ServiceNow Connector for Python Allows the reading and writing of incidents, attachments, and more in ServiceNow without coding! The ZappySys ServiceNow API Connector provides easy-to-use, high-performance API access. In this article you will learn how to quickly and efficiently integrate ServiceNow data in Python. We will use high-performance ServiceNow Connector to easily connect to ServiceNow and then access the data inside Python. Let's follow the steps below to see how we can accomplish that! Download Documentation ServiceNow Connector for Python is based on ZappySys API Driver which is part of ODBC PowerPack. It is a collection of high-performance ODBC drivers that enable you to integrate data in SQL Server, SSIS, a programming language, or any other ODBC-compatible application. ODBC PowerPack supports various file formats, sources and destinations, including REST/SOAP API, SFTP/FTP, storage services, and plain files, to mention a few.

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Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver

Step-by-step instructions

To get data from ServiceNow using Python we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from ServiceNow. We will later be able to read data using Python. Perform these steps:

1. Download and install ODBC PowerPack.

2. Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):

   

3. Create a User data source (User DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver

   ZappySys API Driver

   
   • Create and use User DSN if the client application is run under a User Account. This is an ideal option in design-time, when developing a solution, e.g. in Visual Studio 2019. Use it for both type of applications - 64-bit and 32-bit.
   • Create and use System DSN if the client application is launched under a System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service. Usually, this is an ideal option to use in a production environment. Use ODBC Data Source Administrator (32-bit), instead of 64-bit version, if Windows Service is a 32-bit application.

4. When the Configuration window appears give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "ServiceNow" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "ServiceNow" is not present in the list, then click "Search Online" and download it. Then set the path to the location where you downloaded it. Finally, click Continue >> to proceed with configuring the DSN:

   ServicenowDSN

   ServiceNow

   

5. Now it's time to configure the Connection Manager. Select Authentication Type, e.g. Token Authentication. Then select API Base URL (in most cases, the default one is the right one). More info is available in the Authentication section.

    Basic Auth [Http]

   Authenticate using ServiceNow instance username and password.

   Steps how to get and use ServiceNow credentials
   

   Locate your ServiceNow instance credentials and use them for HTTP authentication:

   1. Go to https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do and log in.
   2. Click on your profile picture.

   3. When a menu appears, click on Manage instance password or a similar option:

      

   4. In a new window you will see your HTTP Basic Authentication credentials:

      

   5. Done! Use this username and password when configuring OAuth Authentication parameters.

   Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:

   ServicenowDSN

   ServiceNow

   Basic Auth [Http]

   https://[$InstanceName$].service-now.com/api/now

   Required Parameters
   InstanceName	Fill-in the parameter...
   User name	Fill-in the parameter...
   Password	Fill-in the parameter...
   Optional Parameters
   ApiVersion	v2
   RetryMode	RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
   RetryStatusCodeList	429
   RetryCountMax	5
   RetryMultiplyWaitTime	True

   

    OAuth [OAuth]

   Authenticate using ServiceNow instance username, password, OAuth Client ID, and Client Secret. [API reference]

   Steps how to get and use ServiceNow credentials
   

   Create OAuth application and use it for authentication:

   1. Login to your instance at https://your-instance-id.service-now.com.

   2. Start by clicking on menu item All, then search for oauth, and click Application Registry option:

      

   3. Then click button New:

      

   4. Continue by clicking Create an OAuth API endpoint for external clients option:

      

   5. Move on by naming your OAuth application and entering a Client Secret (or let it be generated automatically).

   6. Finally give it a final touch by increasing the Refresh Token Lifespan value to 315,360,000 (it should last for 10 years):

      

   7. Done! Now you can use Client ID and Client Secret when configuring OAuth Authentication parameters.

   Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:

   ServicenowDSN

   ServiceNow

   OAuth [OAuth]

   https://[$InstanceName$].service-now.com/api/now

   Required Parameters
   InstanceName	Fill-in the parameter...
   User name	Fill-in the parameter...
   Password	Fill-in the parameter...
   Client ID	Fill-in the parameter...
   Client Secret	Fill-in the parameter...
   ApiVersion	Fill-in the parameter...
   Optional Parameters
   RetryMode	RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
   RetryStatusCodeList	429|503
   RetryCountMax	5
   RetryMultiplyWaitTime	True

   

6. Once the data source connection has been configured, it's time to configure the SQL query. Select the Preview tab and then click Query Builder button to configure the SQL query:

   

   ZappySys API Driver - ServiceNow

   Allows the reading and writing of incidents, attachments, and more in ServiceNow without coding! The ZappySys ServiceNow API Connector provides easy-to-use, high-performance API access.

   ServicenowDSN

   

7. Start by selecting the Table or Endpoint you are interested in and then configure the parameters. This will generate a query that we will use in Python to retrieve data from ServiceNow. Hit OK button to use this query in the next step.

   SELECT * FROM incident 
   
   --Using Primary Key				
   --SELECT * FROM any_table_here WHERE sys_id='109562a3c611227500a7b7ff98cc0dc7' --Primary Key in WHERE clause
   
   --Using Filter Expression
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001') --Equal condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number!=INC0000001') --Not equal condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberININC0000001,INC0000002,INC0000003') --IN condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^state=7') --AND condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^ORnumber=INC0000002') --OR condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberLIKE0001') --LIKE condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberSTARTSWITHINC00') --StartWith condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberENDSWITH0001') --StartWith condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^state=7^NQORnumber=INC0000002') --AND / OR MIXED using NQ (NewQuery Operator)  -- (number=INC0000001 and state=7) OR (number=INC0000002)
   
   --more information about filter here https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/use/common-ui-elements/reference/r_OpAvailableFiltersQueries.html
   
   
   -- To read all available tables execute this query:
   -- SELECT * FROM Tables
   
   -- Other common tables:
   -----------------------
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_db_object
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_dictionary
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user_has_role
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user_grmember
   -- SELECT * FROM task
   -- SELECT * FROM task_sla
   -- SELECT * FROM incident
   -- SELECT * FROM incident_sla
   -- SELECT * FROM change_request
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci_computer
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci_outage
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci
   -- SELECT * FROM sn_customerservice_case
   -- SELECT * FROM kb_knowledge
   -- SELECT * FROM kb_use
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_req_item
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_request
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_task

   
   Some parameters configured in this window will be passed to the ServiceNow API, e.g. filtering parameters. It means that filtering will be done on the server side (instead of the client side), enabling you to get only the meaningful data much faster.

8. Now hit Preview Data button to preview the data using the generated SQL query. If you are satisfied with the result, use this query in Python:

   

   ZappySys API Driver - ServiceNow

   Allows the reading and writing of incidents, attachments, and more in ServiceNow without coding! The ZappySys ServiceNow API Connector provides easy-to-use, high-performance API access.

   ServicenowDSN

   SELECT * FROM incident 
   
   --Using Primary Key				
   --SELECT * FROM any_table_here WHERE sys_id='109562a3c611227500a7b7ff98cc0dc7' --Primary Key in WHERE clause
   
   --Using Filter Expression
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001') --Equal condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number!=INC0000001') --Not equal condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberININC0000001,INC0000002,INC0000003') --IN condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^state=7') --AND condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^ORnumber=INC0000002') --OR condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberLIKE0001') --LIKE condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberSTARTSWITHINC00') --StartWith condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='numberENDSWITH0001') --StartWith condition
   --SELECT * FROM incident WITH(Query='number=INC0000001^state=7^NQORnumber=INC0000002') --AND / OR MIXED using NQ (NewQuery Operator)  -- (number=INC0000001 and state=7) OR (number=INC0000002)
   
   --more information about filter here https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/use/common-ui-elements/reference/r_OpAvailableFiltersQueries.html
   
   
   -- To read all available tables execute this query:
   -- SELECT * FROM Tables
   
   -- Other common tables:
   -----------------------
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_db_object
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_dictionary
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user_has_role
   -- SELECT * FROM sys_user_grmember
   -- SELECT * FROM task
   -- SELECT * FROM task_sla
   -- SELECT * FROM incident
   -- SELECT * FROM incident_sla
   -- SELECT * FROM change_request
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci_computer
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci_outage
   -- SELECT * FROM cmdb_ci
   -- SELECT * FROM sn_customerservice_case
   -- SELECT * FROM kb_knowledge
   -- SELECT * FROM kb_use
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_req_item
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_request
   -- SELECT * FROM sc_task

   
   You can also access data quickly from the tables dropdown by selecting <Select table>.
   A WHERE clause, LIMIT keyword will be performed on the client side, meaning that the whole result set will be retrieved from the ServiceNow API first, and only then the filtering will be applied to the data. If possible, it is recommended to use parameters in Query Builder to filter the data on the server side (in ServiceNow servers).

9. Click OK to finish creating the data source.

Video Tutorial

Read data in Python

Using ODBC DSN

1. Python code to get the data:
   

   ServicenowDSN')

   

2. When you run the code it will make the API call and read the data:
   

3. Here is Python program's code in text format:

   
       import pyodbc
       conn = pyodbc.connect('DSN=ServicenowDSN')
   
       cursor = conn.cursor()
   
       #execute query to fetch data from API service
       cursor.execute("SELECT id,title FROM products")
   
       row = cursor.fetchone()
       while row:
           print(row)
           row = cursor.fetchone()
   
       ##For loop example
       #for row in cursor:
       #    print(row)
   

Using a full ODBC connection string

If you want to avoid being dependent on a DSN and creating multiple DSNs for each platform (x86, x64), then you can use a fully qualified connection string. Simply go to your DSN and copy the Connection String:

1. Open ODBC data source configuration and click Copy settings:
   

   ZappySys API Driver - Configuration [Version: 2.0.1.10418]

   ZappySys API Driver - ServiceNow

   Allows the reading and writing of incidents, attachments, and more in ServiceNow without coding! The ZappySys ServiceNow API Connector provides easy-to-use, high-performance API access.

   ServicenowDSN

   
2. The window opens, telling us the connection string was successfully copied to the clipboard:

3. Then in your Python code use Connection String when initializing OdbcConnection object, for example:

   conn = pyodbc.connect('DRIVER={ZappySys API Driver};ServiceUrl=https://yourservices.provider.com/api/xxxx....;AuthName=Http;')

How to install `pyodbc` in the Python?

Actions supported by ServiceNow Connector

Learn how to perform common ServiceNow actions directly in Python with these how-to guides:

• Delete a Table Row
• Delete table row
• Get List of System Tables - Admin (Use sys_db_object)
• Get List of Tables
• Get List of Tables - Admin (Use sys_db_object)
• Get List of User Tables - Admin (Use sys_db_object)
• Get Table Columns
• Get Table Columns - Admin (Use sys_dictionary)
• Get Table Rows
• Update a Table Row
• Generic Request
• Generic Request (Bulk Write)

Conclusion

In this article we showed you how to connect to ServiceNow in Python and integrate data without any coding, saving you time and effort. It's worth noting that ZappySys API Driver allows you to connect not only to ServiceNow, but to any Java application that supports JDBC (just use a different JDBC driver and configure it appropriately).

We encourage you to download ServiceNow Connector for Python and see how easy it is to use it for yourself or your team.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact ZappySys support team. You can also open a live chat immediately by clicking on the chat icon below.

Download ServiceNow Connector for Python Documentation

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