---
sourceDocument: Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/platform-administration

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Override a formatter with macros

# Override a formatter with macros {#ariaid-title1}

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

The system uses formatters to handle complex rendering of specific form
elements.

## Before you begin

Role required: ui_macro_admin

## About this task

Examples of form elements rendered by formatters in the base platform are:

* Activity formatter: Displays the list of activities, or history, on a task form.
* Process flow formatter: Displays the different stages in a linear process flow across the top of a record.
* Task parent breadcrumbs formatter: Provides breadcrumbs to show the parent or parents of the current task.
* Approval summarizer formatter: Displays dynamic summary information about the element being approved.
{#t_UIMacroOverride__ul_rjx_4hq_z4}A UI macro can override formatters provided in the base system.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllSystem UIUI Macros.
2. Click New.
3. In the Name field, enter the same name as the formatter you want to override, but omit the .xml extension.
4. Complete the remaining fields on the form.
5. Click Submit.

## Example

This example shows the form that defines the existing approval summarizer formatter:  
Here is the form for the UI macro that overrides the approval summarizer formatter:
**Related tasks**   

* [Create a UI macro for a formatter](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3IH1YrUU5Ybk8DZ4fx4Maw "Create a UI macro to define the content that the formatter displays.")
* [Create a formatter and add it to a form](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/lK87e8k4hQvC5h_hOsyGVQ "Create the formatter after creating the UI macro that defines the content.")

*[\>]: and then