Utilities transform functions

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated February 5, 2025
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Utilities transform functions

    Utilities transform functions in ServiceNow enable you to manipulate and extract data from arrays, name-value pairs, and various data types such as strings, integers, and choices. These functions return complex objects or specific values based on keys or positions within arrays. Correct input data pill types are essential for proper transformation; otherwise, the original input is returned at runtime.

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    Key Functions and Their Uses

    • Get First Item from Array: Retrieves the first element from an array as a complex object.
    • Get Item from Array: Returns a complex object from a specified index (starting at zero) in an array.
    • Get Item from Name/Values: Fetches a value linked to a specific key in a map of name-value pairs, with an option to provide a default if the key is not found. Note that runtime values may be system values, not display values.
    • Get Last Item from Array: Retrieves the last element from an array as a complex object.
    • Is Blank: Checks if input data is considered blank (empty string, zero, or false). Does not support reference inputs.
    • Is False: Returns true if the input is false (empty string, zero, or false boolean).
    • Is Not Blank: Opposite of Is Blank; returns true if input is not blank. Does not support reference inputs.
    • Is Null: Determines if the input is uninitialized, null object, or null reference.
    • Is True: Returns true if the input is true (non-empty string, non-zero integer, or true boolean).
    • Key Value Map: Maps keys to values with a default fallback, useful for translating codes to strings or other representations.
    • Sort: Sorts arrays of strings, integers, booleans, or datetimes in ascending or descending order. Sorting is case-sensitive for strings.
    • Unique: Removes duplicate elements from arrays of supported types.
    • Join: Concatenates array elements into a string with a specified delimiter.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • Ensure you use the correct data pill type when applying these functions to avoid unexpected results.
    • Use these transform functions to efficiently handle data returned from actions such as REST calls, enabling you to extract necessary information or format data for downstream processing.
    • Functions like Get Item from Name/Values and Key Value Map help translate system codes or keys into meaningful values, which is critical when integrating with external systems or mapping fields.
    • Sorting and unique operations on arrays streamline data management within flows, improving flow logic and data presentation.

    Use utilities transform functions to return a Complex Object from an Array, or a value associated with a specific key.

    Utilities transform functions require an Array, Name-Value Pair, String, Integer, or Choice input data pill. Make sure to use the correct input data pill type when applying utilities transform functions. If a utility transform function is applied to an improper data type, the data is not transformed at runtime and the input value is returned instead. For more information on confirming your flow runtime values, see Test a flow.

    Get First Item from Array

    Returns the first item from the input array as a complex object.

    Input data pill Output data pill
    Array Complex Object - First item found in the input array

    Get Item from Array

    Returns a Complex Object from the input Array. Enter a value for the Nth Item in the input Array that you want to return. The Nth Item represents the Array index, starting at 0.

    Input data pill Parameters Output data pill
    Array Nth Item - Enter the index of the target object in the input Array. The Array index starts at 0. Complex Object

    Get Item from Name/Values

    Returns a value that is associated with a matching key from a map of Name-Value Pairs.

    Input data pill Parameters Output data pill
    Name-Value Pairs
    • Key - Name of the key that is used to look up its corresponding value
    • Default - The value returned when there is no matching key
    		 String associated with the matching key
    Note:
    When applying the Get Item from Name/Values transform function, consider that the runtime value might be the system value, not the display value. For example, if mapping the Priority field in the Incident table to a similar field in a remote table, the returned runtime value might be 2, not 2 - High.
    Example usage:
    • Input: "username":"abel.tuter"
    • Key: username
    • Default: example.username
    • Output: abel.tuter

    In this example, an action makes a REST call to a third-party system and GETs ticket data as a map of Name-Value Pairs. A Ticket ID is provided as an output for this action. The Get Item from Name/Values transform function returns either the value that is associated with the ticket_id key or Ticket ID not found.

    Associated value for ticket_id key or "Ticket ID not found" returned as action output.

    Get Last Item from Array

    Returns the last item from the input array as a complex object.

    Input data pill Output data pill
    Array Complex Object - Last item found in the input array

    Is Blank

    Returns true when the input is blank. A string input is blank when it is an empty string. An integer input is blank when it is zero. A Boolean input is blank when it is false.
    Note:
    This transform function doesn't support reference inputs.
    Input data pill Output
    Any Returns true or false
    Example usage:
    • Input: an integer data pill with 0
    • Output: true

    Is False

    Returns true when the input is false. A string is false when it is an empty string. An integer is false when it is zero. A Boolean input is false when it is false.

    Input data pill Output data pill
    Any Returns true or false
    Example usage:
    • Input: an integer data pill with 13
    • Output: false

    Is Not Blank

    Returns true when the input is not blank. A string is not blank when it is not an empty string. An integer is not blank when it is anything but zero. A Boolean input is not blank when it is true.
    Note:
    This transform function doesn't support reference inputs.
    Input data pill Output data pill
    Any Returns true or false
    Example usage:
    • Input: an integer data pill with 13
    • Output: true

    Is Null

    Returns true when the input value is null. An input is null if it is not initialized, or if it is a null object or reference.

    Input data pill Output
    Any Returns true or false
    Example usage:
    • Input: an integer data pill with 725
    • Output: false

    Is True

    Returns true when the input is true. A string is true when it is not an empty string. An integer is true when it is anything but zero. A Boolean input is true when it is true.

    Input data pill Output data pill
    Any Returns true or false
    Example usage:
    • Input: an integer data pill with 13
    • Output: true

    Key Value Map

    Returns a value associated with a matching key, or a default value if there is not a match.

    Input data pill Parameters Output data pill
    String or Integer
    • Name - The key that is used to find the corresponding value
    • Value - The value matched to a specific key
    • Default - The value returned when there is no matching name
    		 String associated with the matching key

    Example usage:

    In this example, a log action stores a record's priority as a message. In the Name-Values section, each priority is mapped to a corresponding string value. When the flow runs, the record's priority number is transformed to a string, and the string is logged to a message.

    A Key-value map transforms a value from a number to a string.

    Sort

    Sorts the specified array in ascending or descending order.

    Input data pill Parameters Output data pill
    Array.String, Array.Integer, Array.Boolean, or Array.Datetime. - Unsorted array Sort Order - Ascending or descending Array - Sorted array
    Note:
    Sort function is case-sensitive for array.strings.
    Example usage:
    • Input: [7, 2, 3, 1, 7, 9]
    • Parameter: Ascending
    • Output: [1, 2, 3, 7, 7, 9]

    Unique

    Removes the duplicate elements from the specified array.
    Input data pill Output data pill
    Array.String, Array.Integer, Array.Boolean, or Array.Datetime. Array - After duplicated elements are removed
    Example usage:
    • Input: [7, 2, 3, 2, 7, 9]
    • Output: [7, 2, 3, 9]

    Join

    Concatenates the individual elements of the specified array with the specified delimiter and returns the concatenated string.

    Input data pill Parameters Output data pill
    Array.String, Array.Integer, Array.Boolean, or Array.Datetime. Delimiter - Character that separates the individual elements after concatenation. String - String after a delimiter is added.
    Example usage:
    • Input: [1, 2, 3]
    • Parameters: <
    • Output: 1<2<3