Viewing related items on the Unified Map timeline

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Viewing Related Items on the Unified Map Timeline

    The Unified Map timeline allows users to visualize related items like incidents, problems, and changes over time for selected Configuration Items (CIs). This feature helps track the history of changes impacting the CMDB topology, offering a synchronized view of the map and timeline.Key FeaturesInteractive Timeline:Users can adjust the map time marker to specify the date for which data is displayed.Synchronized View:The map reflects the state of CIs and their connections as of the selected map time.Related Item Markers:Indicators on the timeline show related items that occurred at or before the selected date.Time Span Settings:Users can customize the timeline view from six months in the past to six months in the future.Marker Management:Users can replace, clear, or add markers for specific dates.General Configuration:Admins can set properties regarding the display of related item details for all users.Key OutcomesBy utilizing the Unified Map timeline, ServiceNow customers can effectively track and analyze the impact of changes on CIs, facilitating better decision-making and operational efficiency. Users can quickly view relevant historical data, enhancing their understanding of the CI environment and its dynamics. Adjusting timeline settings and managing markers allows for a tailored experience that meets specific user needs.

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    The timeline indicates related items like incidents, problems, and changes over a specified period of time for the selected CI. You can use the timeline to visualize the history of changes to a CI and how they affect the topology of the CMDB.

    Viewing related items

    • When you first open a map, CIs and relationships appear as they are at the current moment in time. When you select a CI on the map, the timeline displays related items for the CI.

    • You can drag the map time marker (A in the image) on the timeline to specify the end date (the map time) for data that should appear on the map and on the timeline. The default map time is "now", but you can specify a particular date or drag the marker to a date.

    • The map and the timeline are synchronized. The map shows the selected CI and its connections as they existed (based on the creation date of nodes) at the specified map time. The timeline displays markers (B in the image) to indicate related items that happened at or before map time.

      The timeline indicates all related items for the CI within a time span that happened before the specified map time.

    • You can also specify the overall time span (C in the image) of the timeline view.

    • CIs that were created after the map time don't appear on the timeline and don't affect items on the timeline.
    • Multiple related items on the same date are indicated by a badge that shows the count of related items.

    Actions on the timeline

    Desired result Action
    Show or hide the timeline Select the Timeline icon .
    Set the map time marker (and therefore the items on the map) to the current time Select Now.
    Set map time to a particular date and time Drag the map time marker.
    Scroll the timeline toward the past or the future Select an arrow at the side of the timeline.
    View the date and time for a related item marker Point to the marker.
    View the details for a related item Point to the badge for the related item.
    Change the time span of the timeline

    Select a zoom icon or .

    The time span can range from six months in the past to six months in the future.

    A related item that has occurred or that will occur outside the range doesn't appear on the timeline. Such related items, however, still appear in the corresponding Related items panel. In addition, a badge in the map might show data for the related item.
    Manage a marker

    Select the marker, select the more actions icon , and then select one of the following actions:

    • Replace marker: Replace the current marker with a marker for the specified date.
    • Clear marker: Clear all markers.
    • Add marker: Add a marker for the specified date.
    View related items for all CIs on the map Select an empty space on the map.

    Configuring general timeline properties

    Admins can configure some properties of the timeline that affect all users, such as which related item details appear on timelines. For more information, see Configure how to display related items on the map.