Performance Analytics snapshots

concept australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read pa-snapshots.md

Snapshots are the lists of records (sys_ids) that are collected at the time that the scores for those records are collected. Snapshots enable users to drill down into the records from a Performance Analytics indicator visualization.

Only automated indicators can have snapshots. Snapshots are made only for those automated indicators that have Collect records enabled. The following features require records to be collected:

Drilling down into individual records from the scores on a Performance Analytics widget.
Showing records in Analytics Hub.
Showing records in KPI Details.

Retention period

By default, snapshots are retained for 183 days. You can change this period either globally or for a specific indicator:

To change the global snapshot retention period, edit the system property com.snc.pa.dc.keep_snapshots_for.frequency. For more information, see Performance Analytics properties.
To change the snapshot retention period for an indicator, configure Override collection periods in the "Collection periods" tab of the indicator form. For more information, see Advanced indicator settings.

Parent Topic:Automated indicators

Previous topic:Add a collection job to an indicator

Next topic:Create an automated indicator with a wizard

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---
title: Performance Analytics snapshots
description: Snapshots are the lists of records \(sys\_ids\) that are collected at the time that the scores for those records are collected. Snapshots enable users to drill down into the records from a Performance Analytics indicator visualization.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/pa-snapshots.html
release: australia
product: Performance Analytics
classification: performance-analytics
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Automated indicators, Indicators, Configure fundamentals, Performance Analytics \(Indicator data sources\), Platform Analytics]
---

# Performance Analytics snapshots

Snapshots are the lists of records \(sys\_ids\) that are collected at the time that the scores for those records are collected. Snapshots enable users to drill down into the records from a Performance Analytics indicator visualization.

Only automated indicators can have snapshots. Snapshots are made only for those automated indicators that have **Collect records** enabled. The following features require records to be collected:

-   Drilling down into individual records from the scores on a Performance Analytics widget.
-   Showing records in Analytics Hub.
-   Showing records in KPI Details.

## Retention period

By default, snapshots are retained for 183 days. You can change this period either globally or for a specific indicator:

-   To change the global snapshot retention period, edit the system property **com.snc.pa.dc.keep\_snapshots\_for.frequency**. For more information, see [Performance Analytics properties](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/pa-properties.md).
-   To change the snapshot retention period for an indicator, configure **Override collection periods** in the "Collection periods" tab of the indicator form. For more information, see [Advanced indicator settings](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/t_CreateAnAutomatedIndicator.md).

**Parent Topic:**[Automated indicators](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/automated-indicators.md)

**Previous topic:**[Add a collection job to an indicator](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/t_EditAJobForTheIndicator.md)

**Next topic:**[Create an automated indicator with a wizard](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/now-intelligence/performance-analytics/t_CrtIndctrIndctrWzrd.md)