Table properties in Table Builder

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Table properties in Table Builder

    Table Builder in ServiceNow Zurich release allows customers to customize various properties of data tables and their columns. This capability helps tailor tables to specific data requirements by defining column behavior, data types, defaults, and access controls.

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    Table column properties

    Customers can configure individual columns within a table by setting these key properties:

    • Column label: The unique, user-friendly name displayed for the column.
    • Column name: The internal database identifier for the column.
    • Type: Defines the data stored in the column (e.g., String, Choice, Reference). Additional settings depend on the chosen type, such as character limits for strings or selectable options for choice fields.
    • Reference: For Reference type columns, associates the column with another table.
    • Max length: Limits the number of characters users can enter.
    • Default value: Automatically populates the field when a new record is created.
    • Display: Marks the column as the display value, which is the representative title for records in the table. Only one column can be designated as the display value.

    Table properties

    For overall table configuration, customers can modify these key settings:

    • Table label: Change the visible name of the table in the General information tab.
    • Make the table extensible: Enable extensibility via the Advanced options, allowing further customization or inheritance.
    • Add record numbers: Enable and define record numbering with prefix, starting number, and digit count to uniquely identify records.
    • Accessible from: Control the application scopes from which the table is accessible (all scopes or only the current scope).
    • Application access controls: Specify permissions for Read, Create, Update, and Delete operations on the table to manage security and data integrity.

    Various table and table column properties can be modified by using Table Builder.

    Table column properties

    The following table shows descriptions of the properties that you can modify for the columns in a data table.

    Table 1. Table column properties
    Field Description
    Column label Unique label for the column.
    Column name Database name for the column.
    Type

    Type of information that the column contains. For example, to contain plain text in the column, select String.

    Depending on the type that you select, fill in the additional fields to further define the table column. For example, if you select String, define the character limit of the string input. Or, if you select Choice, define the choices that users can choose from.

    See Field types.
    Reference Table that is associated with the column. This field applies only if the column type is Reference.
    Max length Maximum number of characters that users can enter in the field.
    Default value Value that populates the field automatically after a new record is created.
    Display

    Option to set the column as the display value for the table. A reference field shows the display value of the table to which it is referring. For example, the Opened by column of the task table refers to the user table. Because the display value of the user table is the user name, the Opened by field shows something like Beth Anglin or Joe Employee. When you select a display value, choose the table column that would act as an appropriate title for individual records.

    Only one column can act as the display value for a table.

    Table properties

    The following table shows the descriptions of the properties that you can modify for a selected data table.

    Table 2. Table properties
    Option Procedure
    Change the table label In the General information tab, update the Table label field.
    Make the table extensible
    1. In the General information tab, select Advanced.
    2. Select the Make extensible check box.
    Add record numbers
    1. In the General information tab, select Advanced.
    2. Select the Add record number check box.
    3. Define the record numbers by updating the Prefix, Starting number, and Number of digits fields.
    Accessible from
    1. Open the Access tab.
    2. In the Accessible From field, select All Application Scopes or This Application Scope Only.
    Application access controls
    1. Open the Access tab.
    2. In the Application Access Controls field, select Read, Create, Update, and/or Delete selection boxes to specify the desired level of access for the table.