ServiceLink User Interface - Overview of Changes

Overview

This document covers important changes in the User Interface (UI) due to the latest ServiceLink UI upgrade to Fuji UI 15. This upgrade was a UI change only. The UI has a number of minor changes that users might encounter while using the system. The changes documented below are not all inclusive. Please keep in mind: though there is a new look and feel, there are no field changes or process changes. These changes are effective July 31, 2015.

Navigation and Favorites

The left-side navigation is the same except for having a cleaner look and no associated icons within the modules. Click on the module title bar to open or close that section of the navigation.

Each click-able option within a module has a star icon to the left of the link, which can be selected or deselected. The star icon indicates the link as "favorite". Once a user clicks a link, the star icon becomes a solid color and that link is marked as a favorite. Click the star again to de-select the link as a favorite. Click the star next to Filter at the top of the left navigation to display only your favorites. To turn off automatic favorites, click the drop-down menu next to the Filter search box and de-select Automatically Add Favorites.

Favorites screenshot.

Bookmarks and Icons

Bookmarks now appear as buttons instead of icons in the upgraded ServiceLink. Any existing images that users have assigned for bookmarks will have to be reset manually. For more information on customizing bookmarks, see Using Bookmarks.

Several icons throughout modules are different in the new ServiceLink UI. In most instances, the location of the icon is the same and only the icon itself has changed. TIP: The majority of icons have a Tool Tip attached to it. Hover over any icon to see the Tool Tip.

Examples of changed icons include:

  •  Example of Filter Icon Filter Icon in any list
  • Example of Personalized List Icon Personalized List Icon at the top left corner of every list
  • Example of Related Records List Icon Related records list icon in any record has changed but remains in the same location.
  • Example of Information Icon Information icon for individual records has changed but remains in the same location.
  • Example of Menu Icon Menu icon for options within a record replaces the drop-down next to the back button within a record.

A new icon added to the top of most module lists, as well as records in the system, is the activity stream icon. Example of Activity Screen IconThe activity stream includes live activity information for all records on that particular list or record.

The email icon within a record, which was previously located to the right side of buttons on the bar at the top of the record, is now located to the left of the buttons at the top of a record.

Menus

Look for several additions in menus throughout ServiceLink, along with a few slight changes. The System Menu (found through the gear icon at the top right of the ServiceLink window) has some new options around preferences. For example, you can now change how compact the screen is as well as the colors of the ServiceLink skin. TIP: If you prefer the previous UI to the new UI, change the Theme color to "Heisenberg" and be sure to click to turn the Compact View on. In additiona, some options that were at the top of the System Menu in the older UI are now at the bottom.

Screenshot of how to find the Compact View and Theme Settings

Navigate to Home through the system menu. Click the gear icon and then click Home. Click the drop-down menu next to the Home button to set a different home page.

Screenshot showing the Home button in the System Menu.

Previously, users could right-click on the blue bar at the top of any screen to open a menu. Though the blue bar is no longer blue users can still right-click on the bar at the top of any record, or, users can click the menu list icon at the top of the record to open the same menu.

Note: Keep in mind you could see one or two new options in any given menu throughout ServiceLink with the new UI. We will post information about new options as that information becomes available.

Changes in Individual Records

Changes to individual records throughout each module in ServiceLink include the following:

  • Required fields are now marked by a red astrick instead of a red bar.
  • Read only fields are now a deeper gray.
  • Fields with invalid values entered turn pink to alert the user that the entry was invalid.
  • Field indicators are larger and bolder.
  • Icon changes as noted above.
  • Recent Selections: Some fields on an individual record will store previous entries, which can then be selected from the Recent Selections box that appears when entering a value in that particular field.
  • Recent selection box screenshot.

New Search Option

It is now possible to search individual columns within any data list in ServiceLink. Click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the appropriate list and new search fields become available.

New fields in data list screenshot.

Tags

Tags allow grouping and organizing records. Tags are meta-data that, once created, can be visible to any users or only to specific groups or users. Use of Tags is up to the individual users. For more information on Tags, see Creating and Using Tags.

 

Contextual Search Screenshot.

Additional ServiceNow Resources