Metric definition setting record fields

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  • Updated March 12, 2026
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    Summary of Metric definition setting record fields

    This document explains the fields available on the metric definition setting record form in ServiceNow, which controls how metrics calculations handle null values, priority, and applicability. Understanding these fields helps you configure metric settings that ensure accurate and error-free calculations across different metric types.

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    Key Fields and Their Functions

    • Name: Identifies the record, such as "Default record for CMD calculations."
    • Active: Marks the record as active to apply its settings.
    • One for null record: Assigns a value of 1 to null or undefined operands when adjacent operators match the selected ones, allowing calculations to proceed without errors.
    • Order: Sets the priority of the record when multiple records apply; the record with the highest order number takes precedence.
    • Skip null record: Skips null or undefined operands during formula execution if the adjacent operator matches, preventing calculation errors and interruptions.
    • Zero for null record: Assigns a value of 0 to null or undefined operands based on adjacent operator matching, ensuring consistent calculation results. This option is available only for "All" or "Calculated metric definition" types.
    • Type: Specifies the scope of the setting and determines which form fields display and which table the setting applies to. Options include:
      • All: Applies to all metrics and definitions (Table name and Filter hidden).
      • Metric definition: Applies to automated/manual metric definitions (Table name set to Metric Definition).
      • Calculated metric definition: Applies to calculated metrics (Table name set to Calculated Metric Definition).
      • Metric: Applies to individual metrics (Table name set to Metric).
    • Table name: Shows the table to which the setting applies, based on Type; hidden when Type is All.
    • Filter: Defines conditions to restrict the setting’s applicability to specific records on the selected table; hidden when Type is All.
    • Variance base value: Sets the value used to calculate variance when the previous period value is null or zero; available for all Type options.

    Application and Priority

    When multiple active records apply to a metric, ServiceNow selects the most specific Type in this order: Metric, then Metric definition or Calculated metric definition, and finally All. If multiple records share the same Type, the Order field determines which record is applied first.

    These settings ensure robust metric calculations by handling null values intelligently, prioritizing specific settings, and enabling targeted applicability via filters.

    The fields of the metric definition setting record form are explained in this topic.

    Table 1. Metric definition setting record
    Field Description
    Name Name for the record. For example, Default record for CMD calculations.
    Active Option to mark the default values record as active.
    One for null record You can select relevant operators in the field. The system assigns a default value of 1 to null or undefined operands when the adjacent operator matches your selection. This ensures the calculation proceeds without error.
    Order Determines the priority of the record when multiple records are available. The record which has the highest number is selected
    Skip null record You can select relevant operators in the field. If a metric operand is null or undefined during formula execution and the adjacent operator matches the one selected, the system will skip that operand from the calculation. This prevents errors and ensures the formula continues without interruption.
    Zero for null record You can select relevant operators in the field. If a metric operand is null or undefined during formula execution, the system checks the adjacent operator. When the operator matches one selected in this field, the system assigns a value of 0 to that operand. This ensures the calculation proceeds without error and maintains consistency in results. This field is available only when Type is All or Calculated metric definition.
    Type
    Determines which fields display on the form and which table the setting applies to. The available options are:
    • All: Applies to every metric, metric definition, and calculated metric definition. Table name and Filter are hidden.
    • Metric definition: Applies to automated and manual metric definitions. Table name is set to Metric Definition.
    • Calculated metric definition: Applies to calculated metric definitions. Table name is set to Calculated Metric Definition.
    • Metric: Applies to individual metrics. Table name is set to Metric.
    Table name Displays the table the setting applies to, based on the selected Type.
    Note:
    This field is hidden when Type is All.
    Filter Specifies the condition under which the setting applies to records on the table shown in Table name. You can set up multiple criteria conditions.
    Note:
    This field is hidden when Type is All.
    Variance base value Value the system uses to calculate variance when the previous period value is null or zero. This field is available for all Type selections. When more than one active record applies to a metric, the system uses the most specific Type first. The order is Metric, then Metric definition or Calculated metric definition, then All. The system uses Order to break ties within the same Type.