Workflow drawing canvas keyboard commands

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Workflow Drawing Canvas Keyboard Commands

    This guide provides keyboard commands for navigating and operating the Workflow Editor canvas in ServiceNow. Utilizing these commands enhances efficiency by allowing users to perform tasks without relying on a mouse.

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    Key Features

    • Select Workflow Actions: Use the Tab key to highlight the context menu and Enter to access commands like Validate or Publish Workflow.
    • Navigate Activity Boxes: Press Tab or arrow keys to move between activity boxes. Note that navigation may vary based on workflow complexity.
    • Edit Activity: Select an activity box with Enter to enter Edit mode, where you can adjust Activity Properties, Node context menus, and Conditions.
    • Add Conditions: Access Condition Properties within an activity to specify conditions for execution.
    • Create Connections: Use the Node conditional context menu to link activities or delete existing connections.
    • Move Activity Boxes: Select an activity box and use arrow keys to reposition it; hold Shift for finer control.
    • Validate and Run Workflows: Validate workflows via the Workflow Actions menu or by selecting the validation option. Running is dependent on specific table conditions.
    • Close and Publish: Close the canvas or publish workflows using the context menu for streamlined management.
    • Jump to Top: Quickly navigate to the top of the canvas after tabbing through the entire workflow.

    Key Outcomes

    By mastering these keyboard commands, ServiceNow users can efficiently manage workflows, ensuring smoother operations and quicker access to essential functions. This not only saves time but also enhances overall productivity within the Workflow Editor environment.

    Use keyboard commands to navigate and operate the Workflow Editor canvas.


    Workflow Editor Drawing Canvas - Tab Sequences / Elements
    Task or Action Keyboard Commands
    Select Workflow Actions menu command (for example, Validate Workflow or Publish Workflow)
    1. Press Tab until the context menu () is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open the context menu.
    3. Use the down arrow key to move to the command, then press Enter to select it.
    Set general workflow properties
    1. Press Tab until Information icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open Workflow Properties.
    Navigate from activity box to activity box. Simply press Tab or use the arrow keys (right, left, up and down) to navigate from activity to activity within the workflow.
    Note:
    Depending on the complexity and number of activity boxes in the workflow, the sequence of navigation is not always predictable. Depending on how you are navigating within the workflow, the navigation sequence is generally (but not always) row-by-row, and focus is usually placed on the nearest activity box.
    Modify a selected activity.
    1. Navigate to the activity box, then press Enter to select it and place it in Edit mode. When you select an activity box, it appears as highlighted.
    2. Once in Edit mode, use Tab to move around within the activity box to change or access elements such as:
      • Activity Properties ()
      • Title
      • Node context menu
      • Delete Node ()
      • Condition Properties ()
      • Node conditional context menu ()
      • Node conditional port options ()
      Note:
      All elements in a selected activity are only accessible when working with a checked out workflow. When working with a published workflow, you can only access its activity properties and title,
    3. Press Enter to select an element, or press Esc to escape an element without making changes.
    Add a condition to an activity.
    1. Within an activity box, select Condition Properties icon to access Condition Properties.
    2. In Condition Properties, specify the conditions for the activity.
    Create a connection from a condition on one activity to the next activity that follows
    1. Within an activity box, select Node conditional context menu ().
    2. Select Link to... to create a connection to the next activity box that follows, or select Delete to delete an existing connection.
    Add a core or custom activity
    1. Within an activity box, select Node conditional port options ().
    2. Select Add Core Activity to access Workflow Activity Definitions to add a new core activity, or select Add Custom Activity to add a custom activity to the workflow.
    Move an activity box
    1. Press Tab to navigate to the activity box, enter press Enter to select it.
    2. Use the arrow keys to move the activity box. To move the activity box one pixel at a time, press Shift while using the arrow keys.
    Validate a workflow
    1. Press Tab until Validate icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to validate the workflow.

    You can also select Validate from the Workflow Actions menu.
    Run a workflow
    1. Press Tab until Run icon is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to run the workflow.
    Note:
    If the workflow is tied to a database table, this function is disabled. The workflow runs when the proper table conditions are activated (for example, insertion of a new record into the table).
    Close workflow drawing canvas
    1. Press Tab until Close icon (on the right side of the tab that contains the name of the workflow) appears.
    2. Press Enter to close the canvas.
    Publish a workflow
    1. Press Tab until the context menu () is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open the context menu.
    3. Use the down arrow key to move to the Publish command, then press Enter to select it.
    Jump to Top After tabbing through the entire workflow, The Jump to top button appears at the bottom of the listing. Press Enter to jump to the top of the Workflow drawing canvas.