Field type display options
Summarize
Summary of Field type display options
ServiceNow administrators can customize how fields display on layouts by specifyingComponent Display Typesin the layout CSV under the Component Display Type column. This flexibility allows tailoring the user interface for different field types such as Text, Boolean, Number, Picklist, and Product Picker to enhance usability and data entry accuracy.
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Field Type Display Options
- Text Fields: Support up to 2000 characters with options for single-line input (Text), multi-line input (TextArea), or read-only display (ReadOnlyText). Additional types include a Date picker and LocationLookup that uses Google Places API for address data.
- Boolean Fields: Accept only True or False values, with customizable labels. Display options include switch (Boolean), square radio buttons (Radio), circular radio buttons (RadioButtons), and checkboxes.
- Number Fields: Accept numeric input with settings for number, currency, or percentage format. Display types include direct input with increment/decrement buttons (Number), input requiring manual submission (NumberWithSubmit), sliders for ranged values, and read-only displays with currency formatting.
- Picklists (Single-select): Allow selection from predefined options. Display types vary from basic dropdowns (Picklist), read-only lists, radio button groups (square or vertical), to visual pickers that show images alongside options.
- Picklists (Multi-select): Support multiple selections shown as checkboxes in horizontal or vertical alignment, extended picklists with additional metadata from Picklist Extension (PLE), and read-only versions. Grids and visual pickers provide enhanced selection interfaces.
- Product Pickers: Specialized picklists designed to add products to bills of materials and map extended product data without custom rules. Available display formats include grid view (ProductPickerGrid) and visual picker with images (VisualProductPicker).
Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers
By leveraging these display options, administrators can:
- Ensure data is entered in the most appropriate format for each field type.
- Improve user experience by selecting intuitive and context-appropriate input controls.
- Display complex data such as products or locations more effectively with visual aids and extended metadata.
- Control user interaction with read-only or editable configurations to maintain data integrity.
This configurability supports better data quality, streamlined workflows, and tailored interfaces aligned with organizational needs.
Field type display options
Users have many display options for the different field types. These are defined in the layout CSV in the Component Display Type column using the values in the parentheses for each type.
The admin uses the Component Display Type column to define how a field will display on a layout. The following types are available.
| Field type | Component display types |
|---|---|
| Text |
ReadOnlyText Text TextArea Date LocationLookup |
| Boolean |
Boolean Radio RadioButtons Checkbox |
| Number |
Number NumberWithSubmit Slider ReadOnlyText ReadOnlyCurrency FormattedNumber |
| Picklist (single-select) |
Picklist ReadOnlyPicklist ExtendedPicklist ExtendedPicklistDisplayOnly Radio RadioButtons VerticalRadio SingleSelectPicklistGrid VisualPicker |
| Picklist (multi-select) |
MultiSelectPicklist MultiSelectExtendedPicklist MultiSelectExtendedPicklistDisplayOnly MultiSelectPicklistGrid MultiSelectVisualPicker Checkbox VerticalCheckbox |
| Product picker |
ProductPickerGrid VisualProductPicker |
Text component display type
Text fields accept a maximum of 2000 entered characters. Administrators can specify minimum and maximum field lengths and a static default value. Text fields can have the following component display types.
Text: A single-line input. Examples demonstrate unpopulated and populated text fields because they are displayed on to the end user.
TextArea: A multi-line input field. The example shows a text area with force-set values populated.
ReadOnlyText: A display-only option. The example shows a text area with a heading and the displayed field details.
Date: A single-line input and searchable calendar option. Users can enter a date or search by using the calendar icon.
LocationLookup: uses the Google Places API to pull address data that can be used for unique location configuration and pricing.
Boolean component display type
Boolean fields only accept two values: True and False. False is the default state. Administrators can specify labels for each state. Unless specified, the default label for True is Enabled, and the default label for False is Disabled.
Boolean: Displays as a switch.
Radio: Displays as square radio buttons.
RadioButtons: Displays as circular radio buttons.
Checkbox: Displays either checked or unchecked.
Number component display type
Numbers fields accept only numeric characters. Administrator must specify whether the field will be used as a number, as currency, or as a percentage. Optional settings include minimum, maximum, and default values. The unit label setting is not used in the application.
Number: Users can enter a number using the keyboard or modify it by using the up and down buttons.
NumberWithSubmit: Users enter the number by using the keyboard and must click the "Apply" button before their input is accepted.
Slider: Users slide through range of available numbers. This field appears only if the field definition has a maximum value.
ReadOnlyText and ReadOnlyCurrency: Display-only options, similar to ReadOnlyText for text fields. ReadOnlyCurrency is a display-only option with currency formatting.
FormattedNumber: Users can enter a number by using the keyboard or modify it by using the up and down buttons. When the field loses focus, it displays in the format defined in the layout CSV.
Picklist component display type (single-select)
Picklists allow only specified options to be selected. Administrator must specify whether the field is single-select or multi-select, and if it is single-select, whether the values should be evaluated as a text fields or a number fields. The administrator can also add field options, set the order, specify a default value, and add picklist extension data.
Picklist:
ReadOnlyPicklist: selection only: the user cannot type and filter options.
Radio: Displays all options in a square label display, making all options visible without the use of a menu.
RadioButtons:
VerticalRadio: Options appear as vertical radio buttons.
Visual Picker: Displays the fieldʼs options using an associated image with a label below the image. Currently selected options are highlighted with a checkmark.
Picklist component display type (multi-select)
Checkbox: Displays options in row format with checkbox selection. multi-select picklists only.
Vertical Checkbox: displays checkbox selection in vertical alignment. multi-select picklists only.
ReadOnlyPicklist: (same as single-select)
MultiSelectPicklist:
Picklist extension (PLE)
ExtendedPicklist and MultiSelectExtendedPicklist: Includes additional details from the PLE and lets users choose from a menu. The example shows that this single-select extended picklist displays details from two columns from the associated PLE. Images can be added to field options.
ExtendedPicklistDisplayOnly, MultiSelectExtendedPicklistDisplayOnly: Includes additional details from the PLE and displays the selection. Options are determined by rule and default options. Not user editable.
SingleSelectPicklistGrid, MultiSelectPicklistGrid, andSingleSelectPicklistGridCheckbox: Includes additional details from the PLE and displays field options in a grid. The Checkbox version lets the end user deselect their option.
Product picker component display type
Product pickers are similar to a picklists with extended data. Product pickers can add products to a bill of materials and map additional data to product list fields, including extended data, without writing standard rules.
ProductPickerGrid: Shows the product picker and its subfields in a grid format, much like a picklist extension.
VisualProductPicker: Shows the product picker and its subfields as a Visual Picker.