Transform maps

Release version: Zurich

Updated July 31, 2025

2 minutes to read

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Summary of Transform Maps

A transform map in ServiceNow is designed to establish relationships between fields in an import set and existing tables, such as Incident or User tables. Once created, a transform map can be reused for mapping data from different import sets to the same target table. The Transform Maps module allows administrators to specify how imported data is directed to various fields in ServiceNow tables, leveraging a straightforward drag-and-drop interface for linking source and destination fields.

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Key Features

Auto-mapping: Automatically maps fields, but ensure that only necessary fields are included, as some (like encrypted passwords) should be excluded.
Mapping Reference Fields: Care should be taken when mapping reference fields to prevent unwanted DisplayValues if the sysid is missing. Performance can be affected by mapping numerous reference fields.
Multiple Transform Maps: You can apply several transform maps to a single data source, which may generate a large number of temporary records.
Transform Map Scripts: Offers customization of import operations through scripting, with two types available: Explicit Transform Map scripts for defining relationships and Transformation Event scripts for modifying event processing.

Key Outcomes

By utilizing transform maps, ServiceNow customers can efficiently manage data imports, ensure proper field mappings, and customize import processes through scripts. This enhances data integrity and operational efficiency, while also providing flexibility in handling diverse data import scenarios.

A transform map is a set of field maps that determine the relationships between fields in an import set and fields in an existing ServiceNow table, such as Incident [incident] or User [sys_user].

After creating a transform map, you can reuse it to map data from another import set to the same table.

The Transform Maps module enables an administrator to define destinations for imported data on any tables. Transform mapping can be as simple as a drag and drop operation to specify linking between source fields on an import set table and destination fields on any table. Use transform mapping to map source and destination fields dynamically.

For a video overview of transform maps, see the Transform Maps video on the ServiceNow Dev Program YouTube channel.

Transform considerations

Auto-mapping: Double-check that fields the system maps automatically are actually required. For example, encrypted passwords probably should not be mapped.
Mapping reference fields: If you are mapping reference field data and the sys_id does not exist, the sys_id could potentially appear in the target record as the DisplayValue, and this may be undesirable.; Field mapping a large number of reference fields incurs additional performance overhead because the system checks that the referenced sys_id actually exists before performing choice actions at the field level.
Note:
You can bypass the performance overhead using transform scripts such as onBefore (on the assumption that there is no requirement to validate the import of reference fields). For example, target.<field_name> = source.<field_name>.

Using multiple transform maps

Multiple transform maps can be applied to a single data source.

One import set row is created per transform map, which can cause a large number of temporary records to be generated.

Note:

If you use multiple transform maps for the same import set, the transform creates multiple entries in the import set table.

Run multiple transforms off a single import set

You can select multiple transform maps during data import.

The selected transform maps execute on the same import set in the order specified.

Transform map scripts

Transform Map scripts allow you to customize import operations using a robust programming interface to introduce advanced logic.

A transform map script executes as events occur while an import set is being transformed onto a ServiceNow table. Transform Map scripting is fully integrated into the ServiceNow scripting environment. There are two types of Transform Map scripts:

Explicit Transform Map scripts, which explicitly define mapping relationships
Transformation Event scripts, which modify the processing of events at different stages of a transformation