Useful attachment scripts

Release version: Australia

Updated March 12, 2026

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Summary of Useful Attachment Scripts

This collection of attachment scripts offers practical utilities for managing attachments within ServiceNow instances. These scripts help automate common tasks such as copying attachments between records, deleting duplicates, indicating attachment presence on task lists, linking attachments in email notifications, and logging attachment downloads. They are designed for customization and require thorough testing before implementation, as they are provided as-is without official Now Support backing.

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Copy Attachments Between Records

Use the GlideSysAttachment.copy method to transfer all attachments from one record to another by specifying source and destination tables and record sysids. Note that this method copies all attachments indiscriminately and does not support selecting specific attachments.

Delete Duplicate Attachments

A script can be executed in a business rule, scheduled job, or background script to identify and delete duplicate attachments in the sysattachment table. It works by comparing attachment filenames and record IDs, removing duplicates to maintain data cleanliness.

Display Attachment Presence in Task List Views

To show whether tasks have attachments in list views, implement a business rule that updates a custom field (e.g., uhasattachments) on the Task table. The script checks attachment counts on insertion or deletion events and updates the field accordingly, enabling users to quickly identify tasks with attachments.

Link Attachments in Email Notifications

Embed links to attachments within email notifications or templates by using a script that queries attachments for the current record and generates clickable URLs. Replace the placeholder instancename with your actual ServiceNow instance name to ensure proper linking.

Attachment Download Logging

Attachment downloads trigger attachment.read event records in the event log. These can be processed with Script Actions or Email Notifications to track when and by whom attachments are accessed. This feature supports enhanced auditing and monitoring of attachment usage.

Important Considerations

These scripts are customized solutions and are not officially supported by Now Support.
Testing in a non-production environment is strongly recommended before deployment.
Some scripts require custom fields or configurations (e.g., the uhasattachments field) to function properly.
Modifications such as replacing instance names in URLs are necessary for accurate functionality.

This is a searchable version of the Useful Attachment Scripts.

Warning:

The customization described here was developed for use in specific instances, and is not supported by Now Support. This method is provided as-is and should be tested thoroughly before implementation. Post all questions and comments regarding this customization to our community forum.

Copy attachments from record to record

Use the following script to copy an attachment from one record to another record:

GlideSysAttachment.copy('sourcetable','sys_id','destinationtable','sys_id');

Note:

GlideSysAttachment.copy copies all attachments; it cannot select specific attachments.

Delete duplicate attachments

Use the following script in a business rule, scheduled job, or background script to delete duplicate attachments located in the Attachments [sys_attachment] table:

function fixDuplicateImages(){
  var now_GR = new GlideRecord('sys_attachment');
  now_GR.addQuery('table_name','LIKE','ZZ_YY%');
  now_GR.orderBy('table_sys_id');
  now_GR.orderByDesc('sys_created_on');
  now_GR.query();
  var lastID ='not_a_match';
  var lastFile ='not_a_match';
  while(now_GR.next()){
    var isDuplicate = (lastID == now_GR.table_sys_id)&&(lastFile == now_GR.file_name);
    lastID = now_GR.table_sys_id;
    lastFile = now_GR.file_name;
    gs.print(now_GR.table_sys_id + ' ' + now_GR.table_name + ' ' + now_GR.file_name + ' ' + now_GR.sys_created_on + ' ' + isDuplicate);
    if(isDuplicate)
      now_GR.deleteRecord();
  }
}

Display whether tasks have attachments in list view

Use the following script in a business rule to display whether tasks have attachments when viewed in the record list view. Note that the script needs a custom field on the Has Attachments [u_has_attachments] table.

checkAttachment();
 
function checkAttachment(){
  // if inserting then the task has an attachment
  if(current.operation()=='insert') {
    hasAttachment('true'); // if deleting attachment check for other attachments
    if(current.operation()=='delete') {
      var timeNow3 =new GlideDateTime();
      gs.log('has_attachment br: gliderecord query start date time is: '+ timeNow3.getNumericValue(),'jwtest');
      var attachCount = new GlideAggregate('sys_attachment');
      attachCount.addQuery('table_sys_id',current.sys_id);
      attachCount.addAggregate('COUNT');
      attachCount.query();
      var numAttachments ='0'; 

      // if no other attachments task does not have attachment
      if(attachCount.next()){
        numAttachments = attachCount.getAggregate("COUNT");
        if(numAttachments >0){
          hasAttachment ='true';
        } else {
          hasAttachment('false');
        }
        var timeNow4=new GlideDateTime();
        gs.log('has_attachment br: gliderecord query start date time is: '+ timeNow4.getNumericValue(),'jwtest');
      }
 
function hasAttachment(answer){
  var task = new GlideRecord('task');
  task.addQuery('sys_id',current.table_sys_id);
  task.query();
 
  if(task.next()){
    task.u_has_attachment= answer;
    task.autoSysFields(false);  //Don't set the lastUpdatedTime or the Simultaneous Update Alert will likely get triggered
    task.setWorkflow(false);  //Don't allow other business rules to run, otherwise multiple notifications will likely be sent
    task.update();
  }
}

Note:

Schedule the business rule to run after insert/delete.

Link to attachments in an email notification

Use the following script in an email notification or template to include links to attachments:


printattachments(); 
 
function printattachments(){
  var now_GR =new GlideRecord('sys_attachment');
  now_GR.addQuery('table_sys_id',current.sys_id);
  now_GR.query();
  while(now_GR.next()){
    template.print('Attachment: <a href="http://'+gs.getProperty("instance_name")+'.service-now.com/sys_attachment.do?sys_id='+ now_GR.sys_id+'">'+ now_GR.file_name+'</a>');
  }
}

Note:

Replace "instance_name" with your instance name.

Attachment Logging

Whenever a user downloads an attachment, the action writes an attachment.read event record to the event log. If desired, you can process these events with a Script Action or an Email Notification. This can be useful if you want to do something when an attachment is read. For example, you can record when and by whom certain attachments are downloaded. For this functionality, the current variable must point to a sys_attachment record, and the event record must use the following parameters:

parm1: File name
parm2: Table name