Combined Automated Test Framework release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated August 11, 2026
  • 7 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 Combined Automated Test Framework release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich

    This document consolidates the Automated Test Framework (ATF) release notes for ServiceNow upgrades from the Xanadu release family through Zurich. It highlights key new features, activation instructions, browser requirements, and practical upgrade guidance. The summary is designed to help you prepare and successfully upgrade your ATF environment while understanding enhancements and operational considerations introduced in these releases.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Reusable Tests (Yokohama): Enables modular test design by creating reusable test components to reduce duplication and simplify managing large test sets. Reusable tests are accessible via a dedicated test step category and support data passing through input and output variables.
    • Quick Start Tests (Yokohama and Zurich): Provides prebuilt tests that validate your instance after upgrades or configuration changes. These tests require customization with your instance-specific data to produce meaningful pass results beyond base system demo data.
    • ATF Failure Insights (Zurich): Introduces actionable insights to help troubleshoot and resolve test failures more efficiently.
    • Configurable Workspace (Zurich): Simplifies test creation by allowing direct interaction with UI components via the Page Inspector on Configurable Workspace pages.

    Activation and Usage

    ATF is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature active by default. However, to safeguard production environments, the system property controlling test execution (snatf.runner.enabled) is disabled by default and should be enabled only on development or test instances.

    To use quick start tests, activate the plugin associated with the target application. Enabling the ATF Test Generator and Cloud Runner requires setting the snatf.runner.enabled property to True.

    Browser and Platform Support

    • ATF supports running tests exclusively on desktop browsers; mobile and tablet browsers, including the mobile UI, are not supported for test execution.
    • Test design is limited on tablets due to component retrieval restrictions; custom UI test steps must be created on desktops.
    • Some desktop browsers may require additional configuration to function optimally with ATF.

    Upgrade Considerations

    • Review pre- and post-upgrade tasks carefully to ensure smooth transition to Zurich.
    • Use quick start tests as templates to validate instance functionality after upgrades and customizations.
    • Expect no removals, deprecations, or breaking changes to ATF features between Xanadu and Zurich, facilitating a stable upgrade experience.

    Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Reduce manual testing effort by automating test design, execution, and maintenance.
    • Improve test reliability and instance stability by rolling back test data after runs.
    • Accelerate upgrade and development cycles through reusable tests and quick start templates.
    • Gain faster failure resolution with ATF failure insights introduced in Zurich.

    Consolidated page of all release notes for Automated Test Framework from Xanadu to Zurich.

    How to use this page

    To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Automated Test Framework release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Xanadu to Zurich.

    Tip:
    If there were no updates for a release notes section in a certain family release, we included a short note for your reference. For example, if a product did not have any updates in Tokyo, the row says "No updates for this release."

    Important information for upgrading Automated Test Framework to Zurich

    Before you upgrade to Zurich, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    Copy and customize quick start tests provided by the ServiceNow AI Platform® to validate that your instance works after you make any configuration changes. For example, if you apply an upgrade or develop an application.

    The tests can produce a pass result only when you run them on a base system without any customizations and with the default demo data that is provided with the application or feature plugin. To apply a quick start test to your instance-specific data, copy the quick start test and add your custom data. For more information, see Available quick start tests by application or feature.

    Zurich

    Copy and customize quick start tests provided by the ServiceNow AI Platform® to validate that your instance works after you make any configuration changes. For example, if you apply an upgrade or develop an application.

    The tests can produce a pass result only when you run them on a base system without any customizations and with the default demo data that is provided with the application or feature plugin. To apply a quick start test to your instance-specific data, copy the quick start test and add your custom data. For more information, see Available quick start tests by application or feature.

    New features

    Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for Automated Test Framework.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama
    Reusable tests
    Reduce duplication of tests while invoked in several other tests by creating reusable tests, enabling test design to be more modular, reducing the effort and time while duplicating tests to manage a large number of tests across your instance. You can access the reusable tests from the new Reusable Test test step category. Use the Reusable Input Variables and Reusable Output Variables related lists to define data passing from one test step to another.
    Reusable Tests category
    Reuse the test records created in the Reusable Test table from the new Reusable Test test step category. By default, the test records show up in the Reusable Test test step category, unless you define the record in a custom category in the Category field.

    Zurich
    ATF failure insights
    Reduce the time to resolve your ATF test failures with actionable support from the new ATF failure insights feature.
    Configurable Workspace
    Enable simplified test creation through direct component interaction on Configurable Workspace pages via the Page Inspector.

    Changes

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Automated Test Framework features.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Removed

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Automated Test Framework features or functionality were removed.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Deprecations

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Automated Test Framework features or functionality were deprecated.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Activation information

    Review information on how to activate Automated Test Framework.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama
    Automated Test Framework is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.
    Note:
    By default, the system property that is used to run automated tests is turned off to help prevent you from accidentally running these tests on a production system. To avoid data corruption or an outage, run tests only on development, test, and other non-production instances. For more information, see Enable or disable executing Automated Test Framework tests.

    To use the quick start tests for an application, activate the plugin that is associated with the application. For more information, see Available quick start tests by application or feature.

    Set the sn_atf.runner.enabled property to True to activate the content pack for the ATF Test Generator and Cloud Runner store application.

    Zurich
    Automated Test Framework is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.
    Note:
    By default, the system property that is used to run automated tests is turned off to help prevent you from accidentally running these tests on a production system. To avoid data corruption or an outage, run tests only on development, test, and other non-production instances. For more information, see Enable or disable executing Automated Test Framework tests.

    To use the quick start tests for an application, activate the plugin that is associated with the application. For more information, see Available quick start tests by application or feature.

    Set the sn_atf.runner.enabled property to True to activate the content pack for the ATF Test Generator and Cloud Runner store application.

    Additional requirements

    If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Automated Test Framework we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Browser requirements

    If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Automated Test Framework we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    Automated Test Framework supports running tests only from desktop browsers. You can't run tests or test suites from tablets, mobile browsers, or the mobile UI. Some desktop browsers require additional configuration. For more information, see Browser recommendations for Automated Test Framework.

    Automated Test Framework offers limited support for test design on tablets. You can't add new custom UI test steps from tablets because tablets can't retrieve components. Review any existing custom UI test steps that were added from a desktop browser instead.

    Zurich

    Automated Test Framework supports running tests only from desktop browsers. You can't run tests or test suites from tablets, mobile browsers, or the mobile UI. Some desktop browsers require additional configuration. For more information, see Browser recommendations for Automated Test Framework.

    Automated Test Framework offers limited support for test design on tablets. You can't add new custom UI test steps from tablets because tablets can't retrieve components. Review any existing custom UI test steps that were added from a desktop browser instead.

    Accessibility information

    Review details on accessibility information for Automated Test Framework, such as specific requirements or compliance levels.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Localization information

    If there are specific localization considerations for Automated Test Framework we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Highlight information

    If there are specific highlight considerations for Automated Test Framework we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Xanadu

    		 No updates for this release.

    Yokohama
    • Reduce upgrade and development time by replacing manual testing with automated testing.
    • Design tests once and reuse them in different contexts and with different test data sets.
    • Keep test instances clean by rolling back test data and changes made after each test run.
    • Create and schedule test suites to organize and run tests in batches.
    • Reduce test design time by copying quick start tests and test suites. You can also create custom test steps to expand test coverage.

    See Automated Test Framework (ATF) for more information.

    Zurich
    • Reduce upgrade and development time by replacing manual testing with automated testing.
    • Design tests once and reuse them in different contexts and with different test data sets.
    • Keep test instances clean by rolling back test data and changes made after each test run.
    • Create and schedule test suites to organize and run tests in batches.
    • Reduce test design time by copying quick start tests and test suites. You can also create custom test steps to expand test coverage.

    See Automated Test Framework (ATF) for more information.