ServiceNow - Update sets

An ‘update set’ is used for captures a group of configuration changes that can be moved from one ServiceNow instance to another.

An update set is an XML file that contains:

• A set of record details that uniquely identify the update set.
• A list of configuration changes.
• A state that determines whether another instance can retrieve and apply configuration changes.

Create an update set

To create an update set, login as administrator and follow the below steps.

• Click on ‘All’ (New UI) or From the Filter Navigator (Old UI), search for ‘update set’.
• Click on ‘Local update sets’.
• Click on ‘New’ button, a form will be opened.
• Provide a name to the update set.
• Set the state to ‘In Progress’.
• parent update set, release data and description are the optional fields.
• Click on Submit to save changes.
• Click on Submit and Make current to save changes and set this update as current update set.

New update set creation form

Selecting an update set

Once logged in as administrator, follow the below steps to select update set.

Old UI

• Click on Gear icon displayed on the top-right side

• Click on Developer option
• Select the required update set from Update Set drop down

New UI

• Click on Global icon on the top-right

• Click on Update set

• Select the required update set from the list

Exporting an update set

Once logged in as administrator, follow the below steps to export update set.

• Click on ‘All’ (New UI) or From the Filter Navigator (Old UI), search for ‘update set’.
• Click on ‘Local Update Sets’
• Click on the update set which should be exported.
• Mark the state as complete, if not already
• Under Related Links, click on Export to XML link
• Save the update set on local machine.

Importing an update set

Once logged in as administrator, follow the below steps to export update set.

• Click on ‘All’ (New UI) or From the Filter Navigator (Old UI), search for ‘update set’.
• Click on ‘Retrieved Update Sets’.
• Under ‘Related Links’, click on Import Update Set from XML.
• Click on Choose File and Select the XML you have saved in your System.
• After Selecting the update set, click on Upload Button.
• Now once it gets imported, find the imported update set from the list and click on it.
• Click on Preview Update Set button.
• Once the preview is completed, the commit update set button appears.
• Click on Commit update set button.
• Once its successful, all the changes will be installed in the instance.

Back out

Any point of time if the changes which are part of the update set are not required, ServiceNow provides an option to “Back Out”. Login as Administrator and follow below steps

• Click on ‘All’ (New UI) or From the Filter Navigator (Old UI), search for ‘update set’.
• Click on Local Update Sets.
• Open the update set you want to back out.
• Set the state of update set to complete, if not already.
• Once the update set state is marked as complete state, the “Back Out“ button will get displayed on the top-right side.
• Click on the “Back Out” button
• Pop up appears, read the message and click on “Proceed with Back Out” Button

Once the back out is successful, verify the changes are removed from the instance.