Task import into CWM Boards using Now Assist

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 29, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read
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    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 Task import into CWM Boards using Now Assist

    This feature allows ServiceNow customers to efficiently import tasks or stories from spreadsheets or documents directly into Collaborative Work Management (CWM) Boards using Now Assist. It eliminates the need to manually recreate each task, saving time and reducing errors when migrating structured work data from external task tracking tools into CWM Boards.

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    Key Features

    • AI-Proposed Column Mapping: Now Assist automatically analyzes your import file and suggests mappings from source columns to target Board columns, which you can review and adjust.
    • Manual Mapping Adjustments: You can manually change the target column for any source column, ensuring each source maps uniquely to a Board column.
    • Custom Column Creation: If a source column does not match existing Board columns, you can add new custom columns with chosen types during the mapping step.
    • Reset to AI Mapping: Easily revert all manual mapping changes back to the original AI-generated proposals.
    • Preview Before Import: Review the full list of tasks to be imported and deselect any rows you do not want to include before confirming.
    • Background Processing with Notification: Imports run in the background after confirmation, with workspace notifications indicating how many records were added and any rows that failed.
    • Record Type Selection: Choose whether each imported row is a CWM task or story, which determines available target columns during mapping.

    Considerations

    • File Limits and Types: Supports a single file per import, up to 10 MB with a maximum of 100 rows and 50 columns. Supported formats include .doc, .docx, .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .png, .jpg, and .jpeg. Only the first sheet of Excel files is imported.
    • Excel Header Row: The first row must contain column names (header), which is required for AI mapping. This does not apply to image files.
    • Date Formats: Dates must match the instance's glide.sys.dateformat system property; otherwise, dates will be blank after import.
    • Required Mapping: The Short Description column must be mapped to proceed with preview and import.
    • Access Requirements: Import is available only on Boards where Now Assist for CWM is enabled, and users must have the sncwmai.cwmaiuser and lensuser roles.
    • File Restrictions: CSV files are not supported; use Excel files for tabular data. Files must contain structured tabular data; narrative or freeform text files cannot be imported.
    • Import Irreversibility: Once confirmed, imports cannot be undone; records must be manually deleted if removal is needed.
    • Post-Import Visibility: Newly imported tasks are added to the Board without special highlighting; use filters or sorting to locate them.

    How This Benefits ServiceNow Customers

    ServiceNow customers can streamline the migration of existing task data into CWM Boards, minimizing manual effort and errors. The AI-assisted mapping and preview features provide control and accuracy, while background processing allows users to continue work uninterrupted. Understanding file requirements and access roles ensures smooth setup and use of the import feature.

    Save time and effort by importing tasks or stories from a spreadsheet or document into a Collaborative Work Management Board. Now Assist proposes column mapping so you can bring existing work onto a Board without manually recreating each row.

    Teams migrating to CWM from external task tracking tools often have months of structured work already documented in spreadsheets or documents. Recreating that work manually on a CWM Board is time-consuming and error-prone.

    The import feature on a CWM Board lets you bring that existing work in from a file. Now Assist scans the file, identifies the tasks, and proposes how each source column maps to a column on your Board. You review and adjust the mapping, preview the tasks before they are created, and confirm to complete the import.

    Upload file step with AI scanning the uploaded file

    Key capabilities

    AI-proposed column mapping

    Now Assist analyzes your file and proposes a target Board column for each source column based on the data it detects. Because the mapping is AI-generated, review each proposal and adjust as needed before proceeding to the preview.

    Manual mapping adjustments

    For any source column, you can select a different target column from the list of available Board columns. Each source column must map to a unique target column.

    Custom column creation

    If a source column does not match any existing Board column, you can add it as a new custom column directly from the mapping step. You can choose the column type while adding.

    Reset to AI mapping

    If you have adjusted mappings manually and need to start over, you can reset the entire mapping to the original Now Assist proposal.

    Preview before import

    Before confirming, review the full list of tasks that will be created on the Board. You can deselect individual rows to exclude them from importing.

    Background processing with notification

    The import runs in the background after you confirm. A workspace notification reports the number of records added to your Board and flags any rows that could not be processed.

    Record types

    Each row of your file is imported as a record into CWM. Choose one of these record types in the upload step:
    • CWM task
    • Story

    The available target columns in the mapping step depend on the record type that you choose.

    Considerations

    File limits

    Each import accepts a single file with a maximum size of 10 MB, up to 100 rows, and up to 50 columns. Supported file types are .doc, .docx, .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .png, .jpg, and .jpeg. For Excel files with multiple sheets, only the first sheet is imported.

    Excel column header row

    For Excel files (.xls or .xlsx), the first row must contain the column names. The AI always treats the first row as the header row. This requirement does not apply to image files, where the AI reads the content directly without relying on a header row.

    Date format

    Dates in the source file must match the format set in the glide.sys.date_format system property on your instance. Dates in any other format are silently left blank after import.

    Required mapping

    The Short Description column must be mapped before you can proceed to the preview step.

    Access requirements

    The Import button is visible only on Boards where Now Assist for CWM is active. You need the sn_cwm_ai.cwm_ai_user and lens_user roles.

    Single file per import

    Each import session accepts one file at a time. Upload a separate file for each set of tasks you want to bring in.

    CSV files aren't supported

    CSV format is not a supported file type. To import tabular task data from a spreadsheet, use an .xls or .xlsx file instead.

    Tabular data required

    The file must contain structured, tabular data with identifiable rows and columns. Files that contain only freeform or narrative text can't be processed, and the import fails if Now Assist can't detect any importable rows.

    Import can't be reversed

    After you confirm the import, records are created in the background. There is no option to undo or reverse a completed import but to delete the imported records from the Board.

    Newly imported tasks aren't highlighted on the Board

    After the import completes, the imported tasks appear on the Board but aren't visually highlighted or grouped as a set. Use filters or sort options to locate them.

    Get started

    Import existing tasks into a CWM Board.