an onCancel script to clean up unresolved workflow activities.

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