Spotlight interactive analysis

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Spotlight interactive analysis

    Spotlight interactive analysis in ServiceNow provides detailed insights into the key results of a Spotlight job by leveraging a specialized database view created for each Spotlight group. This feature enables users with thepaspotlightoradminroles to access and analyze Spotlight data directly from the Spotlight Group record. It is essential for understanding how records exceed configured thresholds and for generating meaningful reports and dashboards.

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    Access and Requirements

    • Open the Spotlight Group record and click Launch Interactive Analysis to view the analysis.
    • Users need the paspotlight or admin role to access this feature.
    • Interactive analysis relies on the Spotlight database view that joins Spotlight records with the main indicator’s facts table.
    • If the database view is missing, users with appropriate roles can generate it via a provided link.
    • For tables other than Incident, a fully enabled Performance Analytics subscription is required.
    • Users must have the itil role to see values in the joined database view.
    • Domain separation restricts visibility to records within the user’s domain.

    Key Features

    • Displays the total number of Spotlight records exceeding group thresholds and those unassigned (no value in the Assigned To column).
    • Provides a database view that shows detailed rows combining Spotlight and facts table data, supporting report creation and dashboard integration.
    • Includes interactive filters to refine analysis based on Priority, Opened date, Age, Assignment Group, and State for task-related facts tables.
    • Filter creation and management require the admin role and must be done on the relevant Spotlight database view.
    • Interactive analysis can be shared via URL, with recipients requiring the paspotlightviewer role for access.

    Practical Benefits

    ServiceNow customers can use Spotlight interactive analysis to:

    • Gain a comprehensive understanding of records exceeding performance thresholds.
    • Create targeted reports and dashboards that combine Spotlight insights with core indicator data.
    • Apply filters to drill down into specific subsets of data for more focused analysis.
    • Share interactive data views securely with appropriate roles to support collaboration and decision-making.

    Spotlight interactive analysis shows the key results of a Spotlight job. Access the analysis from a Spotlight Group record.

    To open the Spotlight interactive analysis, open the Spotlight Group record for the group of interest and click the Launch Interactive Analysis related link. The pa_spotlight or admin role is necessary.
    Note:
    Interactive analysis uses the Spotlight database view. Spotlight creates the database view for each Spotlight group when you create the group. If the database view is missing, a warning appears. If you have the pa_spotlight or admin roles, a link also appears for generating a database view. For more information, see Spotlight database views.

    Using interactive analysis with any table other than incident requires fully enabled, subscription version of Performance Analytics. See Activating your Performance Analytics subscription.

    Interactive Analysis contains the following information:
    • The number of Spotlight records. This value is also the number of corresponding fact table records that exceeded the Spotlight Group threshold.
    • The number of unassigned facts table records that exceeded the Spotlight threshold. These records have no value in the Assigned To column.
    • The database view that joins the Spotlight table with the facts table of the main indicator. Each row of this view shows the columns from a Spotlight record and the corresponding facts table record.
      Note:
      • If a user cannot see the values in this table, ensure that they have the itil role.
      • If domain separation is enabled, a user can only see Spotlights records for corresponding fact table records that are included in their domains.
      • You can create reports by using this database view as a data source. You can include these reports in dashboards. Each of the Analytics and Reporting Spotlight Solutions includes such a dashboard and reports.

      For more information, see Spotlight database views.

    You can apply interactive filters to the analysis. The following filters are available, for facts tables with the matching columns:
    • The Priority of the facts table record (tasks only)
    • When the record was Opened
    • The Age of the record
    • The Assignment Group (tasks only)
    • The State that the record is in
    For information about adding or removing any of these filters, see Add a filter to Interactive Analysis and Remove a filter from Interactive Analysis.
    Note:
    If you create an interactive filter for a Spotlight interactive analysis, the filter must be created on top of the relevant Spotlight database view. The admin role is necessary to access the database view. If you do not have this role, contact your system administrator.

    To share the interactive analysis, share the URL from the Filter Info. The user with whom you share the interactive analysis must have the pa_spotlight_viewer role. For more information about the Filter Info, see Interactive Analysis information panel.