Slash Switches

Slash switches are small flags you add after a command to change what it does.

Example:

/p ui.session -s -p

/p = base command (System Properties)
ui.session = search term (matched against the command's default field — here name)
-s and -p = switches that modify behavior

Switch Categories

Most switches fall into one of these groups:

Type	What It Does	Example
Filter switch	Adds a filter condition	`-a` for active records
URL switch	Adds URL params	`-p` to keep filters pinned
Sort switch	Adds ordering	`-ud` for updated desc
Action switch	Opens related targets	`-t` for table definition

Common Everyday Switches

In below example /p is a command for the sys_properties table.

Command	Result
`/p -n`	Open a new record
`/p -t`	Open table definition
`/p -r`	Open a random record
`/p ui.session -s`	Search in current scope
`/task -p`	Keep filter pinned in list

Time-Based Switches

Time switches let you query records by age.

Syntax:

-<type><number><unit>

Types:

-u updated in the last...
-c created in the last...
-uc updated or created in the last...
-um updated by me in the last...

Units:

s seconds
m minutes
h hours
d days
w weeks
M months
q quarters
y years

Examples:

Command	Result
`/incident -u5d`	Updated in last 5 days
`/task -c3h`	Created in last 3 hours
`/incident -uc15m`	Updated or created in last 15 minutes
`/sys_script -um1w`	Updated by me in last week

Combining Multiple Switches

You can chain switches in one command:

/br myRule -u2d -s -p

That means:

search for myRule
only records updated in the last 2 days
limit to current scope
keep filter pinned

Headless Switches

You can use switches without a table command by starting with /-. The switch applies to the current list or form table.

Command	Result
`/-a`	Filter current list to active records
`/-c3h`	Filter current list to created in last 3 hours
`/-a -c1d`	Active records created in the last day

Inline Field Filters

Use the -field:value syntax to quickly filter any field by "contains" without defining a custom switch. This works both headless and with table commands.

Command	Result
`/-name:david`	Current list where name contains "david"
`/sys_user -name:david -a`	Active users where name contains "david"
`/incident -short_description:vpn -c1d`	Incidents with "vpn" in short description, created in last day

The field name must match the actual ServiceNow column name (e.g. short_description, not "Short description").

Custom Switches

Need custom behavior? You can define your own switches in the Switches tab on the Manage page (gear icon in the popup header, or /manage).

If you had slash switches from a pre-v10 install, those grandfathered entries remain editable as JSON under Manage > Advanced > Legacy JSON Editing — see Legacy JSON Editing for the legacy shape, the Convert-to-Custom flow, and the automatic local snapshots captured before every save. Modern custom switches are managed only via the Switches tab.

Legacy JSON Examples

If you are using the legacy JSON format under Settings > Advanced, here are some example switches:

{
    "s": {
        "description": "Current Scope",
        "value": "^sys_scope=javascript:gs.getCurrentApplicationId()",
        "type": "encodedquerypart"
    },
    "p": {
        "description": "Filter Pinned",
        "value": "&sysparm_filter_pinned=true",
        "type": "querypart"
    },
    "t": {
        "description": "View Table Structure",
        "value": "sys_db_object.do?sys_id=$0&sysparm_refkey=name",
        "type": "link"
    },
    "pi": {
        "description": "Pop In - Open in full UI",
        "value": "/nav_to.do?uri=",
        "type": "prepend"
    }
}

Full variable reference: Variables & Helper Methods