Working with metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Working with metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

    ServiceNow Studio allows you to efficiently work with various types of metadata supported by the ServiceNow AI Platform, including automations, integrations, user interface files, and more. The Navigator panel’s File Categories section organizes all accessible metadata by taxonomy category, facilitating quick access and navigation within your ServiceNow Studio apps.

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    Accessing and Navigating Metadata

    The File Categories section in the Navigator panel categorizes metadata into expandable groups and subcategories. For example, expanding the Automation category reveals sub-types like actions, flows, and playbooks. Selecting a sub-type displays all relevant metadata files you have access to, which can be opened directly within ServiceNow Studio, such as opening Flows in Workflow Studio.

    Each subcategory corresponds to a source table on the platform, and selecting “Open list” provides the full list of files of that type. This organization helps streamline locating and managing app files based on their metadata category.

    Metadata Tables and Structure

    Metadata files reside in specific tables within the ServiceNow AI Platform. The primary metadata table is sysmetadata, with extended tables for specialized metadata types, such as syshubflow for flows and sub-flows. Understanding these tables is useful for advanced management and customization of metadata files.

    Metadata Categories

    The metadata is grouped into several key categories, each containing relevant metadata types used across different app functionalities:

    • Automation: Includes schedules, flows, actions, playbooks.
    • Data: Client development, MID Server, server development.
    • Integrations: Inbound and outbound integrations.
    • Mobile: Mobile App Builder, Mobile Card Builder.
    • UI: User interface content.
    • Other: Natural Language Understanding (NLU), reporting, security, and properties.

    You can customize the view of these categories by grouping or ungrouping parent categories using the “More options” menu in the File Categories panel.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    Using the categorized metadata view in ServiceNow Studio Navigator helps customers quickly locate and manage app files by type, improving development efficiency and organization. It also provides clear visibility into the underlying data structure and relationships, aiding in better app customization and governance. This structured approach supports a streamlined development experience across various app components such as automations, integrations, UI elements, and mobile features.

    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

    The File Categories section of the Navigator panel enables you to quickly view all types of metadata that you have access to, arranged by taxonomy category. Expanding each metadata file category shows its subcategories. For example, expanding the Automation category provides access to view all of the sub-types of automation metadata, such as actions, flows, and playbooks.
    Note:
    To see a complete list of each category's file types and information about each file, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.
    Figure 1. Metadata sections in the File Categories section of the Navigator
    Expanded Automation section of the File Categories section of the Navigator

    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.

    Note:
    The source table for each sub-category of metadata file type appears when you select the category. Select Open list to see a complete list of all the files of that type.
    Figure 2. Table for app files
    The base table for the app file type appears at the top of the list

    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

    Each file category has different types of metadata available for automations, data, integration, mobile app builder, UI, and other categories. For a list of each type of file, its primary table, primary builder experience, and more, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.

    Note:
    You can group or ungroup the metadata categories in the File Categories menu by selecting the More options icon (more options icon) and selecting or deselecting Show parent categories.
    Table 1. Categories of metadata
    Category Metadata sections
    Automation
    • Automation
    • Schedules
    Data
    • Client development
    • Data
    • MID Server
    • Server development
    Integrations
    • Inbound integration
    • Outbound integration
    • Properties
    Mobile
    • Mobile App Builder
    • Mobile Card Builder
    UI
    • Content
    • User interface
    Other
    • Natural Language Understanding (NLU)
    • Reporting
    • Security