Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Overview of this book

ServiceNow is a SaaS application that provides workflow form-based applications. It is an ideal platform for creating enterprise-level applications giving requesters and fulfillers improved visibility and access to a process. ServiceNow-based applications often replace email by providing a better way to get work done. The book steps through the main aspects of the ServiceNow platform, from the ground up. It starts by exploring the core architecture of ServiceNow, including building the right data structure. To add business logic and control data, and interactivity to user interaction, you will be shown how to code on both server and the client. You will then learn more about the power of tasks, events and notifications. The book will then focus on using web services and other mechanisms to integrate ServiceNow with other systems. Furthermore, you will learn how to secure applications and data, and understand how ServiceNow performs logging and error reporting. You will then be shown how to package your applications and changes, so they can be installed elsewhere and ways to maintain them easily. If you wish to create an alternative simple interface, then explore ways to make ServiceNow beautiful using Service Portal. By the end of the book, you will know the fundamentals of the ServiceNow platform, helping you be a better ServiceNow System Administrator or developer.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Mastering ServiceNow Second Edition
Credits
Notice
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface

Chapter 7. Exchanging Data – Import Sets, Web Services, and other Integrations

So far, our journey through ServiceNow has focused on configuring the platform and creating a new application with scripts, data structures, and workflow functionality. But a ServiceNow instance that doesn't exchange data, requires manual interaction every time an employee joins or leaves, or needs task information copy-pasted into another system is a ServiceNow instance not being used to its full capability.

This chapter explores how ServiceNow can make it easy to exchange data with almost any other system. There are quite a few ways to make this happen:

  • Let other systems pull information using Direct Web Services with no configuration in ServiceNow

  • Import and export flat files such as CSV, XML, or Excel spreadsheets manually or automatically

  • Shape, control, and manage the flow of data with Import Sets and Transform Maps

  • Get user and group data from Active Directory or other LDAP servers

  • Utilize the MID Server to easily...