---
sourceDocument: Australia Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Preview an activity's runtime UI

# Preview an activity's runtime UI {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated June 24, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read  
See how an activity will appear to end users when the playbook runs. Use the preview to confirm the activity's appearance as you work, and adjust its configuration before you activate the playbook.

## Before you begin

Role required: playbook.admin

## About this task

The preview appears in the activity property panel, beside the Details, Automation, and UI Layout tabs. It renders the activity as configured at design
time. Automations don't run at design time, so a component that depends on an automation output has no data to draw on. That component isn't shown, the area collapses, and no placeholder appears in its place. A component can
therefore be missing from the preview and still appear when the playbook runs. Components that draw on experience properties render as you configure them.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllWorkflow StudioPlaybooks.
2. Select the playbook containing the activity you want to preview.
3. On the diagram canvas, hover over an activity card to display its toolbar, and then select the Edit UI Layout icon ![]().  
   The activity property panel opens on the UI Layout tab with the preview open. Selecting the Edit icon opens the panel without the preview.
4. **Optional:** If the preview is hidden, select Show UI preview to open it.  
   The Activity runtime UI preview panel appears alongside the configuration panel.
5. Configure the activity's experience properties on the UI Layout tab.  
   The preview switches from Example UI to Your UI at your first change. Single-line fields such as Title and Tagline update as you type. Description updates when you move focus away from the field. An activity with no values in its experience property fields shows an empty card container, which is expected.
6. Add sample data that displays in the UI Layout preview for a field in an activity that uses record inputs, for example a Record Form activity.  
   When a data pill can't be resolved, a sample data field appears beneath the experience property. For a record data pill, the value you supply applies to every reference to that pill in the same playbook. Sample data populates the preview only and has no effect on runtime.
   1. In the activity property panel, select the UI Layout tab.
   2. Under Associated Record, enter a table to reference in the Associated table field.
   3. Select the Data pill picker icon ![Data pill picker icon]() next to the Associated record field.  
      If the data pill can't be resolved the option to add sample data is enabled.
   4. Select Add sample data for this pill.  
   5. Select a record to use as sample data.  
      If you can't select a record, the record list is still loading.
   6. If you couldn't select a record, select Save and close, reopen the activity, and then select the record.  
      Selecting Save and close also saves any other unsaved changes on the activity.
   {#preview-playbook-runtime-ui__substeps_rfp_kgf_wjc}
7. **Optional:** Select Hide UI preview to dismiss the runtime view.
8. Select Save and close to close the preview.

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