Slash Commands - Getting Started

Opening the Slash Command Window

The recommended shortcuts to trigger slash commands are:

• Windows / Linux: ALT-/
• Mac: CTRL-/

Since the Washington release, ServiceNow introduced built-in shortcuts that conflict with older SN Utils shortcuts.

If you prefer the old behavior, enable Prioritize Shortcut under Manage → Settings → Slash Commands. This gives SN Utils priority over ServiceNow's built-in shortcut.

You can also set a custom shortcut on the Manage page. The extension supports dark and light themes.

Basic Navigation Commands

Here are some essential navigation commands:

Sidekick Commands Pro

Open the Sidekick debugging suite with these commands:

Controlling Link Behavior

Force specific behavior with these modifiers:

• Enter - Default behavior (usually current tab)
• CTRL-Enter - Force open in new tab
• CTRL-SHIFT-Enter - Force open in current tab

Table Search Commands

Several built-in commands search common tables:

Adding Search Parameters

Commands accept search terms and switches:

Example: /p ui.session -s -p

1. /p - Properties table command
2. ui.session - Search term for the name field
3. -s - Restrict results to current scope
4. -p - Pin the filter (show expanded)

Understanding Switches

Switches modify command behavior:

Common useful switches:

• /p -n - Open new record
• /p -t - Open table definition
• /p -r - Open random record

Inline Results

Confirm your search with the Right Arrow key to see results inline. Navigate with numbers or mouse click.

Commands with inline results show the ⇲ symbol.

Using Encoded Queries

You can pass an encoded query as the parameter:

/p valueLIKEwashi

This overrides the default name search.

Dynamic Table Search

Start typing any table name and SN Utils will find matching tables:

After 3 characters, tables are automatically searched. For sys tables (many matches), additional searches trigger after each _. You can also press Right Arrow to trigger a search.

Navigate with Up/Down arrows and select with Tab. Then apply switches as usual.

Because dynamic table commands don't have a predefined default search field, a bare word won't filter results. To filter, pass an encoded query (/incident short_descriptionLIKEvpn) or use an inline -field:value filter (/incident -short_description:vpn). See Switches.

By default, lists opened by table name include sysparm_filter_pinned=true so the filter breadcrumb stays pinned open. You can change or remove this with the List Navigation URL Parameters setting (/manage.html#advanced, Editor & List Configuration): clear the field for plain list URLs, or add your own parameters such as sysparm_view=. The -p and -f switches still add pinning per command.

Slash commands also sort the lists they open by most recently updated first, unless the command sets its own order. If you prefer the sort saved on your list, turn off Sort Lists by Last Updated in the same section. The -ou switch still sorts by last updated for a single command.

Wildcard Search

Use * for contains search if you don't know the exact table name:

Describe What You Want

Don't remember a command name? Type what you want to do in plain words, and the slash window lists up to three matching commands above the search option:

• /show field names suggests /tn (Show Technical Names)
• /fill random values suggests /rnd
• /compare code suggests /diff1, which compares the XML of two records

Nothing is picked automatically, so Enter still searches for what you typed. Press Down Arrow to select a suggestion, then Enter to put that command in the box. Press Enter again to run it, or add arguments first. Clicking a suggestion does the same as selecting it.

Suggestions only appear when no command in the list matches what you typed, and never for switches, encoded queries or sys_ids.

Command History

Use the Up Arrow key to scroll through your recently used commands. Under Manage → Settings → Slash Commands → History Size, choose 20, 50, 100, or 200 entries, or Disabled. The default is 50. See the Settings Reference for activation modes and custom open and repeat shortcuts.