---
sourceDocument: Xanadu Customer Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/customer-service-management

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu Customer Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - csm

bundleId :

    - csm

workflow :

    - Customer and Industry


---

# Configure an optional activity for a playbook

# Configure an optional activity for a playbook {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Configure optional playbook activities so that agents and fulfillers can insert activities during a playbook run. For example, a customer may want to schedule an optional activity such as making an appointment to visit a
location.

## Before you begin

Role required: playbook_experience.admin

## About this task

Configure optional playbook activities in Process Automation Designer (PAD).  
Although you can insert global optional activities anywhere in the playbook, you can only insert stage-specific optional activities when a specified stage is active in the playbook. You can also add other global optional activities such as similar records, similar documents, and managed documents.  
Note:  
Some optional activities may require additional plugins. For example, for the Approval Request activity, if the approval action needs to be exposed to the customer via the service portal, you must install the plugin portal store app (com.snc:app-customer-service-portal) release version 23.2.4. To display the activities for the similar and managed documents in PAD, you must install the document management plugin (com.snc.platform_document_management).

## Procedure

1. Navigate toAllProcess Automation Designer in the context of the playbook that you want to add the optional activity to.
2. On the new tab, select the playbook name under Multi-flow processes.
3. See the optional activities under all the stages by turning on the toggle for Show optional activities.
4. Select Add optional activity at any stage or globally.
5. Under Add activity, select Playbook for Customer Service ManagementApproval Request.  
   A new approval request optional activity is created.
6. Select the Approval Request optional activity.
7. Under Edit activity properties, in the Details tab, add a Label, Description, Activity Definition, and set Start Rule to Manual.  
   This setting is the Optional Activity indicator.
8. Save the new activity record.
9. Select View all properties.
10. Navigate to Automation tabparent records and select the parent record.
11. **Optional:** Go to the Automation tab and set the values of the starting state and ending state.  
    The values for the starting and ending states are derived from the value field of the sys_choice table.

    To create a custom state flow, see [Create a state flow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_CreateAStateFlow&version=xanadu&pubname=xanadu-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US). Ensure that the class of the state flow is "Customer Service Case Flow." You can also configure more declarative actions for the optional activity. For more
    information, see [Creating new declarative action assignments](https://www.servicenow.com/community/next-experience-articles/creating-new-declarative-action-assignments-in-the-sys/ta-p/2394930).
12. Select Done.
13. Select Activate.

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