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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Use Interactive SQL with ODBC

Run the Interactive SQL application for quick verification of connectivity and to test query results without using a full application.

Before you begin

Role required: admin

Procedure

  1. In Windows, navigate to Start > Programs > ServiceNow ODBC > Interactive SQL (ODBC).

  2. Connect to the base instance by entering the following command and selecting the appropriate user credentials in the format without special characters: ID*password@DSNName.

    CONNECT odbcuser*password@ServiceNow
Image omitted: ConnectingTheSQL.png
Connecting the SQL.

  1. Issue a SELECT SQL command.

    SELECT NUMBER, short_description FROM incident;

    Make sure to include the semicolon at the end of your query statement. Otherwise, you are presented with a 'Cont>' prompt.

Image omitted: SampleSQLQuery.png
Sample SQL Query.
  • Specify the maximum number of rows returned
    By default, ServiceNow only returns 100 rows of data with each iSQL query. If you need to return more rows of data, set the maxrows parameter for the iSQL session.
  • SQL support
    The ODBC driver embeds a third party SQL/ODBC engine from DataDirect, a division of Progress Software.

Parent Topic:ODBC and client applications