In the Now Platform, Update Sets ([sys_update_set] table) are logical containers consisting of Customer Update records ([sys_update_xml] table). This feature allows administrators and developers to easily move developments and customizations to different instances!
For most organizations, update sets (and their corresponding customer update records) are created within a Development instance, then moved to a Testing instance to be tested, then ultimately moved to a Production instance for deployment. The individual customer update records themselves usually stay contained within the specific update set they were originally recorded in.
In some situations, however, an administrator or developer may need to transfer customer update records between different update sets! This post will show you how to move updates between update sets in ServiceNow.
There are a few scenarios in which a developer may desire to transfer customer update records from one update set to another, which can include:
The procedures below describe two methods to transfer customer update records between update sets. Please note these procedures assume the developer is already familiar navigating the Now Platform, working with and sorting lists, and creating/using update sets.
This first method describes transferring the customer update set records by first using an Update set (table [sys_update_set]) to locate the desired customer update records.
1) Log into Now Platform and use the Application Picker to select the appropriate Application scope matching the desired update set from which update records will be transferred from
2) Click All to open the Filter Navigator and navigate to System Update Sets > Local Update Sets
3) Locate and open the desired update set containing the customer update records to be transferred
4) From the Customer Updates tab, right click on the hyperlink named Update set = <update set name> and select the "open new window" option
5) Click on the new browser tab that was just created which displays the Customer Updates in a List view
6) Ensure the column for Update set is displayed. If this column is not in view, use the Personalize List gear icon to add it to the Customer Updates list
7) To edit the customer updates using the List Editor technique, place the mouse cursor in one of the cells in the Update set column... but avoid hovering the cursor over the actual hyperlink in the cell. (the cell will highlight, and the mouse cursor will appear an an arrow if done correctly)
8) While holding the Shift key, click and hold the left mouse button. The mouse cursor should become a plus sign if done correctly
9) Drag the mouse cursor through all the customer update records to be transferred, while keeping the cursor within the Update set column. Release the Shift key and left mouse button when finished. (Note: the Ctrl key can be used in lieu of the Shift key. This allows selecting individual Update set cells instead of dragging the mouse cursor)
10) Once the desired Update set cells are selected, again place the mouse cursor in any one of the selected (highlighted) cells, while avoiding hovering the cursor over the actual hyperlink in the cell
11) Double-click the cell. If done correctly, the Cell Edit popup appears, stating "X rows will be updated."
12) Click the magnifying glass in the Cell Edit popup. A new Update Sets popup window appears
13) In the new popup window, select the desired Update set in which the selected update records will be transferred to. (ensure it's in the same Application scope as the original update set!) When selected, the Update Sets popup window should close
14) On the Cell Edit popup, click the green checkmark button to save the change. The update records are now transferred to their new update set!
This second method describes transferring the customer update records by bypassing the Update set and starting from the Customer Updates table itself. (table [sys_update_xml])
1) Log into Now Platform and use the Application Picker to select the appropriate Application matching the desired update set from which update records will be transferred from
2) To navigate to the Customer Updates table, in the Filter Navigator, type sys_update_xml_list.do and hit Enter
3) On the Customer Updates table, ensure the columns for Application, Update set, and Updated by are in view. If this column is not in view, use the Personalize List gear icon to add them to the Customer Updates table
4) Filter and/or sort the Customer Updates table to isolate the specific customer update records to be transferred. The Application, Update set, Updated by columns are useful for this purpose, but any other method of searching or filtering that provides results is suitable
5) To edit the customer updates using the List Editor method, Place the mouse cursor in one of the cells in the Update set column... but avoid hovering the cursor over the actual hyperlink in the cell. (the cell will highlight, and the mouse cursor will appear an an arrow if done correctly)
6) While holding the Shift key, click and hold the left mouse button. The mouse cursor should become a plus sign if done correctly
7) Drag the mouse cursor through all the update set records to be transferred, while keeping the cursor within the Update set column. Release the Shift key and left mouse button when finished. (Note: the Ctrl key can be used in lieu of the Shift key. This allows selecting individual Update set cells instead of dragging the mouse cursor)
8) Once the desired Update set cells are selected, again place the mouse cursor in any one of the selected cells while avoiding hovering the cursor over the actual hyperlink in the cell
9) Double-click the cell. If done correctly, the Cell Edit popup appears, stating "X rows will be updated."
10) Click the magnifying glass icon in the Cell Edit popup. A new Update Sets popup window appears
11) In the new popup window, select the desired Update set in which the selected update records will be transferred to. (ensure it's in the same Application scope as the original update set!) When selected, the popup window should close
12) On the Cell Edit popup, click the green checkmark button to save the change. The update records are now transferred to their new update set!
Let's talk about a different way to move updates between update sets in ServiceNow
The List Editor technique of editing the Customer Update records described in both Method 1 and 2 above only works if the glide.ui.list_edit system property is enabled. While this property is enabled by default in a Now Platform instance, some organizations choose to disable for security reasons... which in turn disables list editing capabilities. Described below is an alternate technique to edit multiple Customer Update records (or any record!) using the Data Management function:
1) Locate the desired Customer Update records using either Method 1 or 2
2) Select each desired record by clicking the checkmarks on the far left side of the Customer Updates list (or just click the Select All checkbox)
3) Hover the mouse over any column header in the Customer Updates list until "three dots" Column options icon appears
4) Click the Column options icon, then from the popup menu select Data Management > Update All with preview...
5) On the Data Management Update Job form, locate the Fields & values menu field and select "Update set"
6) Click the magnifying glass icon to the right of the Fields & values field. A new Update Sets popup window appears
7) In the new popup window, select the desired Update set in which the selected update records will be transferred to. (ensure it's in the same Application scope as the original update set!) When selected, the popup window should close
8) Click the Update button to save the changes and reload the form
9) Click the Execute Now related link
Using the examples and techniques described above, you can now successfully move updates between update sets in ServiceNow.
This can come in handy when you make updates while not in the right update set (as we all do!) - so hopefully next time that happens, you can fix it quickly.
Thanks for reading and we hope this helps save you a few minutes each day!
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