Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow Scripting

By : Andrew Kindred
Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow Scripting

By: Andrew Kindred

Overview of this book

Industry giants like RedHat and NetApp have adopted ServiceNow for their operational needs, and it is evolving as the number one platform choice for IT Service management. ServiceNow provides their clients with an add-on when it comes to baseline instances, where scripting can be used to customize and improve the performance of instances. It also provides inbuilt JavaScript API for scripting and improving your JavaScript instance. This book will initially cover the basics of ServiceNow scripting and the appropriate time to script in a ServiceNow environment. Then, we dig deeper into client-side and server-side scripting using JavaScipt API. We will also cover advance concepts like on-demand functions, script actions, and best practices. Mastering ServiceNow Scripting acts as an end-to-end guide for writing, testing, and debugging scripts of ServiceNow. We cover update sets for moving customizations between ServiceNow instances, jelly scripts for making custom pages, and best practices for all types of script in ServiceNow. By the end of this book, you will have hands-on experience in scripting ServiceNow using inbuilt JavaScript API.

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Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Title Page
Title Page
Packt Upsell
Packt Upsell
Contributors
Contributors
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Getting Started
Getting Started
Configuration versus customization
To script or not to script?
Types of script
Script execution
Introduction to scripting
Script editor
Summary
2
Exploring the ServiceNow Glide Class
Exploring the ServiceNow Glide Class
Using ServiceNow exposed JavaScript APIs
Server-side Glide classes
Client-side Glide classes
Script examples
Summary
3
Introduction to Client-Side Scripting
Introduction to Client-Side Scripting
Client scripts
UI policies
How and when to write client-side scripts
Testing client-side scripts
Script examples
Summary
4
Advanced Client-Side Scripting
Advanced Client-Side Scripting
UI actions
AJAX calls
Script examples
Summary
5
Introduction to Server-Side Scripting
Introduction to Server-Side Scripting
Business rules
UI actions
Access controls
How and when to write server-side scripts
Testing server-side scripts
Script examples
Summary
6
Advanced Server-Side Scripting
Advanced Server-Side Scripting
Script includes
Scheduled jobs
Background scripts
Workflow scripts
Event management
Script actions
Script examples
Summary
7
Introduction to Custom Pages
Introduction to Custom Pages
Introduction to Jelly
UI pages
Script examples
Summary
8
Scripting with Jelly
Scripting with Jelly
Jelly scripting
UI macros
Script examples
Summary
9
Debugging the Script
Debugging the Script
The script debugger
The session debugger
The Field Watcher
Debugging applications
The JavaScript Log and Debug window
Debugging REST
SOAP debugging
Summary
10
Best Practices
Best Practices
Coding best practices
Business rule best practices
Client script best practices
Debugging tools best practices
Logs and queues best practices
System performance best practices
Summary
11
Deployments with the Update Sets
Deployments with the Update Sets
When to use update sets
How to use scope with update sets
Transferring update sets between instances
Update set pitfalls
Update set best practices
Summary
12
Building a Custom Application Using ServiceNow Scripting
Building a Custom Application Using ServiceNow Scripting
Creating a custom application with ServiceNow scripting
End-to-end development
Testing
Deployment
Summary
Other Books You May Enjoy
Other Books You May Enjoy
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Index
Index

How and when to write client-side scripts

Client-side scripts should be written when a developer wants to change the screen in front of the user. This could be a change to a field value, visibility, or another change. Every time client-side scripts are run, it requires resources from the instance, and so keeping client-side scripting to a minimum is important.

If you can make a change on the server side rather than the client side, then is it considered best practice to do so. This will then keep loading times shorter and improve the user experience.

Let's have a look at some common uses for client-side scripting and how best to achieve these tasks.

Making fields mandatory, visible, or read-only

For making fields mandatory, visible, or read-only, it is best to use a UI policy. This method uses configuration rather than customization, and is easier to maintain.

Scripting does not need to be done in this case, as you can use UI policy actions to achieve your goal. ServiceNow makes these actions...

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