Welcome page keyboard commands

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Welcome page keyboard commands

    This guide provides keyboard shortcuts for navigating and operating the Workflow Editor Welcome page in the Zurich release. It enables ServiceNow customers to efficiently manage workflows using keyboard commands, enhancing accessibility and productivity without relying on a mouse.

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    Key Features

    • Navigate Main Content Panel: Use Tab to focus on the workflow list in the Published tab, Arrow Keys to move through workflows, and Enter to open a selected workflow in the Workflow drawing canvas.
    • Switch Between Tabs: Use Left/Right Arrow Keys to move between Published, Checked Out, and Help tabs; then Tab and Enter to select workflows or help resources.
    • Create New Workflow: Navigate to and press Enter on the New Workflow button to start a new workflow.
    • Jump to Top: After navigating records in a tab, press Enter on the Jump to Top control to return to the Welcome tab.
    • Page Selection Controls: Use Tab to reach page controls and Enter to activate them for navigating workflow listings.
    • Side Panel Navigation: Press Tab twice from menu entry to focus on the side panel Workflows tab; from there, access help, create new workflows, or open existing ones using Tab, Arrow Keys, and Enter.
    • Add Core Activities: When a checked out workflow is open, navigate to the Core tab in the side panel via keyboard, browse core activities, open folders, and add activities by opening the New Activity dialog for property specification.

    Key Outcomes

    By mastering these keyboard commands, ServiceNow users can:

    • Quickly access and manage workflow records without a mouse.
    • Seamlessly switch between workflow tabs and help content.
    • Create new workflows and add core activities efficiently.
    • Enhance workflow editing speed and accessibility, supporting diverse user needs.

    Use keyboard commands to navigate and operate the Workflow Editor Welcome page.


    Workflow Editor Welcome page - Tab Sequences
    Task or Action Keyboard Commands
    Navigate to main content (left) panel, and select a workflow
    1. After accessing the Workflow Editor from a menu, press Tab. The Skip to Main Content button appears in the upper left corner.
    2. Press Enter to position the cursor in the first record displayed in the Published tab.
    3. Press Tab to navigate down the listing of workflow records.

      Press Enter to select and open a workflow record in the Workflow drawing canvas.
    Select a checked out workflow or a help function in main content panel
    1. After accessing the Workflow Editor from a menu, press Tab until the Published tab is highlighted.
      Note:
      Do not select The Skip to Main Content button or The Skip to Workflow Side Panel button.
    2. Press the right or left arrow keys to navigate between the Published, Checked Out, or Help tabs.
    3. Press Tab to navigate across the columns and down the listing of checked out workflow records or help selections.

      Press Enter to select and open a checked out workflow record in the Workflow drawing canvas, or open a help selection (work or orchestration videos, documentation, community discussions, knowledge base, or Live Feed).
    Create a workflow
    1. After accessing the Workflow Editor from a menu, press Tab until The New Workflow button is highlighted.
    2. Press Enter to open New Workflow
    Jump to Top After tabbing through the displayed records in a tab in the main panel (for example, within the Published tab), The Jump to top buttonappears at the bottom of the listing. Press Enter to return to the Welcome tab at the top of the Workflow Editor.
    Navigate to page selection controls
    1. After tabbing through the displayed records in a tab in the main panel (for example, within the Published tab), including The Jump to top button, press Tab to access the page selection controls. Continue to press Tab until you access the desired one.
    2. Press Enter to operate the selected page control.
    Navigate directly to side (right) panel to open help, create a new workflow, or open an existing one
    1. After accessing the Workflow Editor from a menu, press Tab two times. Do not select The Skip to Main Content button. The Skip to Workflow Side Panel button appears in the upper left corner.
    2. Press Enter to position the cursor in the Workflows tab in the side panel.
    3. To open help, press Tab to navigate to Question mark icon. Press Enter to open help, or press Tab to skip.
    4. To create a new workflow, press Tab to navigate toPlus sign icon. Press Enter to open New Workflow, or press Tab to skip.
    5. To open an existing workflow:
      • As needed, stop at the filter field to filter workflows.
      • Press Tab to navigate down the workflow list.
      • Press Enter to select and open a workflow record in the Workflow drawing canvas,
    Add a core activity to a checked out workflow in the Workflow drawing canvas If a checked out workflow is open in the Workflow drawing canvas, core activity records display in the Core tab. To select a core activity and place it in the checked out workflow:
    Note:
    Core activity records only display when a checked out workflow is open in the Workflow drawing canvas. Other tabs display in the side panel only if Orchestration functions are enabled.
    1. In the Workflow drawing canvas, press Shift Tab until The Skip to Workflow Side Panel button appears in the upper left corner.
    2. Press Enter to position the cursor in the Workflows tab in the side panel.
    3. Press the right arrow key to navigate to the Core tab.
    4. Press Tab or the down arrow key to navigate down the listing of core activities.
      • To open a core activities folder (for example, Approvals), press the right arrow key.
      • To navigate up the list, press the left or up arrow keys.
    5. Press Tab to select a core activity and open the New Activity dialog to specify properties for it.
    6. After creating the activity, remember to link it to another activity in the workflow. See Create a connection from a condition on one activity to the next activity that follows in Workflow drawing canvas keyboard commands.