Inserting placeholders
You use the Select Placeholder window to insert placeholder for a dynamic value when configuring a workflow item/component or modifying Templates for Self Service Portal notifications.
Select Placeholder window
The Select Placeholder window consists of three panes: Category, Item, and Subitem. When you build expressions using the Expression Builder, those panes appear as a part of the Build Expression window.
Depending on where you are going to insert a placeholder, the Category pane can display the following categories:
Object Fields category
The Object Fields category contains a hierarchical tree of all object fields and the fields of the objects related to the current object. In some cases, the Subitem pane displays only the relevant fields of these objects: for example, if you are building a condition that would involve comparing two fields, the Subitem pane for the second field shows only fields of the same type as that of the first field. In addition, various calculated fields may be available in this category.
Some objects’ fields can contain links to related objects of different classes. For example, the Related CI field of a Ticket can contain a link to a Computer, Person, Software License, etc. These objects, in turn, may have different sets of fields. For example, a Computer has the CPU Speed field, while a Software License does not. So if you need to insert the value of such a field as a placeholder, you have to choose the class of the Related CI in the Subitem list (As Computer, As Contract, etc.). For example, to insert the CPU Speed of a Computer related to a Ticket, select the following: Object Fields > Current Values > Related CI > *As Computer > CPU Speed.
If you want to retrieve the original value that the field had before the change, select Object Fields > Old Values.
When you create SQL expressions for your workflow items or components, you may need to insert not a field value but the primary key that uniquely identifies an object record in the database. In order to insert the primary key, use the ID (Global ID - GUID) placeholder, which is available for each subitem in the Object Fields category.
NOTE: Placeholders for values of database object fields have the DBF prefix.
System Macros category
The System Macros category is always available and shows the system macros. For details, see System macros.
NOTE: Placeholders for system macros have the SYS prefix.
Job Settings category
The Job Settings category provides system macros that are the attributes of the Active Directory and Alloy Discovery synchronization jobs.
User Macros category
The User Macros category contains user macros available for the current object class. Text macros are always available. SQL Script macros are available only when configuring SQL expressions and scripts for workflow items.
The category appears once there is at least one user macro available for the object class. For details, see Managing user macros.
NOTE: Placeholders for user macros have the USR prefix.
TIP: If you want to see in details a User Macro referenced by the placeholder, right-click the selected placeholder and choose Placeholder Definition. It opens the Macro window. If necessary, update macro details and click OK. The placeholder would be updated with new values.
E-mail Fields category
The E-mail Fields category contains only e-mail-relevant fields. The category is only available when configuring addresses in E-mail Notifications (for details, see Configuring E-mail Notifications) and in Mail Connector processing rules (see Configuring processing rules).
NOTE: Placeholders for e-mail field values have the EML prefix.
Parent Object Fields category
The Parent Object Fields category is similar to the Objects Fields category but contains the fields of the parent object. This category is available when you build criteria in workflow Actions for child objects such as PO Items. For details, see Configuring Create Actions and Configuring Steps.
NOTE: Like other placeholders for database object field values, placeholders for parent object field values have the DBF prefix.
Parameters category
The Parameters category displays parameters of the current Function or E-mail Notification. The category is only available when configuring workflow Functions or E-mail Notifications.
For a Reference parameter, the Subitem category enables you to choose placeholders for field values of the reference object.
NOTE: Placeholders for parameter values have the PAR prefix.
Form Fields category
The Form Fields category contains virtual fields configured in the current Action Form.
For a Reference virtual field, the Subitem category enables you to choose placeholders for field values of the reference object.
NOTE: Placeholders for virtual field values have the VIR prefix.
Service Fields category
The Service Fields category contains virtual fields available on the Field Mapping tab of the current Service Action. For details, see Configuring Service Actions.
NOTE: Like other placeholders for virtual field values, placeholders for service virtual field values have the VIR prefix.
Sections category
The Sections category contains placeholders for message content sections such as header, greeting, body, and footer. Section placeholders are only available in e-mail HTML templates. For details, see Building e-mail HTML templates.
NOTE: Placeholders for the content of message sections have the SEC prefix.
Variables category
The Variables category contains all variables available in your Action, Trigger, or Function. This category includes declared variables and automatic variables. Automatic variables are indicated with the $ sign.
NOTE: Placeholders for variable values have the VAR prefix.
Attachment Areas category
The Attachment Areas category appears when you are configuring a condition for a conditional statement. This category contains all attachment areas available on a workflow form.
Workflow Parameters category
The Workflow Parameters category contains workflow parameters configured in the Configuration Parameters section. For details, see Managing workflow parameters.
NOTE: Placeholders for workflow parameters have the WFP prefix.
TIP: If you want to see in details a Workflow Parameter referenced by the placeholder, right-click the selected placeholder and choose Placeholder Definition. It opens the Workflow Parameter window. If necessary, update parameter details and click OK. The placeholder would be updated with new values.