CI relationship editor

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of CI Relationship Editor

    The CI Relationship Editor in ServiceNow allows users to view, create, modify, or delete Configuration Item (CI) relationships. It is accessed via the CI Relations formatter, with the CI from which the editor is launched designated as the base CI.

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    Key Features

    • Suggested Relationships: When the "Use suggested relationship" checkbox is selected, all available relationship types for the base CI are displayed, with suggested types highlighted in blue and prefixed with [Suggested].
    • Define Relationships: Users can define a new relationship by selecting a relationship type and a second CI. Depending on the type selected, the base CI may become either the parent or child CI.
    • Downstream and Upstream Relationships: If the suggested relationship option is not selected, lists of downstream and upstream relationships are displayed, showing existing parent-child dynamics.
    • Delete Relationships: Users can delete irrelevant CI relationships to maintain the integrity of the Configuration Management Database (CMDB).
    • Legacy CI Relationship Builder: This tool offers a more manual method for defining CI relationships, building on the standard slushbucket approach.

    Key Outcomes

    Utilizing the CI Relationship Editor enhances the management of CI relationships within your CMDB, ensuring accurate representation of dependencies and improving overall data integrity. Users can streamline relationship creation and maintenance, leading to better configuration management practices and insights into organizational assets and their interactions.

    Use the relationship editor to view, create, modify, or delete CI relationships. Open the relationship editor from the CI Relations formatter.

    When you use the relationship editor, the CI from which the editor was launched is designated as the base CI. You can then select one or more CIs as a second CI for the relationship. Depending on the selected relationship type, the base CI can become the parent CI or the child CI in the new relationship.

    The relationship editor operates differently, depending on whether you select the Use suggested relationship check box.
    • With suggested relationships, the relationship editor lists all available relationship types for the base CI. To define a new relationship, select a relationship type, and then select a second CI for the relationship.

      Suggested relationships are highlighted for you. These relationships are displayed in blue with a prefix of [Suggested].

    • Without suggested relationships, you define a new relationship by first selecting a second CI for the relationship and then selecting a parent or a child relationship type.
    Note:
    The following relationship types are used only for Service Mapping endpoints, and you cannot use them as a relationship type between two CIs:
    • Implement End Point To:Implement End Point From
    • Use End Point To: Use End Point From
    • Applicative Flow To:Applicative Flow From

    Suggested relationships

    If you select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Suggested relationship list appears. It displays all available CI, user and group relationship types for the base CI. Relationship types have a suffix of (Parent) or (Child) to note the relationship descriptor, and suggested relationship types are displayed in blue and have a "*" prefix.

    When you select a relationship, you are also designating the base CI as being the parent or the child CI in the new relationship. For example, if you select the 'Feeds' relationship type, the base CI becomes the designated parent CI, and the second CI that you select becomes the child CI in this relationship.

    Downstream relationships

    If you do not select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Downstream relationships list appears. It displays all relationships in which the base CI is the parent CI. The child CI of the relationship is displayed in the Child column.

    Upstream relationships

    If you do not select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Upstream relationships list appears. It displays all relationships in which the base CI is the child CI. The parent CI in each relationship is displayed in the Parent column.