Working with metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator
Summarize
Summary of Working with metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator
ServiceNow Studio allows customers to manage all metadata types supported by the ServiceNow AI Platform, covering areas such as automations, integrations, user interface files, and more. The Navigator panel’s File Categories section organizes this metadata by taxonomy category, enabling efficient access and management within Studio.
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Accessing Metadata
The File Categories section in the Navigator panel groups metadata into expandable categories and subcategories. For example, expanding the Automation category reveals sub-types like actions, flows, and playbooks. Selecting a subcategory displays all metadata files of that type, which can be opened in their respective builder environments, such as Workflow Studio for flows.
The source table behind each metadata type is shown when selected, with an option to open a full list of files. This structure helps customers quickly locate and work with specific app files based on their metadata classification.
Metadata Storage and Organization
Metadata is stored as application files within tables on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The primary table is sysmetadata, with specialized metadata types extending this table—for example, flows use the syshubflow extended table. Customers can refer to the Navigator panel taxonomy for detailed mappings between metadata types and their tables.
Metadata Categories
Metadata files are organized into categories that reflect their function and builder experience, such as:
- Automation: Includes automation schedules, actions, flows, and playbooks.
- Data: Client development, MID Server, server development.
- Integrations: Inbound and outbound integrations.
- Mobile: Mobile App Builder and Card Builder files.
- User Interface: Content and UI files.
- Other: Includes Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Reporting, and Security metadata.
Understanding these categories helps customers efficiently navigate and manage their app files according to their development needs.
ServiceNow Studio enables you to work with all types of metadata that the ServiceNow AI Platform supports, from automations and integrations to user interface files.
Accessing metadata for your ServiceNow Studio apps
When you select a sub-type of an expanded file category, ServiceNow Studio displays all of the metadata of that type, which you can select to view. For example, selecting Flow under the Automation file category displays a list of all flows that you have access to. Select one to open it in Workflow Studio within a tab in ServiceNow Studio.
For more information on using the Navigator panel to find app files by their metadata category, see Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel.
Metadata table and its extended tables
Metadata lives as application files in their corresponding tables on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The main metadata table is sys_metadata, but specific types of metadata extend the sys_metadata table. For example, flows and sub-flows use the extended sys_hub_flow table.
See ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy for a list of available metadata and corresponding tables that extend sys_metadata.
Metadata by category
| Category | Metadata sections |
|---|---|
| Automation |
|
| Data |
|
| Integrations |
|
| Mobile |
|
| UI |
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| Other |
|