---
sourceDocument: Xanadu API Reference
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/api-reference

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu API Reference

ft:clusterId :

    - crapiref

bundleId :

    - crapiref

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Field script use cases

# Field script use cases {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated July 31, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read

Common use cases for field customization scripts.
Warning:  
The customization described here was developed for use in specific instances, and is not supported by Now Support. This method is provided as-is and should be tested thoroughly before implementation. Post all questions and comments regarding this customization to our community [forum](http://community.service-now.com/).

For more information, see [Server API reference](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/9SRKXTcZ3xfi_PnANtp3DQ "Use server APIs in scripts to change the functionality of applications, or when you create new applications.").

## Automatically populate a field {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_upr_nvx_mtb}

The following example shows how to use a client script to auto-fill a Short Description based on the selected Subcategory.

In this case, if the table has a record with Subcategory = Password
and Short Description = Password Reset. When the user selects the
Subcategory of Password on the Incident
form, a client script looks up the matching record and sets Short Description equal to Password Reset.  
Client script settings:

* Type = onChange
* Table name = incident
* Field name = Subcategory

{#r_UsefulFieldScripts__ul_ix3_hyx_mtb}

    function onChange(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading){
        if(isLoading){return;}
        var newrec = gel('sys_row');
        //Check if new record
        if (newrec.value == -1) {
            var lookup = new GlideRecord('u_short_desc_lookup');
            lookup.addQuery('u_subcategory', g_form.getValue('subcategory'));
            lookup.query();
            var temp; //temp var - reusable
            if(lookup.next()){
                temp = lookup.u_short_description;
                if(null != temp) {
                    //Set the form value from lookup if there is a lookup value
                    g_form.setValue('short_description', temp);
                } else {
                    g_form.setValue('short_description',"");
                    }
              } else {
                  //If a lookup record does not exist based on lookup.addQuery
                  //Then set to UNDEFINED or NULL depending on type
                  g_form.setValue('short_description',"");
                  }
         }
    }

## Disable HTML tags in descriptions {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_o2z_kxx_mtb}

This code disables HTML tags in Description and Short Description fields by substituting the tags with non-executing versions.

    doit();
     
    function doit(){ 
     var desc = current.description.toString();
     var shdesc = current.short_description.toString();
     if(desc.indexOf('script>')>-1|| shdesc.indexOf('script>')>-1){
       desc = desc.replace(/<script>/g,"(script)");
       current.description = desc.replace(/<\/script>/g,"(\/script)");
       shdesc = shdesc.replace(/<script>/g,"(script)");
       current.short_description = shdesc.replace(/<\/script>/g,"(\/script)");}
    }

## Eliminate leading and trailing spaces in fields {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_kbd_gxx_mtb}

This example of the script trims trailing and leading spaces in the FirstName and LastName fields of the sys_user.

    doit();
     
    function doit(){ 
      var now_GR =new GlideRecord('sys_user');
      gr.query();
      while(gr.next()){
        if((gr.first_name.toString().length!= gr.first_name.toString().trim().length)||(gr.last_name.toString().length!= gr.last_name.toString().trim().length)){
         gr.first_name= gr.first_name.toString().trim();
         gr.last_name= gr.last_name.toString().trim();
         gr.autoSysFields(false);
         gr.update();}}
    }

## Make a field label flash {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_lnv_swx_mtb}

The following client script example is for the number field on incident. The label flashes for two seconds.

    g_form.flash("incident.number","#FFFACD",0);

The arguments for the flash method are as follows:

* tablename.fieldname
* RGB color or acceptable CSS color like "blue" or "tomato"
* Integer that determines how long the label flashes:
  * 2 for a 1-second flash
  * 0 for a 2-second flash
  * -2 for a 3-second flash
  * -4 for a 4-second flash
  {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__ul_xky_hdr_4x}
{#r_UsefulFieldScripts__ul_qh5_kgr_4x}  
Note:  
Do not specify this argument if you want the field label colored the specified color.

## Make a field label bold {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_y4k_xwx_mtb}

This client script makes the label of a particular field bold. In this case, the field is the Short Description on the Incident Table.

    function onLoad(){
      var l = g_form.getLabel('incident.short_description');
      l.style.fontWeight = 'bold';}

## Make fields read-only {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_bhw_4vx_mtb}

This onLoad client script makes the following fields on the Incident \[incident\] table read-only:

* Incident state
* Impact
* Urgency
* Priority
* Configuration item
* Assigned to
{#r_UsefulFieldScripts__ul_pbz_tzx_mtb}  
The script also removes the magnifying glass for the read-only Reference Fields (Configuration item and Assigned to).

    function onLoad(){
    var incidentState = g_form.getValue('incident_state');
    if( incidentState == '6'|| incidentState == '7'){
       g_form.setReadonly('incident_state',true);
       g_form.setReadonly('impact',true);
       g_form.setReadonly('urgency',true);
       g_form.setReadonly('priority',true);
       g_form.setReadonly('cmdb_ci',true);
       g_form.setReadonly('assigned_to',true);}}

## Set current date/time in field {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_vpr_nvx_mtb}

You can set date and time values in client scripts and script includes.

Client script
:   You can use the following two lines to set the current date and time in a date/time
    field. This approach bypasses the problem of getting the value into the proper format
    and proper time zone.

        var ajax = new GlideAjax('MyDateTimeAjax');
          ajax.addParam('sysparm_name','nowDateTime');
          ajax.getXML(function(){
            g_form.setValue('put your field name here', ajax.getAnswer());});

:   For more information on running server-side scripts with the client, refer to [GlideAjax](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/cdtoLVychgPQghQyCrKyDw#p_AJAX "AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a group of interrelated, client-side development techniques used to create asynchronous Web applications.").

System script include
:

        // Be sure the Glide AJAX enabled option is checked
         
        var MyDateTimeAjax = Class.create();
        MyDateTimeAjax.prototype = Object.extendsObject(AbstractAjaxProcessor,{
          nowDateTime:function(){
            return gs.nowDateTime();}});

## Toggle the timer field by field name {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_xzg_mvx_mtb}

The following client script toggles the timer field based on a particular field name.

    function toggleTimerByFieldName(fieldName){
     //Step 1: Find the timer object
     //timeObjectName: the timer objects name as it would normally be referenced
     //timeObjectHidden: the hidden input node in the field td
     //timeObjectParent: the parent td node containing the field and it's constituent nodes
     //timeObjectFields: anchor tag with onclick to stop timer
     
     var timeObjectName = fieldName;
     var timeObjectHidden = gel(timeObjectName);
     
     //Step 2: simulate click stop button
     var timeObjectParent;
     var timeObjectFields;
     
     //verify that we got the correct object
     if(timeObjectHidden.type=="hidden"){
     
        //Get Parent td node
        timeObjectParent = timeObjectHidden.parentNode;
     
        //Get input fields
        timeObjectFields = timeObjectParent.getElementsByTagName("input");
     
        //simulate click of stop button
        var timerTestString ="paused";
        var timerImg;
     
        //loop through input objects looking for the pause timer object
        for(var elIt=0; elIt < timeObjectFields.length; elIt++){
          if(timeObjectFields[elIt].id.match(timerTestString)){
            if(timeObjectFields[elIt].value=="false"){
              timeObjectFields[elIt].value="true";
              timerImg = timeObjectParent.getElementsByTagName("img")[0];
              timerImg.src="images/timer_start.gifx";}
          elseif(timeObjectFields[elIt].value=="true"){
              timeObjectFields[elIt].value="false";
              timerImg = timeObjectParent.getElementsByTagName("img")[0];
              timerImg.src="images/timer_stop.gifx";}}}}}

## Modify GlideDateTime field value {#r_UsefulFieldScripts__section_k4g_jvx_mtb}

The following example uses a server-side script to access a
GlideDateTime field.  
The following server-side script example shows how to modify values using the GlideDateTime API. The same concept also applies to the GlideDate object.

    //You first need a GlideDateTime object
    //this can be from instantiating a new object "var gdt = new GlideDateTime()"
    //or getting the object from a GlideDateTime field
    //getting the field value (for example: var gdt = current.start_date) 
    //only returns the string value, not the object
    //to get the object use var gdt = current.start_date.getGlideObject();
    //now gdt is a GlideDateTime object
    var gdt = current.start_date.getGlideObject();
     
    //All methods can use negative values to subtract intervals
     
    //add 1 hour (60 mins * 60 secs)
    gdt.addSecondsLocalTime(3600);
     
    //add 1 day
    gdt.addDaysLocalTime(1);
     
    //subtract 1 day
    gdt.addDaysLocalTime(-1);
     
    //add 3 weeks
    gdt.addWeeksLocalTime(3);
     
    //subtract 6 months.
    gdt.addMonthsLocalTime(-6);
     
    //add 1 year, representing the date and time using the UTC timezone instead of the local user's timezone.
    gdt.addYearsUTC(1);

* **[Approval assignment scripts](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/xj0tf9NubTS46QRTqtqH0Q)**   
  This is a searchable version of the useful approval and assignment scripts.