--- sourceDocument: Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/governance-risk-compliance Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance ft:clusterId : - grc bundleId : - grc workflow : - Technology --- # Generating reports using Document designer # Generating reports using Document designer {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 12, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Generating reports using Document designer Starting with Business Continuity Management (BCM) release 9.0.x, ServiceNow integrates the Document designer with Microsoft Word application (sngrcdocdesign) to enable the generation of customized reports in Microsoft Word format. This integration improves report formatting and resolves issues like improper page breaks and truncated content that were common in PDF reports generated by previous templates. Show full answer Show less The Document designer with Microsoft Word offers a low-code approach to configure and customize report templates for business impact analyses (BIAs), business continuity plans (BCPs), and events. It supports compliance with company branding and produces audit-ready reports directly from ServiceNow. ## Key Features * Low-code template customization enabling inclusion of specific record data such as tables and columns. * Predefined templates aligned with company branding, with options to customize or create new templates. * Ability to save generated reports in the ServiceNow instance or Microsoft SharePoint cloud. * Support for pulling metadata and related lists from ServiceNow tables and repeating content blocks per record. * Integration with Microsoft Word via a dedicated add-in for seamless report creation. ## Configuration Workflow To configure and manage report templates in BCM: * Install the Document designer with Microsoft Word application and dependent plugins; assign administrative (sngrcdocdesign.admin, snbcm.admin) and manager (snbcm.manager) roles. * Set up template relationship registries to define data connections in reports. * Configure data relationships, content blocks, and scripted variables to customize report content. * Install the ServiceNow Document designer add-in in Microsoft Word. * Upload custom or predefined Word templates to the designated ServiceNow location. * Generate BIA, BCP, and event reports within Business Continuity Workspace and save them in ServiceNow or Microsoft Office 365 cloud. ## Additional Information * The Document designer with Microsoft Word application is optional and must be downloaded manually from the ServiceNow Store. * It depends on the Data registry, Microsoft 365 for ServiceNow Reporting, and Microsoft Office 365 add-in applications. * Requires ServiceNow Xanadu release, patch 8 or later. * There are some limitations on the number of configurable columns and content blocks affecting usage with large datasets. ## Troubleshooting * Ensure the latest version of the Microsoft Word add-in is installed. * Verify ServiceNow instance URL and user credentials are correct. * Confirm required permissions to access and manage the Document designer application. By following these guidelines, ServiceNow customers can leverage the Document designer with Microsoft Word to efficiently generate professional, customizable, and audit-ready business continuity reports. Starting with BCM release 9.0.x, the ServiceNow Document designer with Microsoft Word application (sn_grc_doc_design) is integrated with BCM. It enables you to generate customized reports of the business impact analyses (BIAs), business continuity plans (BCPs), and events in Microsoft Word format. This integration resolves the improper page breaks and truncated content that occasionally appeared in PDFs generated by the previous template. ## Working with the application {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_xlc_jxx_xfc} The Document designer with Microsoft Word application offers a low-code solution, enabling you to configure different aspects of Microsoft Word documents without requiring extensive technical expertise. The templates offered by ServiceNow are designed to align with the company's brand guidelines, confirming consistent and professional documentation. Use Document designer with Microsoft Word to generate audit-ready reports for business impact analysis (BIAs), business continuity plans (BCPs), and events directly from your ServiceNow instance. Configure the Microsoft Word templates in the application to include specific data from the records, such as tables and columns, into the reports. Options include using predefined templates, customizing them with low-code implementation, or creating your own templates to meet your company's specific guidelines. You can save these reports either within your ServiceNow instance or as cloud documents in Microsoft SharePoint. ## Benefits of using the application in BCM {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_cwp_jvj_4fc} The Document designer with Microsoft Word application enables you to pull metadata, such as fields and related lists, from ServiceNow tables. It also enables you to add content blocks that repeat for each record in a table, for example, 10 blocks for 10 issues. Apply the templates to specific records and create reports in Microsoft Word format. ## Workflow for configuring and managing the report templates {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_osk_4tm_rfc} To configure and manage the report templates in the BCM application, complete the steps in the given sequence. {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__table_lrw_mwx_xfc__entry__2} | Step | Description | |-|-| | Install the applications and assign the roles | Install the Document designer with Microsoft Word (sn_grc_doc_design) application and its dependent plugins. See [Install Document designer with Microsoft Word](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~eWQzj9zmDd0DFJpmjSs7w "Install the Document designer with Microsoft Word (sn_grc_doc_design) application. It extracts metadata (including fields, related lists, and reference fields with their associated elements) from ServiceNow tables. It then enables the insertion of repeating content blocks (for example, 10 blocks for 10 issues) based on record count. When applied to specific records, the template generates a Microsoft Word document.") for more information. Administrative roles required to manage the templates are sn_grc_doc_design.admin and sn_bcm.admin. Managers with the sn_bcm.manager roles can generate the reports and save them in your ServiceNow instance or in the cloud (Microsoft Office 365). | | Set up the template relationship registry | See [Set up the template configurations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/2GGjTQj0hpwEmSFMbDTpug "Set up the template relationship registry using the Template Configurations module from the General administration setup. Configure data relationships, content configurations, and scripted variables for using the Document designer application so that required data gets displayed in the reports.") for more information. | | Configure data relationships, content configurations, and scripted variables | Configure data relationships in the templates so that they're displayed in the Microsoft Word reports. See [Configure the data relationships](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/f9QRS4yNMWa1DV7mlTKvWg "Configure the data relationships in the Template Configurations module, which helps you to navigate from a record in the template configuration to any table. When you create these paths, you can fetch necessary data from each of these records in the BCM report template."), [Set up the content configurations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/_L95jivc4X0ZSarF0LEb_Q "Set up the content configurations in the Template Configurations module to define the data you want to view or fetch when creating a report template. You can configure it to display a list of records or aggregated data, such as a list of remediation tasks or top priority issues. You can fetch up to 200 records from any table."), and [Define the scripted variables](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/hoP5mzLUqnVpcppmhNAvXw "Define data for the scripted variables using the Template Configurations module for creating a report template in the BCM application. You can configure the data in either text or HTML format.") for more information. | | Install the ServiceNow Document designer add-in | Install the add-in into your Microsoft Word document. See [Install the Document designer add-in](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r~3pEdKN8eRPavbsSl5hFw "Install ServiceNow Document designer add-in in Microsoft Word. You can then customize the BIA, BCP, event reports, and Microsoft Word templates according to your business needs.") for more information. | | Upload the newly created Microsoft Word template | Upload the newly created Microsoft Word template in the AllBusiness ContinuityGeneral AdministrationWord Templates. Alternately, use a predefined template provided in the BCM instance to generate the reports in Microsoft Word format. | | Generate the BIA, BCP, and event reports of the records | Generate the BIA, BCP, and event reports of the records in the Business Continuity Workspace and save them in your ServiceNow instance or in the cloud. See [Generate reports for BIAs, BCPs, and events](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/1QspLRULj2RC2jvI4rl3tQ "Generate customized reports for BIAs, BCPs, and events directly from their respective records in Microsoft Word format. This functionality enables you to streamline reporting of impact analyses, plans, and events within your organization.") for more information. | [Table 1. Workflow for generating the reports in Microsoft Word] {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__table_lrw_mwx_xfc} ## Downloading it as an optional application {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_ik4_4vj_4fc} The Document designer with Microsoft Word application is optional. You can use the existing BCM functionality of generating the PDFs of BIAs, BCPs, and exercises. You can also use the Document designer with Microsoft Word application to generate Microsoft Word documents. You must manually download and install it from the ServiceNow Store. The Document designer with Microsoft Word application has dependencies on these applications: * Data registry (sn_data_registry), 19.1.0 * Microsoft 365 for ServiceNow Reporting (sn_esg_msoff_intg), 20.0.1 * Microsoft Office 365 add-in (sn_office_addin) {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__ul_tcj_xzj_4fc} ## Recommended release version {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_cxp_vzj_4fc} A few limitations on the number of columns and content blocks that can be configured may affect the usability with extensive data requirements. To use the Document designer with Microsoft Word application, you must be on Xanadu release, patch 8 or later. ## Troubleshooting information {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__section_x4d_p35_rfc} If you encounter any issues with Microsoft Word Add-in, check these parameters: * Confirm that you have the latest version of the add-in installed. * Check ServiceNow instance URL and credentials. * Confirm that you have the necessary permissions to access the Document designer application. {#integrating-document-designer-with-bcm__ul_mlj_p35_rfc} With these steps, you can effectively use the ServiceNow Document designer with Microsoft Word Add-in to create and manage documents in your ServiceNow instance. *[\>]: and then