ServiceNow Updated CSA Exam Questions and Answers by adnan

In ServiceNow, a Dictionary Override allows an administrator to customize the properties of a field in a child table without modifying the field in the parent table.

This is particularly useful in table inheritance scenarios, where a child table inherits fields from a parent table but needs different behavior for certain fields.

Modify field properties (e.g., mandatory, read-only, default value) in extended tables.

Preserve inheritance while allowing exceptions for specific child tables.

Avoid modifying the original dictionary definition of a field at the parent table level.

Key Functions of Dictionary Overrides:Example of Dictionary Override in Action:Consider the Task Table (task), which is a parent table for many modules like Incident, Change, and Problem.

The Task Table has a priority field.

If the Incident Table (incident) needs to override the priority field to make it mandatory, an administrator can create a Dictionary Override for the priority field in the incident table.

The priority field in other child tables (e.g., change_request, problem) remains unaffected.

(A) A Dictionary Override is an incoming customer update in an Update Set which applies to the same objects as a newer local customer update – Incorrect ❌

This definition describes Update Set Collisions, not Dictionary Overrides.

Update Set Collisions occur when an update set applies changes to an object that has been modified locally.

(B) A Dictionary Override is the addition, modification, or removal of anything that could have an effect on IT services – Incorrect ❌

This describes Change Management in ITSM, which tracks changes to IT services.

Dictionary Overrides specifically modify field properties in extended tables.

(C) A Dictionary Override is a task within a workflow that requests an action before the workflow can continue – Incorrect ❌

This describes Approval Actions in Workflows, not Dictionary Overrides.

Workflow approvals pause execution until an action is completed, but Dictionary Overrides do not function this way.

(D) A Dictionary Override sets field properties in extended tables – Correct ✅

This is the correct definition.

Dictionary Overrides allow admins to customize field behavior in child tables while maintaining inheritance from parent tables.

Explanation of Each Option:

Use Dictionary Overrides sparingly to avoid unnecessary complexity.

Always test changes in a sub-production environment before applying them in production.

Document overrides properly to help future administrators understand why an override was applied.

Use the "Dictionary Entry" (sys_dictionary) table to view and manage dictionary overrides.

Additional Notes & Best Practices:

ServiceNow Docs: Dictionary Overrides Overview

https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Community: Best Practices for Dictionary Overrides

https://community.servicenow.com

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

Workflows in ServiceNow are typically moved between instances using Update Sets. Update Sets serve as a mechanism for capturing customizations and migrating them across different environments, such as Development (Dev) → Test → Production (Prod).

Recording Customizations:

When a workflow is modified or created, its changes are recorded in an Update Set if the Update Set is active.

Capturing Related Records:

Workflows consist of multiple components (e.g., activities, conditions, transitions).

Update Sets capture the Workflow Version and associated Workflow Activities.

Exporting and Importing:

The Update Set containing the workflow is exported from the source instance (e.g., Dev).

It is then imported into the target instance (e.g., Test or Prod).

Commit the Update Set:

After import, the Update Set must be reviewed and committed to apply the changes in the target instance.

B. Workflows are moved using Transform Maps ❌

Incorrect: Transform Maps are used for importing and mapping data from external sources into ServiceNow tables, not for migrating configurations like workflows.

C. Workflows are moved using Application Sets ❌

Incorrect: There is no such thing as "Application Sets" in ServiceNow. However, Applications (Scoped Apps) can be moved using Application Repositories (App Repo) or Update Sets, but this is different from standard Workflow migration.

D. Workflows cannot be moved between instances ❌

Incorrect: Workflows can be moved using Update Sets, and in scoped applications, they can also be packaged with the application.

How Update Sets Work for Workflows?Why Other Options Are Incorrect?

ServiceNow Product Documentation - Update Sets

Update Sets Overview

Moving Customizations Using Update Sets

ServiceNow Workflows

Workflow Management

References from ServiceNow CSA Documentation:

When a new table is created in ServiceNow by extending another table, it follows table inheritance principles. This means the newly created table (child table) receives all the fields from its parent table. Additionally, the new table can include custom fields that are unique to itself.

Here’s how inheritance works in ServiceNow when a table is extended:

Fields Inheritance:

The child table automatically inherits all fields from its parent table.

These inherited fields cannot be removed from the child table but can be modified or overridden.

The child table can also have additional custom fields that do not exist in the parent table.

Business Rules, Client Scripts, and UI Policies:

Unlike fields, these components are not automatically inherited.

However, they can still affect the child table if they are defined on the parent table using conditions that include the child table.

To apply them specifically to the child table, they need to be explicitly defined for the new table.

Access Control Rules (ACLs):

ACLs are not automatically inherited.

Each table in ServiceNow has its own set of Access Control Rules, which must be explicitly configured for the child table if different permissions are required.

Database Structure:

The child table creates a one-to-one relationship with the parent table, meaning all fields in the parent are available in the child table.

The new table is stored as a separate entity but references the parent table’s structure.

The child table inherits all fields from the parent table. ✅

The child table can also have its own custom fields. ✅

Business Rules, Client Scripts, UI Policies, and ACLs are not automatically inherited, meaning options B and D are incorrect.

The table does not archive the parent table (making option A incorrect).

ServiceNow Product Documentation – Table Inheritance:https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Fundamentals – Table Relationships

ServiceNow Developer Portal – Extending Tables

ServiceNow Best Practices – Access Controls & Security Rules

Why Option C is Correct?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow Knowledge Management, knowledge articles must be in a specific state before they can be visible to end users. The correct state that allows users to view the article is Published.

Understanding Knowledge Article StatesKnowledge articles in ServiceNow go through a lifecycle that includes the following states:

Draft – The article is being created or edited and is not visible to end users.

Review – The article is under internal review by approvers before publication. It remains hidden from users.

Published – The article is approved and publicly available to users who have access to the Knowledge Base.

Retired – The article is no longer relevant or has been replaced. It is not visible to end users.

Only Published articles appear in the Knowledge Base and can be accessed by users.

Articles in Draft, Review, or Retired states are not visible to the general audience.

B. Drafted – Articles in Draft are still being written or edited and cannot be accessed by users.

C. Retired – Retired articles are considered obsolete and are no longer displayed in the Knowledge Base.

D. Reviewed – Articles in Review are under approval but are not yet visible to users.

ServiceNow Docs: Knowledge Article Stateshttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-servicenow-platform/page/product/knowledge-management/concept/knowledge-article-states.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (Knowledge Management Lifecycle & Publishing Workflow)

Why is "Published" the Correct Answer?Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:This confirms that a knowledge article must be in the "Published" state to be visible to users in the Knowledge Base.