CI relationship editor

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of CI relationship editor

    The CI Relationship Editor in ServiceNow enables you to view, create, modify, and delete Configuration Item (CI) relationships directly from the CI Relations formatter. It designates the CI from which it is launched as the base CI and allows selection of one or more secondary CIs to establish relationships. The editor offers two modes: using suggested relationships or manual selection of relationship types.

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    As a newer alternative, the Unified Map in the CMDB Workspace store app provides enhanced functionality for editing CI relationships.

    Key Features

    • Suggested Relationships Mode: When enabled, the editor highlights available relationship types for the base CI, displayed in blue with a "[Suggested]" prefix. Selecting a relationship type automatically assigns the base CI as parent or child as appropriate.
    • Manual Relationship Mode: When not using suggested relationships, you first select a second CI and then specify whether the relationship is a parent or child type.
    • Relationship Types: Only standard CI relationships are supported. Certain Service Mapping endpoint-specific relationship types (e.g., Implement End Point To/From, Use End Point To/From, Applicative Flow To/From) cannot be used between two CIs in this editor.
    • View Relationships: The editor displays downstream relationships (where the base CI is parent) and upstream relationships (where the base CI is child), helping you understand CI dependencies.
    • Create, Edit, and Delete: You can manage CI relationships to maintain CMDB integrity by adding new links, modifying existing ones, or removing obsolete relationships.
    • Legacy CI Relationship Builder: An advanced manual interface accessible via the legacy CI relations formatter for detailed relationship definition.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Efficiently manage CI dependencies and relationships to ensure accurate CMDB data.
    • Use suggested relationships for quicker relationship creation aligned with best practices.
    • Maintain CMDB integrity by removing outdated or irrelevant relationships.
    • Understand both upstream and downstream relationships to better assess impact and service dependencies.
    • Access advanced manual tools for complex relationship configurations when needed.
    • Leverage the Unified Map app for enhanced, up-to-date CI relationship editing capabilities.

    Use the relationship editor to view, create, modify, or delete CI relationships. Open the relationship editor from the CI Relations formatter.

    As an alternative to the CI relationship editor, Unified Map in the CMDB Workspace store app provides the latest functionality for editing CI relationships. For more information, see Edit relationships in Unified Map.

    When you use the relationship editor, the CI from which the editor was launched is designated as the base CI. You can then select one or more CIs as a second CI for the relationship. Depending on the selected relationship type, the base CI can become the parent CI or the child CI in the new relationship.

    The relationship editor operates differently, depending on whether you select the Use suggested relationship check box.
    • With suggested relationships, the relationship editor lists all available relationship types for the base CI. To define a new relationship, select a relationship type, and then select a second CI for the relationship.

      Suggested relationships are highlighted for you. These relationships are displayed in blue with a prefix of [Suggested].

    • Without suggested relationships, you define a new relationship by first selecting a second CI for the relationship and then selecting a parent or a child relationship type.
    Note:
    The following relationship types are used only for Service Mapping endpoints, and you cannot use them as a relationship type between two CIs:
    • Implement End Point To:Implement End Point From
    • Use End Point To: Use End Point From
    • Applicative Flow To:Applicative Flow From

    Suggested relationships

    If you select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Suggested relationship list appears. It displays all available CI, user and group relationship types for the base CI. Relationship types have a suffix of (Parent) or (Child) to note the relationship descriptor, and suggested relationship types are displayed in blue and have a "*" prefix.

    When you select a relationship, you are also designating the base CI as being the parent or the child CI in the new relationship. For example, if you select the 'Feeds' relationship type, the base CI becomes the designated parent CI, and the second CI that you select becomes the child CI in this relationship.

    Downstream relationships

    If you do not select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Downstream relationships list appears. It displays all relationships in which the base CI is the parent CI. The child CI of the relationship is displayed in the Child column.

    Upstream relationships

    If you do not select the Use suggested relationship check box in the editor, the Upstream relationships list appears. It displays all relationships in which the base CI is the child CI. The parent CI in each relationship is displayed in the Parent column.