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:

Common Everyday Switches

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

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...
• -cm created by me in the last...
• -y resolved in the last... (uses resolved_at)

Units:

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

Examples:

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.

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.

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.

Custom Dynamic Time Switches

You can turn any date/datetime column into your own time filter — the same mechanism behind the built-in -u, -c, and -y switches. In the Switches tab, fill in the Dynamic Date Field with the column name and leave the Value field empty. SN Utils generates the time query automatically; you do not write any encoded query yourself.

Once defined, the switch works as -<key><number><unit> with the usual units (s/m/h/d/w/M/q/y).

Example — a switch for "opened in the last...":

Then use it:

The optional Fallback Field adds an OR clause so the filter still matches when the primary field is empty (e.g. opened_at OR sys_created_on).

Dynamic switches are stored on your device and are not synced to the cloud yet, so they stay local to the browser where you created them.

Legacy JSON Examples

If you are using the legacy JSON format under Manage > Advanced > Legacy JSON Editing, 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