Exploring Decision Tables

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Exploring Decision Tables

    Decision tables in Workflow Studio allow ServiceNow developers to separate decision logic from application code by creating and managing sets of if-then decision rules. This capability enables dynamic evaluation of inputs from records, external sources, or fixed values at runtime, returning results when conditions are met. Since the Washington DC release, Decision Builder features are integrated into Workflow Studio, providing a centralized environment to author and monitor decision tables alongside workflows, flows, and other components.

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    Key Features

    • Intuitive Interface: Workflow Studio offers an easy-to-use interface to create, modify, and reorder decision rules, improving decision logic management.
    • Delegated Development: Assign delegated developer roles to non-admin users to create and manage decision tables at the application level, optimizing workload distribution.
    • Runtime Data Evaluation: Inputs can be configured to read data from existing ServiceNow records, external sources, or static values for flexible decision-making.
    • Filter Capability: Users can apply filters to condition and result columns within decision tables to efficiently manage and modify large sets of rules without exporting data.
    • Integration with App Engine Studio: Developers using App Engine Studio can create and access decision tables through an integrated wizard, streamlining application development.

    Benefits

    • Enables building complex decision logic easily without changing application code, facilitating quick adaptation to evolving business needs.
    • Promotes reuse of decision logic across multiple applications, increasing efficiency and consistency.
    • Consolidates process and decision management within Workflow Studio, enhancing development workflow and monitoring.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • After installing Workflow Studio decision tables, all decision table creation and modification must occur within Workflow Studio; the classic environment is no longer supported for these actions.
    • Decision tables can be embedded in flows, subflows, and playbooks throughout the ServiceNow AI Platform, enabling widespread use of centralized decision logic.
    • For troubleshooting or assistance, customers should contact their Customer Admin or ServiceNow Support, and consult known error articles and the ServiceNow Community.

    Decision tables in Workflow Studio enable developers to decouple decision logic from their code by creating and maintaining decision rules.

    Demo Tour

    For an in-depth review and demo of decision table features and benefits, see Decision Builder Testing and Publishing | Creator Toolbox-ServiceNow.

    Announcements

    • As of the Washington DC release, Decision Builder is now part of Workflow Studio. Workflow Studio gives you a streamlined way to author, configure, and monitor processes, flows, subflows, playbooks, actions, and decision tables in one place.
    • The core Decision Builder feature is still available with the ServiceNow AI Platform® by default, but the latest updates are available for download through the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow® Store.
    • For more information about this update, see the Washington DC Decision Builder release notes.

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    Features

    Note:
    After you install Workflow Studio decision tables, you can only access decision tables previously created in the classic environment through Workflow Studio. You can no longer create or modify decision tables in the classic environment.

    Workflow Studio provides an intuitive interface to create and manage decision tables, which store sets of decision rules.

    Decision tables embed business logic into a series of if-then decision rules. Decision tables read data from inputs and evaluate the data according to specified conditions. When all the conditions for a decision rule are met, the decision table returns one or more results.

    Administrators can use the delegated development capability to manage workload efficiently by assigning the delegated development role to developers or non-admin users. A delegated developer has more permissions than a user, but less than an admin. Non-admin designated users can create and manage decision tables at the application level. For more information, see Delegated development.

    Decision tables in Workflow Studio enable you to do the following:

    • Create inputs that read data at runtime from existing records, external data sources, or hard-coded values.
    • Create and modify decision rules.
    • Change the order of evaluation criteria to optimize results.

    Benefits

    Decision tables in Workflow Studio provide the following benefits:

    • Build complex decisions easily with decision tables.
    • Meet changing business requirements and quickly update decisions by modifying only the decision logic and not the application code.
    • Increase efficiency by reusing decision logic across multiple applications.
    • Evaluate data at runtime from multiple sources, including existing ServiceNow records and data from external sources.

    Workflow Studio integration with other applications

    Extend the capabilities of decision tables in Workflow Studio by integrating with applications in the ServiceNow AI Platform® suite.
    Table 1. Application integration
    Application Description Reference
    App Engine Studio
    • App Engine Studio (AES) provides an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) application-like interface for app developers to build custom applications in one centralized location while maintaining your organization's brand and application development standards.
    • AES users can create decision tables using an AES wizard and access existing decision tables for their applications without leaving AES.
    		 See Add a decision in App Engine Studio.

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