Update Record step

reference australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read update-record-action-designer.md

Update an existing record in a table. You can dynamically add and configure fields for the record, or use a template to set field values.

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
Record	The record to be updated. Drag-and-drop a record data pill or use the data pill picker to select a record.Warning: When using script to select a record, always add a condition to check for a matching record. Some GlideRecord methods return a list of records whenever the method query produces no results. Without a condition check, the action may update all records in a table. For example, this script uses an If condition to verify that a record exists. If the record exists, it returns a Sys ID value. If no record exists, it returns a null result. JavaScript `var configurationItem = new GlideRecord('cmdb_ci');if (configurationItem.get(fd_data.trigger.cmdb_ci.sys_id))return configurationItem;elsereturn null;`
Table	The table associated with the record. When you select a record, this field is automatically set to the table associated with the record.
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.

Field

Description

Record

The record to be updated. Drag-and-drop a record data pill or use the data pill picker to select a record.Warning: When using script to select a record, always add a condition to check for a matching record. Some GlideRecord methods return a list of records whenever the method query produces no results. Without a condition check, the action may update all records in a table. For example, this script uses an If condition to verify that a record exists. If the record exists, it returns a Sys ID value. If no record exists, it returns a null result.

JavaScript

var configurationItem = new GlideRecord('cmdb_ci');if (configurationItem.get(fd_data.trigger.cmdb_ci.sys_id))return configurationItem;elsereturn null;

Table

The table associated with the record. When you select a record, this field is automatically set to the table associated with the record.

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.

## 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.

Parent Topic:Workflow Studio steps

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---
title: Update Record step
description: Update an existing record in a table. You can dynamically add and configure fields for the record, or use a template to set field values.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/update-record-action-designer.html
release: australia
product: Workflow Studio
classification: workflow-studio
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Steps, Flows, subflows, and actions reference, Flows, subflows, and actions, Workflow Studio, Build workflows]
---

# Update Record step

Update an existing record in a table. You can dynamically add and configure fields for the record, or use a template to set field values.

## 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_zmc_z3f_kcb"><thead><tr><th>

Field

</th><th>

Description

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Record

</td><td>

The record to be updated. Drag-and-drop a record data pill or use the data pill picker to select a record.**Warning:** When using script to select a record, always add a condition to check for a matching record. Some GlideRecord methods return a list of records whenever the method query produces no results. Without a condition check, the action may update all records in a table. For example, this script uses an If condition to verify that a record exists. If the record exists, it returns a Sys ID value. If no record exists, it returns a null result.

```
var configurationItem = new GlideRecord('cmdb_ci');
if (configurationItem.get(fd_data.trigger.cmdb_ci.sys_id))
return configurationItem;
else
return null;

```

</td></tr><tr><td>

Table

</td><td>

The table associated with the record. When you select a record, this field is automatically set to the table associated with the record.

</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></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).


**Parent Topic:**[Workflow Studio steps](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/steps.md)