Understanding List Views & Layout Configuration

The ServiceNow List view option focuses on controlling data accessibility and visibility for different members in any organization. It is an essential tool for enhancing administrators’ overall productivity by configuring settings that allow end users to control and customize their workspaces. 

In this chapter, we will cover the mechanism of ListViews, along with their layout, controls, and context menus. You will also have the chance to learn about list personalization, customization, and the breadcrumbs option in ServiceNow. 

What are List Views?

In simple terms, the list view is the ServiceNow interface option that shows records and data from specific incidents in a tabular format. The primary goal of a list view is to provide a complete view of the process. Users can view these lists based on their priority or needs.

Some significant features of a list view include: 

1. View and Navigate Records: Users can view any records at any time using their name, number, category, and different field options. 
2. Personalize or List controls: You can hide, add, reorder, and resize columns as you prefer. It makes records easier to view and filter. It also allows you to save different list layouts that work best for your business operations. 
3. Filtering Records: It helps clear the clutter in your records by using breadcrumbs, the condition builder, and the search bar. 
4. Inline Editing: Depending on your ServiceNow permissions, you can edit field values directly in the list.

These are the features of the ServiceNow list view. We will examine these features in detail for clarity. Before that, let us understand how to create a list view.

How to create a new list view in ServiceNow?

ServiceNow lets you create new list views as per your business and data requirements. These list views are easy to make. The significant steps include: 

Step1: In an open instance on ServiceNow, right-click any column and select Configure → List Layout option. 

Step 2: A pop-up window will open. In the List view option, select new in the view name field. Add the list name you want to. 

Step 3: From the Available menu, move the fields to the selected column or slushbucket. 

Step 4: Select ” Save, ” and you can now see this list in the view options of the List control menu. 

Configure List Layout

The ServiceNow List layout is an admin option that lets you add or remove fields from the slushbucket. Remember, Step 3 from creating the list view in ServiceNow. The simple answer to How to Configure List Layout in ServiceNow is that specific process. 

Removing fields from the selected slush bucket and adding fields from the available slush bucket is a configuration option for the list layout. After you arrange the fields as needed, save them, and your list will be updated. 

List Controls

ServiceNow list controls are configuration options that help administrators control the appearance and behavior of lists. The ServiceNow list control menu is found in the configure menu when right-clicked on a list.

The list controls allow users to work on different things. Its main functions include:

1. List editing: Allows inline editing and editing multiple rows. 
2. List Search and Filtering: Users can turn on or off the breadcrumbs and list search options. 
3. List UI behaviour: Allows viewing and adding the add new button, new records, row numbers, and related lists. 
4. Security and Performance: Lets you restrict exports, limit returned data, and turn lists on or off, collapsing them. 

In the next chapter, we will learn more about these list controls. 

Context Menus

For a smoother user experience, ServiceNow context menus offer options for navigating the platform. These menu options appear after you right-click the form and open the list drop-down options. 

ServiceNow offers four main types of context menus, including: 

1. List Context Menu: It appears when you right-click on any record list. 
2. List Column Context Menu: It appears when you right-click the column header. It allows changes to column-specific menus, such as sorting, matching, filtering, grouping, charts, configuration, and more. 
3. List Row Context Menu: It appears when you right-click a specific row or record. It applies changes to a single selected record, such as viewing, editing, creating a favourite, assigning, deleting, copying sys_i,d, and more. 
4. Form Context Menu: It appears when you right-click the form header or click the hamburger icon. 

Personalizing and Customizing Lists

Personalizing and customizing lists refers to changes to the list of records, either for yourself or for all users.  

What is personalize list in ServiceNow? 

You can personalize the list in ServiceNow by clicking the gear icon in the ServiceNow interface. It allows users to view the list as needed. The changes are only visible to you.

Difference between list layout and Personalization list

List layout is a feature for customizing lists. Using these features, you can make changes for all users. It can only be done by admins and impacts the UI metadata. 

However, personalization can be done by anyone for themselves. The changes are for individual or current users. It impacts the user preferences.

Breadcrumbs and Usage

ServiceNow list breadcrumbs are the filter conditions available at the top of the list view. These clickable actions appear after you apply a filter. It shows the conditions that filter the records.

Breadcrumbs are used to edit, remove, or understand the filter conditions. These help you see which condition is applied, why a record is shown, and which hidden filters are available by default. 

What’s Next? 

In the next section, we will understand ServiceNow condition builder, filters, and search conditions in detail. It also includes the details about the Wild Card entries. 

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