Skip to page contentSkip to chat
ServiceNow support
    • Community
      Ask questions, give advice, and connect with fellow ServiceNow professionals.
      Developer
      Build, test, and deploy applications
      Documentation
      Find detailed information about ServiceNow products, apps, features, and releases.
      Impact
      Accelerate ROI and amplify your expertise.
      Learning
      Build skills with instructor-led and online training.
      Partner
      Grow your business with promotions, news, and marketing tools
      ServiceNow
      Learn about ServiceNow products & solutions.
      Store
      Download certified apps and integrations that complement ServiceNow.
      Support
      Manage your instances, access self-help, and get technical support.
How to make all dot-walked fields read-only/writable on the form - Support and Troubleshooting
  • >
  • Knowledge Base
  • >
  • Support and Troubleshooting (Knowledge Base)
  • >
  • How to make all dot-walked fields read-only/writable on the form
KB0687623

How to make all dot-walked fields read-only/writable on the form


7617 Views Last updated : May 28, 2025 public Copy Permalink English (Original)
  • English (Original)
  • Japanese
KB Summary by Now Assist

Issue

When using dot-walked fields on a form (e.g., fields from a referenced table), you may want to make all such fields read-only or writable in one place—without modifying individual Access Control Rules (ACLs) or creating multiple UI Policies.

Facts

  • This method does not override ACLs. The user still needs appropriate roles and permissions to view or edit the underlying data.
  • This applies only to dot-walked fields displayed on the form—not to fields from the current table.

Release

All

Resolution

To control the read-only behavior of all dot-walked fields from a referenced table, follow these steps:

  1. Open the form that contains the dot-walked fields.
  2. Identify the reference field that links to the parent table (e.g., problem field on the problem_task table).
  3. Right-click the reference field label and choose Configure Dictionary.
  4. In the dictionary record for the reference field:
    • Locate the Read-only checkbox.
    • Check this box to make all the dot-walked fields read-only.
    • Uncheck it to make them writable (as long as ACLs permit editing).
  5. Save the dictionary record.

Making Problem Reference Field Read Only for All Dot Walked Fields

Use Form Builder to add a new Element to the Problem Task Form.

  • Ex. Adding the [Problem] {Description Field}
    • Add the "Description" related field from the problem record. 
  • We are adding as a read-only text display of the Description of the Problem PRB Record on it's own Problem Task Record Forms. 
    • This serves as a reminder of the main issue this Problem Task is solving for. We want to add the dot-walked field as read-only informational value. 

Use Form Builder to add dot-walk related field

 

Example

If you've added dot-walked fields from the Problem table to the Problem Task form, you need to edit the dictionary record for the problem field (reference to the Problem table).

  • Setting the problem reference field to read-only will make all dot-walked fields from the Problem table (e.g., problem.description, problem.priority) on the Problem Task form read-only.

Both Problem Reference and Problem Description are Read Only

 

To apply read-only to the individual dot-walked Field and not the entire reference. 

To make the dot-walked fields from the Problem table (e.g., problem.description, problem.priority) read-only on the Problem Task form, you need to edit the dictionary entry for the problem reference field and set it to read-only.

Problem dot-walked description field is set to read-only

Only the related field is read-only

The related Problem.Description field is read-only 

The dot-walked field is set to be read-only

 

When Adding A related dot.walked field (not marked as read-only)

(*Fields visibility abide by user access and data governance security)

Writable Related Reference Field

 

Related Links

From the Community:

How to make field visible by using client script in Private Task form?

The world works with ServiceNow.

Sign in for more! There's more content available only to authenticated users Sign in for more!
Did this KB article help you?
Did this KB article help you?

How would you rate your Now Support digital experience?

*

Very unsatisfied

Unsatisfied

Neutral

Satisfied

Very satisfied

Very unsatisfied

Unsatisfied

Neutral

Satisfied

Very satisfied

What can we improve? Please select all that apply.

What are we doing well? Please select all that apply.

Tell us more

*

Do you expect a response from this feedback?

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • GDPR
  • Cookie policy
  • © 2025 ServiceNow. All rights reserved.