Contextual Security plugins are off

What is Contextual Search?

ServiceNow is a comprehensive platform encompassing numerous tables, records, flows, and more. The Contextual Search plugin, or com.snc.contextual_search, is a feature designed to enhance user interaction with the platform by providing faster and more efficient access to information. Essentially, these displays return results based on the text input by the user.

For instance, if a developer wishes to filter business rules by Global applications, they can simply type ‘global’ in the Application tab, which will then refresh the list to display the relevant results. While there are many ways to utilize this feature, the ultimate goal remains consistent: to streamline operations on the instance and facilitate the finding and filtering of results.

Why is this an issue?

Deactivating the Contextual Search Display feature in ServiceNow could pose challenges for users seeking efficient interaction with the platform, such as:

1. Reduced Efficiency: Contextual search displays are instrumental in speeding up user workflows by allowing them to quickly filter and find information based on their input. Deactivation would lead to a slower and less efficient process.

2. Increased Complexity: With the vast amount of tables, records, and flows within ServiceNow, users rely on contextual search displays to simplify the navigation and retrieval of relevant data.

How do I fix it?

The Contextual Search plugin (com.snc.contextual_search) is intended to be enabled by default in the base system, along with its associated plugins, including:

• com.snc.contextual_search.result.default.limit
• com.snc.contextual_search.wait_time
• com.snc.contextual_search.result.threshold
• com.snc.contextual_search.widget.form.default_field
• com.snc.contextual_search.widget.form.open_collapsed_existing_records
• com.snc.contextual_search.widget.form.show_meta_data

If the plugin is not already activated on your instance, ensure that your domain is set to Global before proceeding to install it using the following steps:

1. In the Filter Navigator, go to System Applications > All Available Applications > All.

2. Search for com.snc.contextual_search and click on Install.

3. Once the plugin is installed, click on Activate to finish the set up.