Specify a default field value

A default value populates a value in a field when a new record is created.

Before you begin

Role required: personalize_dictionary

About this task

The default value populates the field on the blank form for a new record, and also subsequently when the new record is submitted if the field is empty. Default values can be specified as either a constant or generated through script.

Procedure

1. Right-click the field's label in the form and select Configure Dictionary.

2. Enter the default value in the Default value field.

   To set a constant value, type it into the Default value text box field. To assign a default value using a more complex formula, use JavaScript to output a default value.

   Note: The default value should be the underlying value that would be present in the field, not the label. For example, in a choice list field, use the value of the choice as the default value, not the choice's name.

Parent Topic:Customizing fields on the ServiceNow AI Platform

Default field value examples

Review the following examples about specifying default field values.

Constant default values

Here is an example that sets a default value for the Priority field.

Javascript default values

To view out-of-box examples of JavaScript default values, navigate to System Definition > Dictionary and enter this filter: [Default value] [starts with] [javascript]. Open some of the records and view the default value javascript entries.

Set a default value for assignment_group

The following example sets a default value in a [sys_user_group] reference field by getting the ID from the name of a group.

javascript:GetIDValue('sys_user_group', 'Development');

Set a default value for assigned_to if user has the itil role

This example for the Task [task] table describes how to configure the default value for the [assigned_to] user equal to the current user id if the user has a role of itil.

• Column label: Assigned to
• Column name: [assigned_to]
• Reference Specification section
  • Reference: User [sys_user]
  • Reference qual condition: [Roles] [is] [itil]

• Default value script:

  javascript:if (gs.hasRole("itil"))current.assigned_to = gs.getUserID();
  

Set a default value for a duration field

To set a default value for a duration field, use the following in the Default value field of the duration field's dictionary entry:

javascript:current.duration_field.setDisplayValue('3 04:30:14');

Avoid hard-coding a particular date-time. If the system date-time format changes, the value becomes invalid. Instead, select the Use dynamic default check box and assign a dynamic filter option. For more information on dynamic filters, see Create a dynamic filter option .