Create Custom Themes in ServiceNow

 

Create Custom Themes

Creating custom backend themes using the Next Experience UI Framework has made our lives much easier.

You can build custom themes either manually or using the Theme Builder, which is available starting from the Utah release.

Compared to the legacy framework (Basic Configuration U16), the Next Experience UI Framework offers significantly more options and flexibility - definitely a worthwhile improvement!

The recommended approach is to use the Theme Builder, as it automatically adds the newly created theme to your profile preferences:

Additionally, you can manually  create variants of a theme if needed:

Theme Creation with Theme Builder

Resoucers:

• ServiceNow – Theme Builder (Utah)
• Theme Builder | How to Create Themes | How to Use Theme Builder | ServiceNow
• Working with themes in Next Experience

For deeper dive into the Theme Builder refer to this tutorial:

• Next Experience Academy Session #6: Theme Builder
• Theme Builder in Utah - Creator Toolbox 2023-02-07

Manual Theme Creation

Step 1. Create a Theme

• Navigate to Now Experience Framework > Theme Management > Themes 
• Click the New button to create a new theme

Step 2. Create a Core Color Style and re-use OOTB Styles

Use this customer facing site to auto-generate a site based upon your three branding colors, but sure to include the copied JSON in braced.

Use this site for creating a color pallette. 

• Create a new UX Style by nagivating to sys_ux_style.do 

Step 3. Override the Default Theme

1. Copy the UX Theme sys_id by right clicking the header and selecting Copy sys_id.
2. In the Application Navigator navigate to sys_properties.list.
3. Create a new system property named: glide.ui.polaris.theme.custom with the Type of string.
4. Enter your copied sys_id into the Value field.
5. Save the record.

Step 4. Create a User Selectable Color Variant

Resources:

• Create your first Next Experience UI Theme (Updated for Utah!)
• Theme your Next Experience Enabled Production and Sub-Production Instances