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

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities

ft:clusterId :

    - platcap

bundleId :

    - platcap

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Create a CI class

# Create a CI class {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read  
Create a CI class (table) that is an extension of an existing CI class. Then create
identification and reconciliation rules for the new class.

## Before you begin

The class that is being extended must have its
Is_Extendable field checked, indicating that the class is
extendable.
Role required:

* sn_cmdb_admin or Itil_admin, and personalize_dictionary: Required for editing the dictionary table
* sn_cmdb_admin or admin: Full access
{#t_CreateCIType__ul_wph_s1n_lbb}

## About this task

The CI Class Manager is a centralized location for managing CMDB tables and for
creating a class that is derived from another CMDB class. Creating a class requires
basic details such as a label and a name. Identification and reconciliation rules
are also required to ensure that the class can be successfully identified by the
identification engine.

For more information about extending a class and how attributes are derived from a parent class in that process, see [Table extension and classes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=table-extension-and-classes&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US).

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllConfigurationCI Class Manager.
2. Click Hierarchy to expand the CI Classes list.
3. Select the class that the new class is extended from.
4. Click Add Child Class.  
   The Add Child Class option appears only if the selected class is extendable.
5. On the Provide Basic Info tab, fill out the information and then click Next.  
   {#t_CreateCIType__table_mqb_32s_y1b__entry__2}

   | Field | Description |
   |-|-|
   | Display name | A unique label for the class (such as Laptops or Thin Clients). The label appears on list and form views for the class. Updating the Label field also updates the label record in the language file for the current language. See Field Labels in [Data dictionary tables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_DataDictionaryTables&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). Maximum string length is 80 characters. |
   | Table name | Automatically populated based on the table label and the prefix string 'u_cmdb_ci'. You cannot modify the prefix; however, you can modify the rest of the table name. The name can contain only lowercase, alphanumeric ASCII characters and underscores (_). Maximum string length is 80 characters. |
   | Description | Explanation of the use purpose of the class. |
   | Icon | The icon associated with the class. |
   | Extensible | Indicator of whether this class can be extended. |
   | Principal Class | Denotes whether this class is included in the [Principal Class filter](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ESs3_Swnu2fAVc24C9q1ow "Manage the list of classes in the Principal Class filter so that those classes are prioritized for tracking, health, certification, lifecycle management, and class list views."). If this class is included in the Principal Class filter, then CIs from this class appear in CI list views when the Principal Class filter is applied. |
   [ ]

   {#t_CreateCIType__table_mqb_32s_y1b}
6. On the Add Attributes tab, click the + sign and enter details for each new class column.
7. Click Next.  
   For description of the different columns in the list view, see [Dictionary entry form](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=r_DictionaryEntryForm&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). To designate an attribute as a CI identifier for class identification, double-click the attribute's Identification Rule column and set it to true.
8. On the Set Identification Rule tab, examine the Derived identification rule and its Identifier Entries.  
   You can click Replace to replace the derived rule with a new identification rule and new identifier entries specific to the new class. See [Identification rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XeHgHGmCieUlQ6rwpgEmdA "Identification rules are used to uniquely identify CIs in the CMDB, as part of Identification and Reconciliation (IRE) processes. Each CMDB class can be associated with a single identification rule.") for details about identification rules and identifier entries.
9. On the Dependencies tab, click Add dependency to add [dependent rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/anOHXTLGvIyRdufhLZERYw "Service definitions consist of CI types and relationship types. Dependent relationship rules define the dependency structure of the CI types and the relationship types in these service definitions, helping in CI identification and in the construction of business service maps.").  
   The Dependencies tab appears only if there are dependent identification rules for the selected class.
10. On the Add Reconciliation Rules tab, click Add to create the following rules:
    1. [Reconciliation Rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/lNMe386Hcpze0Pu3QdW1yQ#create-reconciliation-rule "Create a static or a dynamic CI reconciliation rule.")
    2. [Data Refresh
       Rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/T9X6SeeRMMQ9Z134vetijg "Specify data refresh rules to determine if a CI is stale for a specific discovery source. Such CIs can then be updated by a lower-priority authorized discovery source.")
    {#t_CreateCIType__substeps_zgf_2ms_y1b}
11. On the Add Suggested Relationships tab, review the diagram of the class derived suggested relationships.
12. Use the filter to display only inbound, outbound, or specific relationship types.
13. To add a suggested relationship for the class:
    1. Click New.
    2. In the Add Suggested Relationship dialog box, select a Relationship and a Target Class for the relationship. This Class and the Target Class become parent or child in the suggested relationship, based on your selection of the Relationship.
    3. Click Save.

    {#t_CreateCIType__substeps_rsr_kf5_5cb}  
    When building relationships for the class in the Query Builder, the list of suggested relationships is updated.
14. Click Done.
**Related concepts**   

* [Dependent CIs management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/6uIdsynd7u96MF49x0l4bg "A life cycle update for a CI affects its dependent CIs. For example, when the CI that a dependent CI depends on is deleted, the dependent CI becomes orphan with no further use. To maintain the integrity and health of the CMDB, the system applies cascade-cleanup processes to dependent CIs that are affected by a life cycle update.")
* [Principal Class](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ENE4G2KZHXZ4qUyd2nyztg "A Principal Class is a designation for those CMDB classes that are most critical for foundational data health and governance in the organization. Those classes are then prioritized for tracking, health, certification, lifecycle management, and class list views.")
* [CMDB Identification and Reconciliation (IRE)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Z8diB6pYFbsGQMgZmJZYfg "The Identification and Reconciliation module provides a centralized framework for identifying and reconciling data from different data sources. It helps maintain the integrity of the CMDB and some non-CMDB tables when multiple data sources are used to create and update CI records.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Reclassify a CI](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/AWEQF6hRbfplBZvBqpk5VA "You can upgrade, downgrade, or switch the class of a CI by modifying its Class attribute.")
* [Delete CIs](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UerocPe6cpz79N2H~lVuwQ "You can use the CI Class Manager to delete CIs that are no longer needed.")
* [View and edit class definitions and metadata](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/HgN3Kyy5jbQGOy5JQ_xN5Q "Use the CI Class Manager as a central location to explore the CMDB class hierarchy, CI table definitions, and class CIs. View the details of each table such as its label and fields, relationships, and all related metadata definitions.")  
**Related reference**   

* [CMDB record types](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/FebUNZpm3IUWhouAvxrpew "The CMDB contains the following major record types.")
* [Related Lists of CI components](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1mhwfKRbbTibrz7rD7koAw "Related lists in CI records display additional components contained by that CI, such as disk drives on a server and the rules that control the behavior of a network router.")

*[\>]: and then