ServiceNow NowGraph Exploration

Nicola Attico
2 min readJun 9, 2023
NowGraph

https://youtu.be/FRs66cRo_og

In the fast-paced world of technology, data analysis and visualization play a crucial role in understanding complex systems. In this article, we will delve into the capabilities of ServiceNow’s NowGraph, specifically focusing on its potential for investigating big data sets. By navigating through individual tables and exploring relationships, ServiceNow developers and technology enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the data model, code structure, business data, and its various dependencies. Join me as we uncover the power of the NowGraph and its ability to simplify complex data analysis.

Introduction to the NowGraph

  • A brief overview of the NowGraph’s capabilities
  • Explanation of its ability to investigate big data sets
  • Mention of the data model of ServiceNow and its significance

Navigating Individual Entities

  • Demonstrating the selection of specific tables, such as the Incident and Task tables
  • Exploring self-looping relationships within the Incident and Task tables
  • Highlighting references, particularly the parent field

Expanding the Scope: Outgoing and Incoming Relationships

  • Showcasing the option to expand the subgraph’s scope
  • Illustrating how the expanded graph reveals additional relationships and elements
  • Introducing tables like User, Problem, Change Request, and Case

Exploring Further: Analyzing the data model

  • Discussing the complexity that arises from expanding the scope to include Change Requests
  • Exploring the inclusion of new elements introduced by Change Requests
  • Mentioning the Case Management table and its relationship to the Customer Service application

Visualization Capabilities: Physics and Manual Arrangement

  • Explaining the physics-based positioning of graph elements for meaningful exploration
  • Demonstrating the ability to manually arrange items for customized visualization
  • Reintroducing physics for automatic rearrangement based on predefined rules

Leveraging Color-Coding and Scopes

  • Highlighting the use of color-coding to differentiate scopes or other fields
  • Observing how the diagram adapts with different colors based on the included Scopes
  • Noting that most tables will be in the global scope, but others related to customer service are included within the subgraph

ServiceNow’s NowGraph provides developers and technology enthusiasts with a powerful tool for investigating and analyzing big data sets. By navigating individual tables, expanding the scope to include relationships, and leveraging visualization capabilities, users can gain valuable insights into complex data models. With its intuitive interface and powerful navigation features, the NowGraph simplifies the exploration of data, making it a critical resource for ServiceNow developers and enthusiasts alike.

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