---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-administration

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Journal field display limits

# Journal field display limits {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read

Journal fields can greatly increase the size of task records because they allow users to
enter very large string values.

Display limits prevent the instance from loading the entire journal field into memory.
Administrators have the option to:

* Set the length at which journal fields stop displaying the entire field's contents and instead only display a portion (called a preview) of the field's contents. Users can still access the field's entire contents by clicking a Show All button.
* Set the size of the preview text the journal field displays.
* Set the maximum number of journal entries journal fields can display.

{#c_JournalFieldDisplayLimits__ul_ptj_z1b_dr}

In Core UI, journal fields and the activity formatter must be in the same form
section. You cannot place another field in between a journal field and the activities formatter.
The Activity Stream is built to keep journal fields stacked on top of the activity formatter.  
Note:  
Journal field display limits are not supported in the legacy Comments and Worknotes field.

## Set the maximum display size for journal fields {#ariaid-title2}

You can set the maximum display size for journal fields by adding a system
property.

### Before you begin

Role required: admin

### About this task

When a journal field exceeds the length set in this property, the instance shows a
preview of the journal field instead of the field's entire contents. The preview
includes a Show All button to display the rest of the field's
contents. A [separate property](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/KqWQk9f_XSrQbtpf~NMvZg#t_SetTheJournalPreviewSize "Set the size of the glide.max_journal_list_size system property. When a journal field exceeds this size, the instance displays a preview rather than the field's entire contents. Users can click the Show All button to see the rest of the field's contents.")
determines the number of characters the preview displays.

### Procedure

1. [Add a system property](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/P1YgMM0DTfCJvVsoqOoJ6Q "Add or create a property to control system behavior.") with the following settings.  
   {#t_SetMaxDisplaySizeForJrnalFlds__table_vmh_wdb_dr__entry__2}

   | Property | Value |
   |-|-|
   | Name | glide.max_journal_list_size |
   | Description | Size in megabytes when a journal field should display a preview rather than the field's entire contents. |
   | Type | Integer |
   | Value | 10 |
   [ ]

   {#t_SetMaxDisplaySizeForJrnalFlds__table_vmh_wdb_dr}
2. Click Submit.

## Set the journal preview size {#ariaid-title3}

Set the size of the glide.max_journal_list_size system property. When a journal field exceeds this size, the instance displays a preview rather than the field's entire contents. Users can click the
Show All button to see the rest of the field's contents.

### Before you begin

Role required: admin

### Procedure

1. In the navigation filter, enter <kbd class="ph userinput">sys_properties.list</kbd>.
2. Select New.
3. Set the values for the property as listed in the table.  
   {#t_SetTheJournalPreviewSize__table_vmh_wdb_dr__entry__2}

   | Property | Value |
   |-|-|
   | Name | glide.shortened_journal_length |
   | Description | Number of characters to display as a preview of journal fields. |
   | Type | Integer |
   | Value | 512000 |
   [ ]

   {#t_SetTheJournalPreviewSize__table_vmh_wdb_dr}
4. Select Submit.
{#t_SetTheJournalPreviewSize__steps_lvf_5ch_kyb}

## Set the maximum number of journal entries {#ariaid-title4}

To set the maximum number of entries the system shows in the activity formatter, edit
the following system property. The activity formatter displays the entries starting with the
most recent entry up to the maximum number.

### Before you begin

Role required: admin

### Procedure

1. Enter <kbd class="ph userinput">sys_properties.list</kbd> in the navigation filter.
2. Search for the property glide.history.max_entries.
3. Edit the Value of the property.  
   {#t_SetTheMaxNumOfJournalEntries__table_vmh_wdb_dr__entry__2}

   | Property | Value |
   |-|-|
   | Name | glide.history.max_entries |
   | Description | Maximum number of entries the system shows in the activity formatter. The default is 250. |
   | Type | Integer |
   | Value | 250 |
   [ ]

   {#t_SetTheMaxNumOfJournalEntries__table_vmh_wdb_dr}
4. Click Update.
**Related concepts**   

* [Activity formatter](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gpQSv6GKjMb10zfJV3RT2A#c_ActivityFormatter "The activity formatter provides an easy way to track items not saved with a field in the record, for example, journal fields like comments and work notes.")