All tutorials / Day 9

Day 9 · Free ServiceNow tutorial

ServiceNow Dictionary & field configuration

Configure field types, choices, defaults, and inherited behaviour.

By Nayeem · ServiceNow Architect and Certified Technical Architect

Understand the concept

Dictionary entries define fields, including their types and configuration. Choices provide controlled values; defaults initialise values for new records. Dictionary overrides allow supported inherited-field settings to differ for a child table without changing the parent’s setting for every child.

A practical business example

A practice task type needs a different default or mandatory setting for an inherited field, while other task types should keep their existing behaviour.

What you will learn

• Configure dictionary fields
• Add choices and defaults
• Explore attributes and dictionary overrides

Step-by-step practice

Use a personal learning instance and suitable permissions. Record your starting configuration before changing it.

1. Inspect a practice table’s dictionary entries and compare string, choice and reference fields.
2. Add suitable choices to a practice field and test a newly created record.
3. Inspect an inherited field and use a supported dictionary override on the child table for the requirement.
4. Compare parent, child and sibling-table behaviour. Record exactly which setting changed.

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

A default does not retroactively update existing records. Changing a parent dictionary entry can affect multiple child tables; inspect the scope of the change first.

Why use a dictionary override?

It lets a child table vary supported settings on an inherited field without applying the same change to every table that inherits the parent field.

Watch the lesson

Hands-on lab

Dictionary and Field Configuration · Estimated practice: 90 to 120 minutes. Download the Word document and work through it alongside the video.

Keep learning

Use the ITSM interview questions with examples to practise explaining concepts. For platform reference information, consult the official ServiceNow documentation for your release.