Configuring target source for target automation

concept australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 2 min read setting-targets-for-a-goal-and-automating-the-actual-value-using-agf-apw.md

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Configure target sources for target automation so that the goal user can define a target source when setting a target for the goal. Defining a target source for a target updates the actual value of the target automatically.

Use the following steps as guidelines for configuring target sources.

Create a target source for a target to configure it as a source to update the actual value of the target. For more information, see Create a target source.

The context variable is required for target source types Assessment/Survey and PA Indicator. The mandatory context variables are automatically created while creating a target source with the type selected as Assessment/Surveys or PA Indicator. For more information on when the mandatory context variables are created, see Context variable in target source.
If required, create context variables for the target source so that the required data is fetched from the context variables to update the actual value of the target. For more information, see Create context variables for a target source.

Context variable in target source
The context variable is an additional configuration for the target source that can be used on the Target form to fetch the required data and auto-update the Actual value field on the Target form. A context variable is required for target source types Assessment/Survey and PA Indicator.
Automate target Actual values using a target source
Create a target source so that the goal user can configure it for the targets to automate the Actual value of the targets.
Create a context variable for a target source
Create a context variable manually if you want to configure more context variables for a target source.
Create a context variable for a PA Indicator target source
Create a context variable manually for the target source type PA Indicator if the breakdown is of Choice list type.

Parent Topic:Configuring goals in Strategic Planning

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---
title: Configuring target source for target automation
description: Configure target sources for target automation so that the goal user can define a target source when setting a target for the goal. Defining a target source for a target updates the actual value of the target automatically.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/setting-targets-for-a-goal-and-automating-the-actual-value-using-agf-apw.html
release: australia
product: Scenario Planning in SPW
classification: scenario-planning-in-spw
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Configuring goals in Strategic Planning, Configure, Portfolio Planning in Strategic Planning Workspace, Strategic Planning, Strategic Portfolio Management]
---

# Configuring target source for target automation

Configure target sources for target automation so that the goal user can define a target source when setting a target for the goal. Defining a target source for a target updates the actual value of the target automatically.

Use the following steps as guidelines for configuring target sources.

1.  Create a target source for a target to configure it as a source to update the actual value of the target. For more information, see [Create a target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/create-target-source-for-automating-the-actual-value-of-the-targets-apw.md).

    The context variable is required for target source types Assessment/Survey and PA Indicator. The mandatory context variables are automatically created while creating a target source with the type selected as Assessment/Surveys or PA Indicator. For more information on when the mandatory context variables are created, see [Context variable in target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/context-variable-in-target-source-apw.md).

2.  If required, create context variables for the target source so that the required data is fetched from the context variables to update the actual value of the target. For more information, see [Create context variables for a target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/create-context-variable-for-a-target-source-apw.md).

-   **[Context variable in target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/context-variable-in-target-source-apw.md)**  
The context variable is an additional configuration for the target source that can be used on the Target form to fetch the required data and auto-update the **Actual value** field on the Target form. A context variable is required for target source types Assessment/Survey and PA Indicator.
-   **[Automate target Actual values using a target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/create-target-source-for-automating-the-actual-value-of-the-targets-apw.md)**  
Create a target source so that the goal user can configure it for the targets to automate the Actual value of the targets.
-   **[Create a context variable for a target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/create-context-variable-for-a-target-source-apw.md)**  
Create a context variable manually if you want to configure more context variables for a target source.
-   **[Create a context variable for a PA Indicator target source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/create-context-variable-for-a-target-source-type-pa-indicator-apw.md)**  
Create a context variable manually for the target source type PA Indicator if the breakdown is of Choice list type.

**Parent Topic:**[Configuring goals in Strategic Planning](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scenario-planning-in-spw/configuring-goal-framework-apw.md)