Preview predicted changes

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    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 Preview predicted changes

    The Upgrade Preview feature in ServiceNow allows customers to anticipate changes that will occur during the upgrade process. It provides insights into records that are expected to change, including those that may be skipped due to customizations. This preemptive analysis helps in managing customizations effectively to avoid potential issues during the upgrade.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Total Record Changes: Displays the total number of records predicted to change during the upgrade.
    • Predicted Skips: Identifies records likely to be skipped, often to preserve customizations and avoid overwriting them.
    • Related Lists Details: Includes fields such as:
      • File Name: Name of the record flagged for reconciliation.
      • Predicted Disposition: Indicates the action on the file (insert, update, skip, etc.).
      • Priority: Ranges from one to five, prioritizing review based on file type importance.
      • Resolution: Status of the conflict resolution (not reviewed, reviewed, etc.).
      • Plugin: The plugin containing the record.
      • Related Record: The record that the change applies to.

    Key Outcomes

    By utilizing the Upgrade Preview, ServiceNow customers can proactively address potential customization skips before the upgrade, thus ensuring a smoother upgrade process and maintaining the integrity of customizations. Prioritization of skipped records aids in efficient conflict resolution, helping customers focus on the most critical areas during the upgrade. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of the "View preview details" link to access the Upgrade Preview form and examine related lists for better upgrade preparation.

    Use the previewed changes table to view the list of total records that are predicted to change when the upgrade occurs.

    Preview skipped list prediction

    The Total record changes also includes records that are predicted to be skipped due to various reasons. The most common reason is due to customization. The reason an upgrade skips customizations is to avoid overwriting your customizations. Upgrade Preview attempts to predict which records will be skipped when the actual upgrade occurs. It predicts skips due to customizations, and some of the other more complex scenarios as well. It is possible to use Upgrade Preview to address these predicted customization skips before the upgrade occurs, which can prevent that skip from happening.

    Click View preview details link on the Previewing version card. The Upgrade Preview form appears along with the following related lists details.

    Table 1. Related lists details
    Field Description
    File name Record that has been flagged for reconciliation.
    Predicted Disposition Action predicted to be performed on this file during the selected upgrade:
    • Predicted Insert: The system is predicted to insert a new record.
    • Predicted Update: The system is predicted to update this record.
    • Reverted: This record was reverted to the base version, and won’t be skipped on the next upgrade.
    • Predicted Skip: The system won't change this record in order to preserve customizations.
    • Predicted Skip (Manual Merge): The system won't change this record because updating it requires manual intervention.
    • Predicted Skip (Apply Once): The system is predicted to skip this record because it had already applied an update from an xml file in the apply once folder.
    Priority Priority that has been assigned to resolve the conflict. Values range from one to five, with one representing the highest priority.
    Note:
    ServiceNow prioritizes the skipped records based on the importance of the file types. The prioritization is done as follows:
    • Priority 1 (highest priority): UI pages, UI macros, and more
    • Priority 2: Business Rules, Security ACLs, and more
    • Priority 3: Reports and more
    • Priority 4: Form Sections, Choice Sets, and more
    • Priority 5 (lowest priority): other
    Resolution Ways to resolve a conflict.
    • Not reviewed: Conflicted files that have not been reviewed yet
    • Reviewed: Reviewed but no action has been taken yet
    • Review not needed: Review of the skipped files are not required
    • Reviewed and Retained: Left customizations in place without update from upgrade
    • Reviewed and Reverted: Customizations discarded, record updated according to the upgrade version
    Plugin Plugin containing the record
    Related record Record that the changelist entry applies to