Value formatting in data visualizations

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 6, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Value Formatting in Data Visualizations

    This guide provides details on configuring numerical value formatting in data visualizations within ServiceNow. It enables users to customize the appearance of data in reports, enhancing readability and clarity.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Unit Format: Choose how time fields display (d/h/m/s or day/hour/minute/second).
    • Maximum/Minimum Duration Unit: Select the largest or smallest time unit to display (Day, Hour, Minute, Second).
    • Hide Seconds: Option to remove seconds from display if the duration exceeds one minute.
    • Decimal Precision: Set the number of decimal places (0 to 4) for values, except currency fields.
    • Rounding: Simplifies values greater than one minute through various rounding methods (Up, Down, Ceiling, Floor, Half up, Half down, Half even).
    • Thousands Group Separator: Enables separation of values in thousands with a comma or period.
    • Enable Abbreviation: Displays large values with a single character (not applicable for certain currency values).
    • Hide Value in Tooltip: Option to conceal unrounded, unabbreviated values in tooltips.

    Key Outcomes

    By utilizing these formatting options, ServiceNow customers can produce clearer, more professional data visualizations that enhance decision-making. Properly formatted values improve user interpretation and usability of reports, leading to more effective data analysis.

    In most data visualizations, you can configure how numerical values look when you publish the report.

    Types of value formatting

    Unit format
    Show the format of time fields as d/h/m/s or day/hour/minute/second.
    Maximum/Minimum duration unit
    Select the largest or smallest unit to be shown: Day, Hour, Minute, or Second.
    Hide seconds when unit is greater than one minute
    Removes seconds display when a duration value is greater than one minute. Only available if you choose Second as the minimum duration unit.
    Decimal precision
    Number of decimal places to show, from zero to four decimal places.
    Note:
    Decimal precision is not supported on currency fields.
    Rounding
    For values greater than one minute, simplifies a number by rounding, while keeping it close to its value. See the next section, Rounding options.
    Use the thousands group separator
    Separate a value of thousands or higher with a comma or period.
    Enable abbreviation
    Show a value of thousands or higher with a single character.
    Note:
    Abbreviation for Currency, Price, or FX Currency values is not supported.
    Hide value in tooltip
    Do not show the unrounded, unabbreviated value in the tooltip.

    Rounding options

    For values greater than one minute, rounding options simplify a number, but keep it close to its value. Select from these rounding options:
    • Up - to the next larger whole number if positive and to the next smaller whole number if negative. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 2
      • 1.6 returns a value of 2
      • -1.6 returns a value of -2
    • Down - to the next smaller whole number if positive and to the next larger whole number if negative. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 1
      • 1.6 returns a value of 1
      • -1.6 returns a value of -1
    • Ceiling - to the next larger whole number, toward the positive. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 2
      • 1.6 returns a value of 2
      • -1.6 returns a value of -1
    • Floor - to the next smaller whole number, toward the negative. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 1
      • 1.6 returns a value of 1
      • -1.6 returns a value of -2
    • Half up - to the nearest neighboring whole number. If both neighbors are equidistant, rounds to the next larger whole number. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 1
      • 1.6 returns a value of 2
      • 2.5 returns a value of 3
    • Half down - to the nearest neighboring whole number. If both neighbors are equidistant, rounds to the next smaller whole number. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 1
      • 1.6 returns a value of 2
      • 2.5 returns a value of 2
    • Half even - to the nearest whole number. If both neighbors are equidistant, rounds to the closest even number. Example: For original values of:
      • 1.1 returns a value of 1
      • 1.6 returns a value of 2
      • -2.5 returns a value of -2

    Summary of rounding options:

    Table 1. Result of rounding input to one digit with the given rounding mode
    Input number Up Down Ceiling Floor Half up Half down Half even
    5.5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6
    2.5 3 2 3 2 3 2 2
    1.6 2 1 2 1 2 2 2
    1.1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1
    1.0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
    -1.0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
    -1.1 -2 -1 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1
    -1.6 -2 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2
    -2.5 -3 -2 -2 -3 -3 -2 -2
    -5.5 -6 -5 -5 -6 -6 -5 -6