Screen fields

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Screen fields

    Screen fields in ServiceNow enhance form screen usability by allowing users to view and interact with various types of content directly on forms. They enable displaying and editing attachments, checklist items, images, videos, and other field types without labels, providing a more dynamic and user-friendly interface.

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    When configuring a details screen, selecting fields creates corresponding Screen Field [syssgscreenfield] records, which can be modified to change the screen field type and improve information presentation and screen appearance.

    Key Features

    • Text: Displays text from any field on the current record, with an option to show the value without a label.
    • Percentage: Shows decimal values as percentages, with an option to hide the label.
    • Image: Displays images from image fields or sysIDs referencing attachments; users can preview images.
    • Attachment: Shows all attachments of a record with automatic rename and delete buttons; users can modify attachments.
    • Video: Embeds externally hosted videos linked from record fields; plays videos in a new window.
    • File: Displays a PDF preview directly on the form, allowing scrolling and zooming; uses sysID of PDF attachments.
    • HTML: Renders HTML content from fields containing HTML code.
    • Checklist: Lists checklist items associated with the record; users can mark items complete or incomplete.
    • Date: Shows date or date/time fields formatted per instance settings; can be configured without labels and support user edits if action functions apply.
    • Stage: Displays read-only approval or completion status for requested items and catalog items, based on configured workflows or execution plans.

    Practical Use for ServiceNow Customers

    By adding and configuring screen fields, customers can tailor form screens to better fit user needs, improving data visibility and interaction directly within forms. For example, embedding videos or PDFs enhances content accessibility, while checklist and stage fields streamline task tracking and status monitoring.

    Modifying screen field types allows customization of how information appears, enabling a cleaner interface with options such as hiding labels or presenting data in more intuitive formats.

    Adding screen fields like videos to record screens supports richer mobile experiences, allowing users to view multimedia content embedded in forms.

    Screen fields improve the usability of your form screens. With screen fields, your users can view and edit attachments, view and complete checklist items, or display a field without a label.

    When configuring a details screen, you select fields to display on your form. When you save the details screen, the instance creates a Screen Field [sys_sg_screen_field] each selected field. You can modify these records to change the screen field type. Change the screen field type to change how your information is presented, and improve the appearance and usability of the screen for your users.

    Screen field types

    Text

    Use a text screen field to display text on your form. This text can come from any field on the current record. The text field type has a Value only option, which displays the field without a label. In this example, the Description field is shown without a label.

    Text screen field with value only option selected.
    Percentage

    Use a percentage screen field to display a percentage value on your form. This value comes from a field on the current record. Percentages are determined by using a decimal value. For example, a value of 0.35 displays in a percentage field as 35%. This field type has a Value only option, which displays the field without a label.

    Percentage screen field.
    Image

    Use an image screen field to display an image on your form. The value for this field comes from an image field or field that contains the sys_ID of an image in the Attachment [sys_attachment] table. Users can tap an image to open a preview screen to display the full image.

    Screen field on form and image preview screen.
    Attachment

    Use an attachment screen field to display all the attachments of a record. Buttons to rename or delete attachments display automatically for your users. Users can tap a button to modify attachments.

    Attachment screen field on the incident table.
    Video

    Use a video screen field so that your users can watch a video in your form. The video screen field gets its value from a field on your current record and contains a link to a video. The video must be externally hosted. Users can see the video in a new window when they tap Play Video.

    Video screen field.
    File

    Use a file screen field to display a PDF file within your form. The PDF displays as a preview on your form. Users can tap the preview (PDF preview icon) icon to open it in a preview screen where they can scroll and zoom on the PDF document. The file screen field gets its value from a field on the current record. The value must be the sys_ID of an attachment [sys_attachment] record on your instance that contains a PDF file.

    File screen field.
    HTML

    Use an HTML screen field to display HTML content within your form. The HTML screen field can get its value from an HTML field in your current record or a string field that contains an HTML code.

    HTML screen field.
    Checklist

    Use checklist screen fields to display all the checklist items that are associated with a record. Users can tap individual checklist items to mark them as complete or incomplete.

    Checklist screen field.
    Date

    Use a date screen field to display a date value on your form. This value comes from a date or date/time field on the current record. Dates are displayed in the format that are defined by your instance. This field type has aValue only option, which displays the value of the field without the field label. If the field is configured with an action function, users can change the values of these fields. For more information, see Configure an action function.

    Date screen field.
    Stage
    Use stage fields to display a read-only approval or completion status of requested items and services. Stage fields are displayed under the following conditions:
    • A stage field is added on a form for Requested items [sc_req_item] records.
    • A stage field is added on a form for Catalog item [sc_cat_item] records, as long the stage names and statuses are configured using one of the following flow types:
      • Workflow Studio
      • Workflow [wf_workflow]
      • Execution Plan [sc_cat_item_delivery_plan]
    • A stage field is added on a form for any other tables if the stage names and statuses are configured using Workflow [wf_workflow].
    Mobile stage field.