Development Handbook Changelog
This page will contain a list of most of the changes made to the ServiceNow Development Handbook.
Since my goal was never to make money directly from the sales of this book (if it were, I'd have picked a wider niche!), I've decided to publish content updates directly within the same edition. This means that rather than asking everyone to pay for a new edition every a couple of months when there is a new platform version to worry about or when the standards are updated, I'll simply keep this edition up-to-date, and make those updates available for free. When a new edition does come out, it will constitute a major update to the content of the book, not minor changes, updates, or additions to the existing content.
If you purchased the a digital edition such as on Kindle, your content should be available for update automatically.
In order to ensure that you have the latest version, or to push the latest update to your Kindle or mobile device, click here then look for the Update Available button (as you can see on the right). Click that button to update the digital copy of the book on your device for free.
If you purchased a paperback version rather than a digital version through Amazon, you can buy the Kindle edition for only $2 or $3. You can then just look up the specific changes you might be interested in, by referencing the changelog below.
You are of course also welcome to buy another paperback copy if you have another few bucks to spare, but I've set it up this way in order to make it as easy and cheap as possible for you to get the updates after you've bought the book.
Changelog
Second Edition
Version 2.0 - 8/20/18
Major updates to the Performance > Query Efficiency > Nested queries and Single-record queries sections
Added a lot of new code snippets and examples of the right and wrong ways to do queries.
Expanded most chapters slightly to add and clarify information
Updated a lot of sections with info on new versions of ServiceNow (Kingston and London)
Added Multi-operation section as a sub-section of Performance
Added Business Rules & .update() section to Coding Guidelines chapter
Added Security chapter and several sub-sections
Added Service Portal chapter and several sub-sections
Added Reference fields section to the Tables & Columns chapter.
Added Performance > Query efficiency > Query specificity section and re-wrote some other content in the Performance section for clarity and better examples.
Updated Coding Guidelines > Getting and setting field values section with more information on working with journal fields.
Added Testing > Logging section with information about logging in global, and other scopes, as well as the different behaviors of the various logging APIs, logging best-practices, and more.
Fixed various formatting bugs, code-block display issues, grammatical/spelling issues, and updated a lot of existing content for clarity, brevity, or humor.
Loads more - too much to list!
Expect this to be the "current" version for a good while. ;-)
First Edition
Version 1.4 - 2/17/18
Added Update Sets and Performance chapters.
These chapters cover things like query efficiency, nested queries, query order, table and list performance tips, update set batching guidelines, master update set tips, information about what is and isn't tracked in update sets, and working with scoped records.
Moved some sub-chapters around as they fit more neatly into some of the new chapters. Especially took several sections from Coding guidelines, as that section had become quite long.
Added a note to the beginning of the book to indicate the version number and information about how to find this change-log.
Minor spelling and grammatical corrections
Minor text changes to improve clarity
Version 1.3 - 2/12/18
Made chapter subtitles and quotes 23.8% funnier.
Minor and moderate spelling, grammatical, and clarity updates.
Improved spacing between sections, paragraphs, and pages.
Fixed some spacing and indentation errors in code snippets, especially in the earlier sections.
Updated paperback cover to resolve a copy/pasted spelling error on the back cover.
Version 1.1 - 2/9/18
Added Testing chapter, including about 80% new content and 20% content previously from other areas of the book.
Updated paperback and Kindle edition covers
Lots of spelling and grammar fixes. Mostly very minor, but I'm a pedant. Special thanks to my editors for their help!
Version 1.0 - 2/7/18
Initial launch on Kindle!
Paperback launched 2/10/18
If you like the ServiceNow Development Handbook, you might like the articles we publish on this site as well. If so, I humbly welcome you to subscribe.
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March 2025
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- Mar 11, 2025 5 Ways to Check your ServiceNow Instance for DANGEROUS CODE in Less Than 5 minutes Mar 11, 2025
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March 2024
- Mar 28, 2024 How to Identify Duplicate Records by Multiple Fields in ServiceNow Mar 28, 2024
- Mar 7, 2024 How to Merge Personal & Company ServiceNow Accounts Mar 7, 2024
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February 2024
- Feb 12, 2024 5 Lessons About Programming From Richard Feynman Feb 12, 2024
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July 2023
- Jul 5, 2023 Managing Instance-Specific System Properties for Dev/Test/Prod in ServiceNow Jul 5, 2023
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April 2023
- Apr 28, 2023 Your ACLs and Business Rules are Broken (Here's How to Fix Them) Apr 28, 2023
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December 2022
- Dec 13, 2022 ServiceNow Developers: BE THE GUIDE! Dec 13, 2022
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October 2022
- Oct 19, 2022 A Faster, More Efficient Client-side GlideRecord (Free tool!) Oct 19, 2022
- Oct 9, 2022 Animated Loading Message & Collapsible Details on ServiceNow Form or Field (Client-side) Oct 9, 2022
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August 2022
- Aug 23, 2022 Using .addJoinQuery() & How to Query Records with Attachments in ServiceNow Aug 23, 2022
- Aug 18, 2022 Free, Simple URL Shortener for ServiceNow Nerds (snc.guru) Aug 18, 2022
- Aug 16, 2022 How to Get and Parse ServiceNow Journal Entries as Strings/HTML Aug 16, 2022
- Aug 14, 2022 New tool: Get Latest Version of ServiceNow Docs Page Aug 14, 2022
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March 2022
- Mar 4, 2022 How to Set or Change ServiceNow Application's Repository URL, Credentials, or SSH Key Mar 4, 2022
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February 2022
- Feb 7, 2022 How to return a CSV file from a Scripted REST API (SRAPI) in ServiceNow Feb 7, 2022
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May 2021
- May 3, 2021 Adding a Guided Setup to Your ServiceNow Application May 3, 2021
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April 2021
- Apr 27, 2021 Use Automated Tests to Validate "Guided Setup" Completion & Functionality. Apr 27, 2021
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February 2021
- Feb 11, 2021 "Processors", SRAPIs, and How to Run a Script and Redirect a User From a URL in ServiceNow Feb 11, 2021
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November 2020
- Nov 17, 2020 SN Guys is now part of Jahnel Group! Nov 17, 2020
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September 2020
- Sep 14, 2020 Better ServiceNow Notifications (& Another FREE Tool!) Sep 14, 2020
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July 2020
- Jul 31, 2020 Debugging Client & Catalog Client Scripts in ServiceNow Jul 31, 2020
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January 2020
- Jan 20, 2020 Getting Help from the ServiceNow Community Jan 20, 2020
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December 2019
- Dec 18, 2019 Can ServiceNow Script Includes Use the "current" Variable? Dec 18, 2019
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November 2019
- Nov 18, 2019 Handling 'text/plain' and Other Unsupported Content Types in ServiceNow Scripted REST APIs Nov 18, 2019
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April 2019
- Apr 21, 2019 Understanding Attachments in ServiceNow Apr 21, 2019
- Apr 10, 2019 Using Custom Search Engines in Chrome to Quickly Navigate ServiceNow Apr 10, 2019
- Apr 4, 2019 Set Catalog Variables from URL Params (Free tool) Apr 4, 2019
- Apr 1, 2019 Outlook for Android Breaks Email Approvals (+Solution) Apr 1, 2019
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March 2019
- Mar 11, 2019 GlideFilter is Broken - Free Tool: “BetterGlideFilter” Mar 11, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 27, 2019 Making Update Sets Smarter - Free Tool Feb 27, 2019
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November 2018
- Nov 29, 2018 How to Learn ServiceNow Nov 29, 2018
- Nov 6, 2018 ServiceNow & ITSM as a Career? Nov 6, 2018
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October 2018
- Oct 19, 2018 Asynchronous onSubmit Catalog/Client Scripts in ServiceNow Oct 19, 2018
- Oct 11, 2018 How to do Massive, Slow Database Operations Efficiently With Event-Driven Recursion Oct 11, 2018
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September 2018
- Sep 18, 2018 Broken Queries & Query Business Rules in ServiceNow Sep 18, 2018
- Sep 7, 2018 JournalRedactor - Easily Redact or Delete Journal Entries in ServiceNow! Sep 7, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 23, 2018 Admin Duty Separation with a Single Account Jul 23, 2018
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June 2018
- Jun 19, 2018 Improving Performance on Older Instances with Table Rotation Jun 19, 2018
- Jun 4, 2018 New Free Tool: Login Link Generator Jun 4, 2018
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May 2018
- May 29, 2018 Learning ServiceNow: Second Edition! May 29, 2018
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April 2018
- Apr 17, 2018 Upgrading From Express to Enterprise: What's Missing Apr 17, 2018
- Apr 12, 2018 If a Genie Gave Me Three Wishes, I'd Use Them All to "Fix" Scope Apr 12, 2018
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March 2018
- Mar 19, 2018 Service Catalog "Try in Portal" button Mar 19, 2018
- Mar 15, 2018 Video: Custom Output Transition Conditions From a Single Workflow (Script) Activity Mar 15, 2018
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February 2018
- Feb 11, 2018 We have a new book! Feb 11, 2018
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November 2017
- Nov 6, 2017 Requiring Attachments (& Other Miracles) in Service Portal Nov 6, 2017
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September 2017
- Sep 12, 2017 Handling TimeZones in ServiceNow (TimeZoneUtil) Sep 12, 2017
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July 2017
- Jul 27, 2017 How to Enable DOM Manipulation in ServiceNow Service Portal Catalog Client Scripts Jul 27, 2017
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June 2017
- Jun 25, 2017 What's New in ServiceNow: Jakarta (Pt. 1) Jun 25, 2017
- Jun 4, 2017 Powerful Scripted Text Search in ServiceNow Jun 4, 2017
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May 2017
- May 9, 2017 Work at Lightspeed: ServiceNow's Plan for World Domination May 9, 2017
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April 2017
- Apr 9, 2017 Avoiding Pass-By-Reference Using getValue() & setValue() Apr 9, 2017
- Apr 4, 2017 "Learning ServiceNow" is Now Available for Purchase! Apr 4, 2017
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March 2017
- Mar 12, 2017 reCAPTCHA in ServiceNow CMS/Service Portal Mar 12, 2017
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December 2016
- Dec 20, 2016 Pro Tip: Use updateMultiple() for Maximum Efficiency! Dec 20, 2016
- Dec 2, 2016 We're Writing a Book! Dec 2, 2016
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November 2016
- Nov 10, 2016 Chrome Extension: Load in ServiceNow Frame Nov 10, 2016
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September 2016
- Sep 7, 2016 Force-Include Any Record Into an Update Set Sep 7, 2016
- Sep 1, 2016 GlideRecord Pagination - Page through your GlideRecord query Sep 1, 2016
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July 2016
- Jul 17, 2016 Granting Temporary Roles/Groups in ServiceNow Jul 17, 2016
- Jul 15, 2016 Scripted REST APIs & Retrieving RITM Variables via SRAPI Jul 15, 2016
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May 2016
- May 17, 2016 What's New in Helsinki? May 17, 2016
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April 2016
- Apr 27, 2016 Customizing UI16 Through CSS and System Properties Apr 27, 2016
- Apr 5, 2016 ServiceNow Versions: Express Vs. Enterprise Apr 5, 2016
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March 2016
- Mar 28, 2016 Update Set Collision Avoidance Tool: V2 Mar 28, 2016
- Mar 18, 2016 ServiceNow: What's New in Geneva & UI16 (Pt. 2) Mar 18, 2016
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February 2016
- Feb 22, 2016 Reference Field Auto-Complete Attributes Feb 22, 2016
- Feb 6, 2016 GlideRecord & GlideAjax: Client-Side Vs. Server-Side Feb 6, 2016
- Feb 1, 2016 Make Your Log Entries Easier to Find Feb 1, 2016
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January 2016
- Jan 29, 2016 A Better, One-Click Approval Jan 29, 2016
- Jan 25, 2016 Quickly Move Changes Between Update Sets Jan 25, 2016
- Jan 20, 2016 Customize the Reference Icon Pop-up Jan 20, 2016
- Jan 7, 2016 ServiceNow: Geneva & UI16 - What's new Jan 7, 2016
- Jan 4, 2016 Detect/Prevent Update Set Conflicts Before They Happen Jan 4, 2016
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December 2015
- Dec 28, 2015 SN101: Boolean logic and ServiceNow's Condition Builder Dec 28, 2015
- Dec 17, 2015 Locate any record in any table, by sys_id in ServiceNow Dec 17, 2015
- Dec 16, 2015 Detecting Duplicate Records with GlideAggregate Dec 16, 2015
- Dec 11, 2015 Array.indexOf() not working in ServiceNow - Solution! Dec 11, 2015
- Dec 2, 2015 Understanding Dynamic Filters & Checking a Record Against a Filter Using GlideFilter Dec 2, 2015
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October 2015
- Oct 20, 2015 Bookmarklet: Load the current page in the ServiceNow frame Oct 20, 2015
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August 2015
- Aug 27, 2015 Easily Clone One User's Access to Another User Aug 27, 2015