Advanced Instruction activity

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 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 Advanced Instruction activity

    The Advanced Instruction activity allows ServiceNow users to present detailed guidance to end users within a playbook. This activity is designed to enhance user experience by clearly communicating instructions and facilitating interaction during playbook execution.

    Show full answer Show less

    It is available as a common activity and can be added to playbooks by users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles.

    Key Features

    • Input Configuration: Users configure the activity through various inputs such as labels, descriptions, run conditions, and scheduling rules. These inputs help define when and how the activity runs within the playbook.
    • Scheduling Options: Activities and stages can start based on conditions like when the process starts, after specific stages or activities finish, or with a delay. This flexibility allows precise control over playbook flow.
    • User Interaction: The activity can pause the playbook to wait for manual completion or skipping by end users, enabling interactive guidance. Only users with the playbook.admin role can modify this behavior.
    • Advanced Inputs: Additional options include assigning tasks to specific groups or users, and customizing the header tagline and footer text displayed to end users. These inputs enhance task management and user communication.
    • Outputs: The activity outputs a reference to the task record associated with it, allowing subsequent activities in the playbook to access and use this data effectively.

    Practical Use for ServiceNow Customers

    This activity is essential for customers aiming to improve end-user guidance within their playbooks by providing clear, actionable instructions at appropriate stages. By configuring run conditions and scheduling rules, customers can automate when instructions appear, ensuring timely and relevant communication.

    The ability to pause for user input supports scenarios requiring confirmation or data entry before proceeding, maintaining control over the process flow. Assigning responsibility for tasks through group and user references streamlines workflow management and accountability.

    Overall, integrating the Advanced Instruction activity in playbooks enhances clarity, control, and collaboration, leading to more effective and user-friendly process automation.

    Display detailed instructions to guide end users through your playbook.

    Roles and availability

    This activity is available as a common activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pd_author can add this activity to a playbook.

    Inputs

    Open the activity properties panel and configure your activity to add values for the following inputs. If the input value varies, use the pill-picker to show where to get the value. To learn more about the pill-picker, see Dot-walking examples.
    Input Type Description
    Label String Title to display as activity and playbook card.
    Description String Information to display about activity usage or outcome.
    Run condition Condition Builder Conditions that must be met to run an activity or stage. You can use data from prior activities to build conditions.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Start Rule Choice Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your stage should start running:
    • When process starts: Your stage starts running as soon as the playbook starts.
    • After specific stages: Your stage starts running after specified stage(s) have finished running.
    Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your activity should start running:
    • When stage starts: Your activity starts running as soon as its stage starts running. Your stage starts running when your playbook is triggered.
    • After specific activities: Your activity starts running after specified activities have finished running.
    Start with delay True/False Option to wait for a duration of time before running an activity or stage. When enabled, this input displays the Start with delay input properties.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Title String Title displayed to end users.
    Description String Details to display in the message to end users.
    Wait for user input Choice Option to pause the playbook until the end user manually completes or skips the activity. Only users with the playbook.admin role can edit this field. By default, the activity waits for user action or data before it completes.

    Advanced inputs

    After configuring the required inputs for your activity, you can also choose to configure additional inputs. In the side panel, select Show additional options to display these advanced inputs. For more information, see Activity experience.
    Input Type Description
    Assignment Group Reference.Group [sys_user_group] Group responsible for completing the task associated with the activity.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Assigned To Reference.User [sys_user] User responsible for completing the task associated with the activity.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Tagline String Header tagline to display to end users.
    Footer String Footer text to display to end users.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.

    Outputs

    These outputs can provide data to other activities in your playbook. You can access this data as activity inputs when you configure your activity:
    Output Type Description
    Record Reference.Task [task] Reference to the record associated with the activity.