Advanced Instruction activity

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Advanced Instruction Activity

    The Advanced Instruction activity in ServiceNow Zurich release allows you to display detailed, customizable instructions to guide end users through playbook steps. This activity is designed for use in playbooks and is accessible to users with admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles.

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    Configuration and Inputs

    You can configure this activity by setting various inputs to tailor its behavior and display:

    • Label and Description: Define the title and informational text shown on the activity and playbook card to clarify the activity’s purpose.
    • Run Condition: Specify conditions under which the activity or stage runs, using data from prior activities. This enables dynamic control of playbook flow.
    • Start Rule: Determine when the stage or activity begins. Options include starting when the process or stage starts, or after specific stages or activities complete.
    • Start with Delay: Choose to delay the start of the activity or stage by a set duration.
    • Title and Description for End Users: Customize the message shown directly to users when the activity runs.
    • Wait for User Input: Optionally pause the playbook until the end user manually completes or skips the activity, ensuring user interaction is captured before proceeding. This setting can only be edited by playbook.admin role users.

    Advanced Inputs

    Additional inputs are available to further refine task assignment and user experience:

    • Assignment Group: Assign the task linked to the activity to a specific user group responsible for completion.
    • Assigned To: Assign the task to an individual user.
    • Tagline and Footer: Add a header tagline and footer text to the instruction display for branding or extra context.

    Outputs

    The activity provides output data that can be referenced by subsequent activities in the playbook. Specifically, it outputs a reference to the related task record, facilitating data flow and integration within the playbook process.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Guide end users clearly through complex processes with detailed, customizable instructions.
    • Control playbook execution with conditions, start rules, and delays to match your organizational workflows.
    • Ensure tasks are assigned to appropriate groups or individuals for accountability.
    • Pause playbook progression to capture user input when needed, improving accuracy and compliance.
    • Leverage output references for seamless data handoff between activities in your automated workflows.

    Display detailed instructions to guide end users through your playbook.

    Roles and availability

    This activity is available as a common activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pd_author can add this activity to a playbook.

    Inputs

    Open the activity properties panel and configure your activity to add values for the following inputs. If the input value varies, use the pill-picker to show where to get the value. To learn more about the pill-picker, see Dot-walking examples.
    Input Type Description
    Label String Title to display as activity and playbook card.
    Description String Information to display about activity usage or outcome.
    Run condition Condition Builder Conditions that must be met to run an activity or stage. You can use data from prior activities to build conditions.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Start Rule Choice Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your stage should start running:
    • When process starts: Your stage starts running as soon as the playbook starts.
    • After specific stages: Your stage starts running after specified stage(s) have finished running.
    Under Schedule > Start Rule, select a start rule for when your activity should start running:
    • When stage starts: Your activity starts running as soon as its stage starts running. Your stage starts running when your playbook is triggered.
    • After specific activities: Your activity starts running after specified activities have finished running.
    Start with delay True/False Option to wait for a duration of time before running an activity or stage. When enabled, this input displays the Start with delay input properties.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Title String Title displayed to end users.
    Description String Details to display in the message to end users.
    Wait for user input Choice Option to pause the playbook until the end user manually completes or skips the activity. Only users with the playbook.admin role can edit this field. By default, the activity waits for user action or data before it completes.

    Advanced inputs

    After configuring the required inputs for your activity, you can also choose to configure additional inputs. In the side panel, select Show additional options to display these advanced inputs. For more information, see Activity experience.
    Input Type Description
    Assignment Group Reference.Group [sys_user_group] Group responsible for completing the task associated with the activity.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Assigned To Reference.User [sys_user] User responsible for completing the task associated with the activity.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.
    Tagline String Header tagline to display to end users.
    Footer String Footer text to display to end users.
    Note:
    Select Show additional options to see this field.

    Outputs

    These outputs can provide data to other activities in your playbook. You can access this data as activity inputs when you configure your activity:
    Output Type Description
    Record Reference.Task [task] Reference to the record associated with the activity.