Search Commands
SN Utils search slash commands including Sys ID search, code search with GraphQL mode, unified menu search, and custom searches.
Last updated: January 24, 2026
Beyond table searches, SN Utils provides specialized search commands.
Sys ID Search
Often you have a Sys ID but don't know the table. This command finds it:
/b9377c460b0131109dae8a8db777b295
The search is optimized to start with common base tables (sys_metadata, users, task) for faster results.
Usage options:
/<sys_id>- Direct sys_id/sysid <sys_id>- Explicit command/"sys_id"- Sys ID in quotes
This command requires admin role.
Code Search
Search code across your instance using the built-in code search API:
/code changeutils
Code search can also be triggered via:
- Selected text and extension context menu
- Monaco editor context menu
The code search page supports two modes: Classic (using the ServiceNow Code Search API) and GraphQL (using the Now Platform GraphQL API).
Code Search for Current Table
Use /codecurrent to search code filtered to the table you're currently viewing:
/codecurrent getValue
On a sys_script_include form, this searches for "getValue" in the sys_script_include table only.
Classic Mode
Classic mode uses the built-in ServiceNow Code Search API. It relies on Code Search Groups configured on your instance, and searches the tables defined in the selected group.
Classic mode now supports the table: syntax — if you include table:sys_script in your query, the search is limited to that table within your search group. If the table is not part of the group, a message is shown. field: filtering is only available in GraphQL mode.
The last-used search group is remembered per instance, so you don't need to re-select your preferred group every session.
Custom Code Search Commands
You can create custom slash commands that open Code Search with pre-filled filters. See Custom Code Search Commands for details.
GraphQL Mode Pro
GraphQL mode provides a faster, more powerful search experience. It uses the Now Platform GraphQL API to search across a curated index of ~450 code-related tables without depending on Code Search Groups.
Search Syntax
GraphQL mode supports advanced search syntax:
| Syntax | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
word1 word2 | Match all words (AND). Records must contain every word in any searchable field. | GlideRecord query |
"exact phrase" | Match an exact phrase as a single term. Wrap in double quotes. | "var gr = new" |
table:name | Restrict search to tables matching the name. Partial match on table name and label. | table:sys_script getValue |
field:name | Search only in the specified field(s). | field:script_plain myFunction |
These can be combined freely. For example:
table:sys_script field:script "GlideRecord" addQuery
This searches only tables matching "sys_script", only in the "script" field, for records containing the phrase "GlideRecord" and the word "addQuery".
Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Active only | Only search records where active = true (when the table has an active field). |
| Extended search | Include additional tables discovered from the instance beyond the curated list. |
| Results per table | Limit the number of matching records returned per table (10, 25, 50, or 100). |
| Updated date range | Filter results by last updated date. Use presets (7 days, 30 days, 90 days, 1 year) or a custom range. |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Enter | Execute search |
Esc | Cancel a running search |
Cmd/Ctrl + K | Focus the search input |
How It Works
- Uses the ServiceNow GraphQL API for parallel queries across hundreds of tables in batched requests.
- A curated field index of ~450 code-related tables is pre-loaded, covering script, condition, HTML, XML, JSON, and CSS fields. No Code Search Group configuration is needed.
- Results are sorted by relevance — tables with the most matching records appear first.
- Tables that return access errors are automatically blocked for 7 days and skipped in future searches. You can view and clear blocked tables via the Review Tables button.
- Failed batches are automatically split and retried with smaller payloads, so a single problematic table won't break your entire search.
- The field index is cached locally for 30 days. Use Refresh to rebuild it.
Review Tables
Click Review Tables in the field index bar to inspect the current search scope:
- See which tables were searched, their fields, and the generated GraphQL queries.
- View and clear blocked tables — tables that failed due to access restrictions and are temporarily excluded.
Help
Click the Help button in the field index bar for a quick reference of all search syntax, options, and keyboard shortcuts directly on the page.
Unified Menu Search
When slash commands find 3 or fewer matches, it searches the unified navigation (all Next Experience menus).
SN Utils searches the entire menu hierarchy, and word order doesn't matter.
The search also matches against target URLs:
Global Search
When no specific command matches, pressing Enter performs an instance search:
Custom Searches
Some commands search specific types and open results directly:
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
/spw | Search portal widgets, open in widget editor |
/uibe | Search UI Builder Experiences, open in UI Builder |
You can create your own custom search commands - see Custom Commands.