Update Multiple Records step
Look up and update multiple records as a single step. Using this step removes the need to separately look up a list of records and then process the list with a Script step. Set field values with a template or add and configure them using data pills.
Roles and availability
Available as an Workflow Studio action step. Users with the action_designer role can create a custom action with one or more action steps.
Fields
|
Field |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Table |
Select the table containing the records to look up and update. |
|
Conditions |
Define the filter conditions used to look up records. |
|
Field Values |
Set static or dynamic values of fields in the record. For example, to set the short description to a static value, select Short description and set the desired value. To add dynamic values, see Create a template value input. Important: The system does not support updating multiple journal fields such as the additional comments or work notes of a task record. |
|
Order by |
Select the field that you want to use to sort the records when more than one record matches the defined conditions. |
|
Sort Type |
Determine whether to sort the records alphabetically in ascending or descending order. |
|
Run Business Rules and Workflow |
Determine whether to call any business rules and workflows associated with the table. |
|
Update System Fields |
Select if you want to automatically update system fields such as Updated by. |
|
Don't fail on error |
Specify whether to continue running the flow when there is an error. |
-
If this step fails
Data type: Choice
Option to continue running the next step or go to error evaluation. To use the step status code or message for a custom action error condition, see Action error evaluation.
Example
[Omitted image "update-multiple-records-action-designer.png"] Alt text: Example Update Multiple Records step.
Outputs
|
Field |
Description |
Data Type |
|---|---|---|
|
Count |
Number of records updated. If no records are updated, the count is 0. |
Integer |
|
Error Message |
Message that is displayed if the step produces an error. |
String |
|
Status |
The completion status of the step as a numeric value.- 0 (success)
|
Choice |
---
title: Update Multiple Records step
description: Look up and update multiple records as a single step. Using this step removes the need to separately look up a list of records and then process the list with a Script step. Set field values with a template or add and configure them using data pills.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/update-multiple-records-action-designer.html
release: australia
product: Workflow Studio
classification: workflow-studio
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Steps, Flows, subflows, and actions reference, Flows, subflows, and actions, Workflow Studio, Build workflows]
---
# Update Multiple Records step
Look up and update multiple records as a single step. Using this step removes the need to separately look up a list of records and then process the list with a Script step. Set field values with a template or add and configure them using data pills.
## Roles and availability
Available as an Workflow Studio action step. Users with the action\_designer role can create a custom action with one or more action steps.
## Fields
<table id="table_gzy_vb3_pkb"><thead><tr><th>
Field
</th><th>
Description
</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>
Table
</td><td>
Select the table containing the records to look up and update.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Conditions
</td><td>
Define the filter conditions used to look up records.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Field Values
</td><td>
Set static or dynamic values of fields in the record. For example, to set the short description to a static value, select **Short description** and set the desired value.
To add dynamic values, see [Create a template value input](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/template-value.md).
**Important:** The system does not support updating multiple journal fields such as the additional comments or work notes of a task record.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Order by
</td><td>
Select the field that you want to use to sort the records when more than one record matches the defined conditions.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Sort Type
</td><td>
Determine whether to sort the records alphabetically in ascending or descending order.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Run Business Rules and Workflow
</td><td>
Determine whether to call any business rules and workflows associated with the table.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Update System Fields
</td><td>
Select if you want to automatically update system fields such as **Updated by**.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Don't fail on error
</td><td>
Specify whether to continue running the flow when there is an error.
</td></tr></tbody>
</table>## Action error evaluation
- **If this step fails**
Data type: **Choice**
Option to continue running the next step or go to error evaluation. To use the step status code or message for a custom action error condition, see [Action error evaluation](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/action-error-evaluation.md).
## Example
\[Omitted image "update-multiple-records-action-designer.png"\] Alt text: Example Update Multiple Records step.
## Outputs
<table id="table_zyy_crm_tkb"><thead><tr><th>
Field
</th><th>
Description
</th><th>
Data Type
</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>
Count
</td><td>
Number of records updated. If no records are updated, the count is 0.
</td><td>
Integer
</td></tr><tr><td>
Error Message
</td><td>
Message that is displayed if the step produces an error.
</td><td>
String
</td></tr><tr><td>
Status
</td><td>
The completion status of the step as a numeric value.- 0 \(success\)
- 1 \(error\)
</td><td>
Choice
</td></tr></tbody>
</table>**Parent Topic:**[Workflow Studio steps](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/steps.md)
| title | Update Multiple Records step |
| description | Look up and update multiple records as a single step. Using this step removes the need to separately look up a list of records and then process the list with a Script step. Set field values with a template or add and configure them using data pills. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/update-multiple-records-action-designer.html |
| release | australia |
| product | Workflow Studio |
| classification | workflow-studio |
| topic_type | reference |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 2 |
| breadcrumb | StepsFlowssubflowsand actions referenceFlowssubflowsand actionsWorkflow StudioBuild workflows |