---
sourceDocument: Yokohama IT Operations Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/it-operations-management

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama IT Operations Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itom

bundleId :

    - itom

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Example: Custom Discovery probe to populate a CI from a text file

# Example: Custom Discovery probe to populate a CI from a text file {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Yokohama
* 
* Updated September 16, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read

This custom Discovery probe reads a text file from a Windows computer and populates a configuration item (CI) in the CMDB with the values from the file.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

In this example the user wanted to read files created by BGinfo.  
Note:  
When you have completed the probe and sensor, place the probe in the appropriate Windows classifier at Discovery DefinitionCI ClassificationWindows.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to Discovery DefinitionProbes.
2. Select New.
3. Complete the following fields:  
   * Name: Unique and descriptive name for the probe
   * Probe type: Select Probe.
   * Description: Describe the function of this probe.
   * Used by Discovery: Select this check box
   * ECC queue topic: This is name of the probe the MID Server is to run. In this example, we use WMIRunner.
   * ECC queue name: In this example, we use the descriptive name WMI: BGInfo files.
   {#t_CustomProbeTextFile__ul_exc_cym_tp}
4. Right-click in the header bar and select Save from the context menu.
5. Select the Probe Parameters tab in the Probe form, and then select New.
6. Enter <kbd class="ph userinput">WMI_GetFiles.js</kbd> as the Name of this parameter.
7. Copy the script below into the Script field and edit as needed.
8. Select Submit.  


       //
        // Use ServiceNow WMIAPI to gather stats
        //
        var CMD_RETRIES = 3;
        var scanner = getScanner();
        if (scanner) {
          var output = "";
          for(var i = 0; i < CMD_RETRIES; i++) {
             output = scanner.winExec("%SystemRoot%\\system32\\cmd.exe /C type \\\"C:\\Information Systems\\BgInfo\\*.txt\\\"");
             if (output)
                break;
          }
          scanner.appendToRoot("output", output);
        }

9. Navigate to Discovery DefinitionSensors.
10. Select New.  
    Complete the following fields:
    * Name: Use the same name as the matching probe. In this example, we use Windows - Get BGInfo files.
    * Reacts to probe: The name of the probe created in the previous procedure: Windows - Get BGInfo files
    * Sensor type: Select the type of sensor to create - in this example Sensor.
    * Description: Describes the function of this sensor.
    * Script: Copy the script below into the Script field and edit as needed.
    * Sensor type: Determines how the answer from the probe is processed - in this example JavaScript.
    {#t_CustomProbeTextFile__ul_bkg_xzm_tp}
11. Select Submit.  

         
         
        new DiscoverySensor({ data: {}, process: function(result) { 
         
                this.parseOutput(result.output);
                this.update(this.data);
            },
         
         parseOutput: function(output) {
                var currentFile;
                var files = {};
         
         if (output.startsWith("<wmi")) {
                    var bgout = new XMLHelper(output).toObject();
                    if (!bgout)
                        return;
         
         output = bgout.output;
                }
         
         var lines = output.split(/\n/);
         
         for(var i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
                    var line = lines[i];
                    if (line.startsWith("C:\\Information Systems\\BgInfo\\")) {
                        currentFile = line.substr(30);
                        files[currentFile] = "";
                    } else if (currentFile) {
                        var newLine = line.trim();
                        if (newLine)
                            files[currentFile] += (files[currentFile]? "\n&nbsp;" : "") + newLine;
                    }
                }
         
         this.data['u_jack_id'] = files['JackID.txt'];
         this.data['warranty_expiration'] = files['Warranty.txt'];
         this.data['po_number'] = files['Ponum.txt'];},
         type: "DiscoverySensor"
         
         });

*[\>]: and then