Create an audit report template using ServiceNow Document Designer

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read

    • Use the template configurations to create placeholders for an audit report template tailored to your needs.

    Before you begin

    Install and activate the ServiceNow Document Designer with Word (sn_grc_doc_design) plugin. For more information, see Install the ServiceNow Document Designer add-in.

    Confirm that you have the templates configured. For more information, see Configure templates for Document Designer.

    If you want to insert and update reporting content, set up Microsoft 365 reporting. For more information see, Set up Microsoft 365 reporting configuration and Add additional reporting configuration filters for a Microsoft 365 configuration record.

    Role required: sn_audit.manager and sn_grc_doc_design.reader

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to the Microsoft Word document that you want to use for template creation.
    2. To create placeholders, select Design template On the ribbon.
    3. To log in to your ServiceNow instance, select Log in using the audit manager credentials.
      1. On the ServiceNow login screen, provide your credentials.
      2. Select Allow.
    4. On the ServiceNow Document Designer pane, fill in the following fields.
      1. In the Business domain field, select Audit.
      2. In the Template configuration field, select the configuration record you want to insert.
      3. To confirm the selected template configuration, select Confirm.
      4. Select the Data tab then the Data element field and from the list, select the fields you would like to see on the template.
        Only the configured fields are available for selection.
      5. Move the mouse device at the point where you want to insert data and insert the fields such as Logo, Type, Name, and so on.
      6. Select the Table tab, in the Table element field, from the list, select the configured table elements that you would like to see on the template.
        For example, the list of top five high priority issues.
    5. To insert a content block with styling that can appear repeatedly, select Block.
      1. In the document, add the content that must be used for repeated styling.
      2. In the Content block source field, select the item that you want to map to the content block.
      3. Select Add content block.
        The content in the document is wrapped in the content block and the options Data and Table are available.
      4. To insert data from the configured columns in the content block, select Data.
      5. Select Add.
      6. To insert content from a table, select Table.
        After selecting the table you want, you can select Edit columns to reorder columns as needed.
      7. Select Add.
    6. To insert reporting content, select Add content on the ribbon.
      1. Select the Data tab.
      2. In the Business domain field, select Audit.
      3. In the Reporting item field, select the configuration record you want.
      4. In the available fields, make the selections that you would like to see on the template.
        Only the configured fields are available for selection.
      5. Move the mouse device at the point where you want to insert content and select Add.
        The data is inserted in to the template. The inserted text takes the formatting of the document. You can modify the formatting as required.
      6. Select the Table tab.
      7. In the Business domain field, select Audit.
      8. In the Reporting item field, select the configuration record you want.
      9. In the available fields, make the selections that you would like to see on the template.
        Only the configured fields are available for selection.
      10. Move the mouse device at the point where you want to insert the table and select Add.
        The table is inserted in to the template. The inserted table takes the formatting of the document. You can modify the formatting as required.
      11. Select the Chart tab.
      12. In the Business domain field, select Audit.
      13. In the Reporting item field, select the configuration record you want.
      14. In the available fields, make the selections that you would like to see on the template.
        Only the configured fields are available for selection.
      15. Move the mouse device at the point where you want to insert the chart and select Add.
        The chart is inserted in to the template. The inserted chart can be modified according to your preferences. For example, you can change the colors, the type of chart and so on.
    7. To update reporting content, select Manage content.
      1. Select the field that you would like to get the updated data for and select View and refresh links.
        Only the fields added to the table are available for selection.
        The selected fields and content are updated with the latest data available.
      Note:
      To help avoid potential errors:
      • Don't add a content block within another content block.
      • Don't add more than 10 images.
      • Don't add more than one table inside a content block.
      • Don't add more than five content blocks.
    8. Save the template.