Create service catalogs variables to gather information from users ordering a catalog item, for example, to ask users which options they want for the item.
Navigate to Service Catalog > Catalog Definitions > Maintain Items.
Select the catalog item that you want to create a variable for.
Only the applicable fields for the variable type are then displayed.
Type The variable type that you want to create.
Application Read-only field that indicates which applications can use this variable.
Catalog item Catalog item using the variable.
Mandatory Check box to make the variable mandatory as part of the ordering process.
Check box to require users to select the check box variable. For example, use this option to require users to select an I agree check box for an agreement form. If users try to submit the agreement form without selecting the check box, an alert message is displayed to tell users that they must select the check box.
Order Order that the variable is placed on the page for the catalog item. The variables are organized from top to bottom from least to greatest order value. For example, a variable with an order value of 1 is placed above other variables with higher-order values.
Global If selected, the variable is available for all catalog tasks within service catalog workflows or execution plans by default. If deselected, the variable must be associated with individual catalog tasks.
Map to field Maps the variable to a specific field on the table for the record producer.
This field appears if the variable belongs to a record producer.
Field Field that the variable maps to.
Record producer table Table that the record producer creates a record in.
Question Question to ask users ordering the catalog item.
Name A name to identify the question.
Tooltip Tooltip text to display when users point to the variable. Enter a brief note to describe the purpose of the 'Question'.
Example text Hint that is displayed in the question field before a user enters a value.
Show help If selected, displays the help text for the variable.
Note: It is not available for break and check box variables.
Always Expanded If selected, the Help text field value is expanded by default when the catalog item page loads.
This check box appears only when the Show help check box is selected.
Help tag If the Always Expanded check box is deselected, click the value specified in this field to display the Help text field value.
Help text Help information for a service catalog variable.
Instructions Information that requires rich text formatting or adding images to support help information.
Note: For HTML tables, use sizes that are within the width of the variable.
Variable Width Width for the variable on the catalog item page, to specify what percentage of the screen size that it can span. For details, see Configure a default width for service catalog variables.
This field appears for all variable types except for break, container end, container start, container split, container layout, and label variables.
Choice direction The direction in which the choice list is arranged. Across arranges choices horizontally. Down arranges choices vertically.
This field appears for lookup multiple choice variables.
Choice field Table field to populate options for the variable. If no choices are defined for a field, then the variable loads field-related distinct values from the table.
This field appears for select box variables.
Choice table Table with values to populate in the Choice field.
Do not select the first choice Check box to leave all options for the variable cleared on the catalog item page.
If this check box is selected, the first choice for the variable selected by default.
This field appears for multiple choice and numeric scale variables.
Dynamic ref qual Dynamic qualifier. Select a dynamic filter to run a query against the reference field.
This field appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Dynamic.
Include none Check box to include the None option in a list of choices.
This field appears for lookup multiple choice, lookup select box, multiple choice, and select box variables.
Layout Layout for a container, whether one or two columns.
This field appears for container start variables.
List table Table with the values for the list collector.
This field appears for list collector variables.
Lookup from table Table from which values are obtained for users to select. The values from this table are populated in the Lookup value field.
This field appears for lookup multiple choice and lookup select box variables.
Lookup value field Field in the lookup table that populates options for the variable.
Lookup label field(s) Comma-separated list of fields in the lookup table whose values are used to display options.
Lookup price field Field in the lookup table whose value is used to modify the price of the item being ordered.
Lookup recurring price field Field in the lookup table whose value is used to modify the recurring price of the item being ordered.
Macro UI macro to insert into the catalog item.
This field appears for macro, macro with label, and UI page variables.
Price if checked Price of the item.
Recurring price if checked Price that increments for the item, when the user requests more than one order of the item.
This field appears for check box variables. For more information about prices and recurring prices, see Using variables for price setup.
Reference Reference table for the variable.
This field appears for reference variables.
Reference qual Qualifiers to restrict data that is available in the field.
This field appears for list collector, lookup multiple choice, and lookup select box variables. reference variables.
It appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Dynamic.
Reference qualifier condition Options to build conditions.
This field appears for reference variables when Use reference qualifier is set to Simple.
Scale max Highest value on the scale of available options for the variable.
This field appears for numeric scale variables.
Scale min Lowest value on the scale of available options for the variable.
Unique values only Check box to require a unique value for the field. When this check box is selected, two records cannot have the same value for that field.
This field appears for lookup multiple choice, lookup select box, and select box variables.
Use confirmation Check box to prompt users to reenter data to verify their entries.
This field appears for masked variables.
Use encryption Check box to store the answer in encrypted format in the database. If not encrypted, the answer is stored in plain text format. Encryption uses Triple DES with system encryption.
Use reference qualifier Type of qualifier to use.
Default value Default value for the variable.
Variable attributes Attributes for this variable.
Visible Elsewhere If selected, the variable is visible in the item form before ordering the item, in VEditor after ordering the item, and in the cart view of the item.
Visible on Bundles If selected, the variable is visible when the item is added to a bundle.
Visible on Guides If selected, the variable is visible only when the item is added to an order guide.
Note: If an order guide has too many items and variables, consider clearing this check box on as many items as possible, to improve loading performance on order guides.
Visible on Summaries If selected, the variable is visible on any variable summarizer of the catalog item. In Service Portal, the variable is visible in the RITM ticket view and the Approval page.
If you want to restrict access to the variable, you can specify which roles can create, edit, update, or delete it. For details, see Add permissions to a service catalog variable.
Enter help information for a variable to help users determine what info they must provide for a service catalog variable.
Some Service Catalog variables support specific attributes.
Define a question choice for a variable with service catalog.