System Localization properties

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated June 2, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of System Localization properties

    System Localization properties in ServiceNow enable configuration of translation, currency, and locale settings to support users from multiple countries. These settings help tailor the user experience based on language, currency, and regional formats. Some properties require activation of the I18N: Internationalization plugin and can be accessed viaAll > System Properties > System Localizationor directly through thesyspropertiestable for less commonly used settings.

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    Key Features

    • Language and Sorting: Enable sorting of list values based on the user's session language rather than default English sorting, improving usability for non-English languages (property: com.glide.db.sessionlanguagecollationfeature).
    • Language Selection at Login: Option to display a language selection box on the login page, allowing users to choose their preferred language at login (property: glide.ui.login.language.select).
    • Text Search Stemming: Configure text search to recognize derived words in English, German, or French, enhancing search relevance (property: glide.ts.stemminglanguage).
    • Translation Debugging: Display translation prefixes on translatable strings to assist with localization debugging (property: glide.ui.i18ntest).
    • Currency Settings: Option to use a single currency model where all currency values display in the same currency code regardless of user locale (property: glide.i18n.singlecurrency), along with setting the default currency code (property: glide.i18n.singlecurrency.code).
    • Locale Configuration: Set the system’s default locale code that governs currency conversions and formatting (glide.system.locale). Note that changing this after prices are set may cause conversion issues.
    • Date and Time Formatting: Configure whether dates and times default to user locale formatting or use system-wide patterns if user preferences are not set (property: glidei18n.date.defaulttolocale).
    • IP Geolocation for Guests: Enable detection of guest users’ initial language based on their IP address (property: glidei18n.ipgeolocation).
    • Spell Checker Dictionary: Set the default spell checker dictionary for English users, with multiple language options available (property: glide.spell.dictionary.en).
    • Sorting Defaults and Fallback Languages: Control default column sorting behavior and enable fallback language hierarchies to improve localization support when translations are missing (properties: com.glide.db.i18nsessionlanguagesortabledefault and glidei18n.languagefallbackenabled).

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • Activate the I18N plugin to access full localization capabilities.
    • Use sorting and language selection options to enhance user experience for global users.
    • Be cautious when changing the system locale after prices or currency fields are in use to avoid data inconsistencies.
    • Leverage fallback languages to ensure interface continuity when translations are incomplete.
    • Configure currency and spell checker settings to align with your organization’s regional and language requirements.

    System Localization properties configure translation, currency, and locale settings on the instance for users from multiple countries.

    Some localization properties only appear after the I18N: Internationalization plugin is activated. Some properties are available on the System Localization properties page, but some lesser-used properties are available only from the System Properties [sys_properties] table.

    Access the following properties by navigating to All > System Properties > System Localization.
    Property Description

    Enable sorting (for lists) in the user's session language when the language is other than English

    com.glide.db.session_language_collation_feature

    		 Enable sorting string values in a column according to the rules of the user's session language. If this option isn’t selected, field values are sorted according to the English alphabet.

    Show the language select box on the login page so the user can specify the language they would like to be logged in with.

    glide.ui.login.language.select

    		 Enables language selection upon login.
    • Options: Yes | No
    • Default value: Yes
    • Dependency: The I18N: Internationalization plugin must be active

    Text Search stemming language.

    glide.ts.stemming_language

    		 Selects the language to match derived words in text search.

    Displays translation prefix on translatable strings.

    glide.ui.i18n_test

    		 Adds a translation prefix on translatable fields to indicate where to find the string for translation.

    Use a single currency model. Display all currencies in the same currency code, regardless of a user's locale, country, or language code.

    glide.i18n.single_currency

    		 Enable single currency mode.

    Default language for the system (two character values)

    glide.sys.language
    • Options: en, fr, es, it, de
    • Default value: en

    If using the single currency model, display all currencies using this currency code. Currency codes use the ISO 4217 three letter format.

    glide.i18n.single_currency.code

    Locale code to use for localization.

    glide.system.locale

    		 Determines the system's default currency into which all prices are automatically converted before other sums or conversions are performed. Changing this property after any price or currency fields have been given a value may result in improper conversion or prices that sum incorrectly.
    • Options: [language code].[country code] (for example, en.GB for Britain, fr.FR for France, de.DE for Germany, or ja.JP for Japan)
    • Default value: None
    • Learn more: Locale settings
    Note:
    After you have set a value on this system property and your system has gone into production, do not change this value. If a user's locale must be changed, update the "Country code" field on the user record.

    Determines whether the platform displays dates and times formatted according to the user's locale.

    glide_i18n.date.default_to_locale

    		 Determines whether the platform displays dates and times formatted according to a user's locale when no date or time format has been selected in user preferences. If this option isn't enabled, dates and times are formatted using patterns set in the glide.sys.date_format and glide.sys.time_format properties.

    For guest users, enables using their IP address to try to set the user's initial language.

    glide_i18n.ip_geolocation

    		 Determines the platform's default language used from the country associated with the user's IP address if locale can't be determined from other settings. If this option isn't enabled, the platform language defaults to English for guest users whose locale can't be determined.

    Spell checker dictionary to use for English users.

    glide.spell.dictionary.en

    		 Sets the spell checker dictionary used in the system for English users.
    • Options: Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, English US, English UK, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai
    • Default value: English US
    • Learn more: Locale settings
    Access the following properties by entering sys_properties.list in the navigation filter to open the System Properties [sys_properties] table.
    Property Description
    com.glide.db.i18n_session_language_sortable_default

    Option to set the default behavior of column sorting. If true, the default behavior of columns is to sort according to the user's session language. If false, the default behavior of columns is to sort according to the English alphabet.

    glide_i18n.language_fallback_enabled

    Option to allow setting fallback languages for the instance. Setting fallback languages creates a three-level hierarchy in which an intermediate language is used before defaulting to English when user interface text is not translated in the user's preferred language.