Checklist Task from Template activity

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
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    Summary of Checklist Task from Template activity

    The Checklist Task from Template activity in ServiceNow Playbooks enables you to prompt agents to complete all items in a predefined task checklist. It requires a checklist template to be created beforehand and is designed for use with tasks in the target task table. This activity helps standardize task execution by ensuring all checklist items are addressed during playbook runs.

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    Key Features

    • Input Configuration: Customize the activity by specifying the checklist template, task reference, labels, descriptions, run conditions, and scheduling rules. Inputs can be static or dynamically sourced using dot-walking.
    • Scheduling and Execution Control: Define when the activity or its stage starts with options such as "When process starts," "After specific stages," or "After specific activities." You can also set delays before starting.
    • Skip Options: Enable agents to skip the checklist activity and specify which users or groups have permission to skip, maintaining flexibility during playbook execution.
    • Checklist Association: Link checklist tasks to specific task records, ensuring visibility within the associated task. If no task is specified, a private task is created per playbook run.
    • SLA Visibility: Optionally display SLA countdown details on the task to keep agents informed of time constraints.
    • Outputs for Integration: Provides the updated checklist task record as output, allowing subsequent activities in the playbook to reference and act upon it.
    • UI Customization: Configure how the activity appears during a playbook run, improving agent experience and clarity.

    Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers

    By using this activity, administrators and playbook authors can enforce consistent task completion through checklists, improving operational reliability and agent guidance. It is especially useful in scenarios requiring detailed step-by-step processes within tasks. The skip functionality and SLA display offer flexibility and transparency, helping agents manage their work efficiently.

    To implement, ensure you first create the relevant checklists and checklist templates, then incorporate this activity into your playbooks with appropriate inputs and conditions tailored to your processes.

    Prompt an agent to complete all items in a task checklist.

    The key input for this activity is the Checklist Template field under the Inputs section. Before you can provide this input, you must:

    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.

    Common properties

    These properties are common to all to activities in Playbooks.

    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.

    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
    Skip Assignment Group Reference.Group [sys_user_group] Group that is allowed to skip this activity when Can Skip is enabled.
    Note:
    If Can Skip is enabled, and you do not specify a Skip Assignment Groupor Skip Assigned To, all users will be able to skip this activity.
    Skip Assigned To Reference.User [sys_user] User that is allowed to skip this activity when Can Skip is enabled.
    Note:
    If Can Skip is enabled, and you do not specify a Skip Assignment Groupor Skip Assigned To, all users will be able to skip this activity.
    Checklist Template Reference.Checklist Template [checklist_template] Template for the checklist to create for each run. Before you can provide this input, you must:
    Task Reference.Task [task]

    Reference a record to associate with the checklist activity. The checklist is also displayed in the associated task record.

    Note:
    When a specific task record is associated with the checklist, the state of the checklist does not change if you run the playbook again. When you don't provide a specific task record, a new private task record is created for each run.

    Checklist in a task record
    Show SLA True/False Option to show SLA countdown details for the task.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Can Skip True/False Option to allow agents to skip the checklist and to continue through the playbook.

    Additional properties

    Move stuff here.

    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
    Checklist Task Reference.Task [task] Task record that updates when this activity completes.

    UI Layouts

    Set properties for how the activity renders during a playbook run.