Two Step Instruction activity

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Two Step Instruction activity

    The Two Step Instruction activity in ServiceNow allows you to display customized messages to end users based on the current state of the activity. You can specify distinct messages for when the activity is in progress, completed, or skipped. This enhances communication and clarity for users interacting with playbook activities.

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    This activity is available as a common activity and can be added to playbooks by users with the admin, playbook.admin, or pdauthor roles.

    Configuration Inputs

    When configuring the Two Step Instruction activity, you use the activity properties panel to set the following key inputs:

    • Label: Title displayed on the activity and playbook card.
    • Description: Information about the activity’s purpose or expected outcome.
    • Run condition: Conditions that determine when the activity or stage runs, using data from prior activities.
    • Start Rule: Defines when a stage or activity begins running, with options such as "When process starts," "After specific stages," "When stage starts," or "After specific activities."
    • Start with delay: Optionally delay the start of the activity or stage by a set duration.
    • Initial Message: Message shown to users when the activity is in progress.
    • Completed Message: Message shown when the activity is completed.
    • Skipped Message: Message shown if the activity is skipped.

    Advanced inputs are available for further customization, including:

    • Assignment Group: Reference to the user group responsible for the activity’s associated task.
    • Assigned To: Reference to the individual user responsible for the task.

    Outputs

    The activity provides outputs that can be leveraged by other activities within your playbook:

    • Record: A reference to the task record associated with this activity.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    By using the Two Step Instruction activity in your playbooks, you can deliver contextual and state-aware messages to end users, improving task clarity and user guidance throughout workflows. The flexible start rules and conditions allow you to sequence activities precisely according to your process needs. Assignment inputs help ensure accountability by clearly designating responsible groups or users. The output references enable seamless integration and data flow between activities in the playbook.

    Display a different message to end users based on the current activity state. You can specify an initial state message, a skipped state message, and a completed state message.

    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.
    Initial Message String Message text to display to end users when the activity state is In Progress.
    Completed Message String Message text to display to end users when the activity state is Completed.
    Skipped Message String Message text to display to end users when the activity state is Skipped.

    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.

    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.