Record screen tables

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Record screen tables

    Record screen tables in the Mobile App Builder allow ServiceNow customers to reference child records within a parent record. These tables support both single-reference and multi-reference records, enabling users to either select existing child records or create new ones directly from the record screen. This functionality simplifies managing related records and enhances data organization within mobile applications.

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    Key Features

    • Input Field Type: Tables are one of several input field types used in record screens, designed specifically to handle reference records.
    • Choose and New Buttons: Each table displays either a Choose button to select existing records, a New button to create new records, or both. The availability depends on the type of reference allowed:
      • Single-reference records: Only one child record can be referenced at a time; the Choose or New button becomes inactive after selection until the existing reference is removed.
      • Multi-reference records: Multiple child records can be referenced simultaneously.
    • UI Elements:
      • Actionable items such as record names, remove buttons, and editable fields are highlighted in blue for easy identification.
      • Column headers include a sort icon to arrange records ascending or descending based on the column values.
      • Inline editing is available for certain fields (e.g., Order), allowing quick updates without opening the full record.
      • The remove icon removes the reference from the parent record but does not delete the actual record from the database.

    Practical Use for ServiceNow Customers

    This feature enables users to efficiently manage relationships between records within mobile apps, improving data accuracy and workflow speed. Customers can quickly add, modify, or remove child record references directly in the app interface, supporting streamlined data entry and maintenance.

    For detailed steps on creating or editing reference entries, customers should consult the related guides on creating and editing reference record entries in record screen tables.

    Use tables in the Mobile App Builder record screen to reference child records to a parent record. These records can consist of either single reference records or multi-reference records.

    Tables in a record screen are one of a few input field types. For a complete list of input field types, see Record screen input field types. Tables contain reference records where you can select or create a child record that the parent record can reference. The option to select or create a reference record is predefined according to the record you select.


    Mobile App Builder record screen table

    Usage of Choose and New buttons in record screen tables

    Each table within a record screen table displays either a Choose button (Choose button in record screen table.), a New button (New button in record screen table.), or both buttons (Choose and New button in record screen table.).
    • In a situation where you can only reference existing records, the Choose button displays.
    • In a situation when you can only create a new reference to the record you are working on, the New button displays.

    If the Choose or New button is inactive after you make a single selection, it means that only a single record can be referenced. This is known as a single-reference record. Alternatively, when more than one selection can be made, this is a multi-reference record.

    To change a single-reference record, first remove the existing reference by selecting the delete row icon (Delete row icon.), then either choose or create a new reference.

    For more information about working with these options, see Create reference record entries in record screen tables and Edit record reference entries in record screen tables.

    UI elements in a table reference record

    The Mobile App Builder table reference records contain the following UI elements.

    UI element Function
    Actionable item in table reference record. Actionable items in a table reference record are blue. These items can be record names that open the record, remove buttons, and editable fields.
    Column sort button in table reference record. The column sort icon is available within the header row of all tables in the Mobile App Builder. Select the column sort icon (Column sort icon.) to list the column contents in either ascending or descending order. The black triangle indicates the sorting order for the entire table.
    You can perform inline editing in certain fields, such as the Order field. When performing inline editing, you change content within the table and you do not need to open the record.
    Delete row button. Use the remove icon to remove an entry from the record. It does not delete the entry from the database.