Table properties in Table Builder

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Table properties in Table Builder

    Table Builder enables ServiceNow customers to modify various properties of data tables and their columns efficiently. This functionality helps tailor tables to specific data management and application requirements, enhancing data organization, accessibility, and usability within the platform.

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    Table Column Properties

    You can customize the following properties for each column in a data table:

    • Column label: The unique label that identifies the column.
    • Column name: The database name used for the column.
    • Type: Defines the type of data stored (e.g., String, Choice). Additional configuration fields appear depending on the selected type, such as character limit for strings or choice options for Choice fields.
    • Reference: Specifies the associated table if the column type is Reference.
    • Max length: Sets the maximum number of characters allowed for the field input.
    • Default value: Determines the value automatically populated when a new record is created.
    • Display: Marks the column as the display value for the table. For reference fields, this is the display value from the referenced table (e.g., user name for the user table). Only one column per table can be set as the display value.

    Table Properties

    For configuring a selected data table, you can adjust these key properties:

    • Change the table label: Update the Table label field under the General information tab to rename the table.
    • Make the table extensible: Enable the Make extensible checkbox in the Advanced section, allowing the table to be extended.
    • Add record numbers: Enable this in the Advanced section and configure prefix, starting number, and number of digits for record numbering.
    • Accessible from: Under the Access tab, define whether the table is accessible from all application scopes or only the current scope.
    • Application access controls: Specify granular access permissions (Read, Create, Update, Delete) for the table from the Access tab.

    Practical Impact

    By modifying these table and column properties, ServiceNow customers can precisely control data structure, input constraints, display preferences, and security access. This flexibility ensures tables are optimally configured for their application needs, facilitating accurate data capture, meaningful display of records, and secure data access management.

    Various table and table column properties can be modified by using Table Builder.

    Table column properties

    The following table shows descriptions of the properties that you can modify for the columns in a data table.

    Table 1. Table column properties
    Field Description
    Column label Unique label for the column.
    Column name Database name for the column.
    Type

    Type of information that the column contains. For example, to contain plain text in the column, select String.

    Depending on the type that you select, fill in the additional fields to further define the table column. For example, if you select String, define the character limit of the string input. Or, if you select Choice, define the choices that users can choose from.

    See Field types.
    Reference Table that is associated with the column. This field applies only if the column type is Reference.
    Max length Maximum number of characters that users can enter in the field.
    Default value Value that populates the field automatically after a new record is created.
    Display

    Option to set the column as the display value for the table. A reference field shows the display value of the table to which it is referring. For example, the Opened by column of the task table refers to the user table. Because the display value of the user table is the user name, the Opened by field shows something like Beth Anglin or Joe Employee. When you select a display value, choose the table column that would act as an appropriate title for individual records.

    Only one column can act as the display value for a table.

    Table properties

    The following table shows the descriptions of the properties that you can modify for a selected data table.

    Table 2. Table properties
    Option Procedure
    Change the table label In the General information tab, update the Table label field.
    Make the table extensible
    1. In the General information tab, select Advanced.
    2. Select the Make extensible check box.
    Add record numbers
    1. In the General information tab, select Advanced.
    2. Select the Add record number check box.
    3. Define the record numbers by updating the Prefix, Starting number, and Number of digits fields.
    Accessible from
    1. Open the Access tab.
    2. In the Accessible From field, select All Application Scopes or This Application Scope Only.
    Application access controls
    1. Open the Access tab.
    2. In the Application Access Controls field, select Read, Create, Update, and/or Delete selection boxes to specify the desired level of access for the table.