<h2>Flow execution details retention</h2><br/><div style="overflow-x:auto"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"><head><meta content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /><meta name="copyright" content="(C) Copyright 2026" /><meta name="DC.rights.owner" content="(C) Copyright 2026" /><meta name="generator" content="DITA-OT" /><meta name="DC.type" content="concept" /><meta name="DC.title" content="Flow execution details retention" /><meta name="abstract" content="Due to the large amount of data consumed by flow execution details, your instance uses data retention policies to delete this data after a set time period." /><meta name="description" content="Due to the large amount of data consumed by flow execution details, your instance uses data retention policies to delete this data after a set time period." /><meta name="DC.relation" scheme="URI" content="../../../administer/flow-designer/concept/flow-administration.html" /><meta name="DC.relation" scheme="URI" content="../../../administer/build-workflows/concept/build-workflows.html" /><meta name="DC.relation" scheme="URI" content="../../../administer/workflow-studio/reference/workflow-studio.html" /><meta name="DC.relation" scheme="URI" content="../../../administer/workflow-studio/concept/configuring-workflow-studio.html" /><meta name="DC.relation" scheme="URI" content="../../../administer/flow-designer/concept/configuring-flow-designer.html" /><meta name="DC.date.created" content="2023-08-03" /><meta name="DC.date.modified" content="2024-11-26" /><meta name="page-type" content="automation-engine" /><meta name="page-type" content="platform" /><meta name="mini-toc" content="yes" /><meta name="DC.format" content="XHTML" /><meta name="DC.identifier" content="flow-reporting" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../../CSS/commonltr.css" /><title>Flow execution details retention</title></head><body id="flow-reporting"> <div class="breadcrumb"><a class="link" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/build-workflows/concept/build-workflows.html" title="Transform manual tasks and mundane work into digital workflows. Modernize legacy processes with hyperautomation. Enable citizen automation from one platform.">Build workflows</a> > <a class="link" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/workflow-studio/reference/workflow-studio.html" title="Consolidate workflow authoring, configuring, and monitoring into a single page experience. Create and manage playbooks, flows, actions, decision tables, and integrations from one design environment.">Workflow Studio</a> > <a class="link" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/workflow-studio/concept/configuring-workflow-studio.html" title="Enable access to Workflow Studio and allow management of workflow applications.">Configuring Workflow Studio</a> > <a class="link" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/flow-designer/concept/configuring-flow-designer.html" title="Configure user access, API access, and properties for Workflow Studio flows.">Configuring flows</a> > </div> <h1 class="title topictitle1" id="ariaid-title1">Flow execution details retention</h1> <div class="body conbody"><p class="shortdesc">Due to the large amount of data consumed by flow execution details, your instance uses data retention policies to delete this data after a set time period.</p> <div class="section" id="flow-reporting__section_xr5_k1v_gbc"><h2 class="title sectiontitle">Generating flow execution details</h2> <p class="p">By default, the system only generates execution details when you run a test. To generate flow execution details, see <a class="xref" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/flow-designer/task/enable-flow-reporting.html" title="Choose whether to generate execution details for all flows and actions run, just for individual flows and actions, or just when you test a flow or action. Specify the level of detail the execution details contain.">Activate flow reporting</a></p> </div> <div class="section" id="flow-reporting__section_zgy_gsh_z2b"><h2 class="title sectiontitle">Scheduled table cleanup</h2> <p class="p">The system uses a standard table cleaner records to determine when to remove execution details. Each type of flow execution content is stored in its own table and has its own retention period. Once a record is older than its default retention period, it is deleted if it is in a completed state. To learn more about how to find and configure table cleaner records, see <a class="xref" href="https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=table-cleaner&version=xanadu&pubname=xanadu-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Table cleaner</a>.</p> <div class="tablenoborder"><table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" id="flow-reporting__table_hmm_shn_z2b" class="table" frame="border" border="1" rules="all"><caption><span class="tablecap"><span class="table--title-label">Table 1. </span>Flow reporting data tables</span></caption><colgroup><col style="width:33.33333333333333%" /><col style="width:33.33333333333333%" /><col style="width:33.33333333333333%" /></colgroup><thead class="thead" style="text-align:left;"><tr class="row"><th class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d225788e83">Table</th><th class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d225788e86">Description</th><th class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d225788e89">Default retention period</th></tr></thead><tbody class="tbody"><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_context</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Parent table that stores all <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> context records and their associated process plans. Context records store the state and references to the data used to run a flow or action. See the child tables for context records in specific states.</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 "> <div class="p"> <ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_aln_kcs_nrb"><li class="li">2 weeks for completed flows</li><li class="li">6 weeks for flows in the error or cancelled state</li></ul> </div> <div class="p"> <div class="note warning"><span class="warningtitle">Warning:</span> Deactivating or increasing the retention period of Flow Context records can negatively impact instance performance. Retaining more flow contexts can impact flow performance and the ability to use new flow features.</div> </div> </td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_context_chunk</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Child table that stores context records and runtime data for currently running flows and actions. This table replaces the sys_json_chunk table as the location to store data for active context records. A running flow or action can be in one of these states.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_bfx_pqg_jtb"><li class="li">Continue Sync</li><li class="li">In Progress</li><li class="li">Queued</li><li class="li">Waiting</li></ul> <div class="dangertitle">Danger</div><div class="note danger">Do not change or delete data in this table. <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> uses this table for flows and actions that are in an active state.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removes these records when the flow stops running and creates an entry in the sys_flow_context_chunk_archive table.</td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_context_chunk_archive</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Child table that stores context records and runtime data for flows and actions that have stopped running. This table replaces the sys_json_chunk table as the location to store data for inactive context records. A stopped flow or action can be in one of these states.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_mwt_hvm_jtb"><li class="li">Cancelled</li><li class="li">Complete</li><li class="li">Error</li></ul> <div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:</span> <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> uses this table for flows and actions that are in an inactive state.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">Removed when the associated sys_flow_context record is removed.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_o51_fbj_ktb"><li class="li">2 weeks for completed flows</li><li class="li">6 weeks for flows in the error or cancelled state</li></ul> </td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_report_doc</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Parent table that stores references to <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> context records that have execution detail reporting data available. See the child tables for the execution details of flows and actions in specific states.</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removes these records when it removes the parent context record from sys_flow_context.</td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_report_doc_chunk</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Child table that stores the reporting data and execution details for currently running flows and actions. A running flow or action can be in one of these states.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_vtm_tpg_jtb"><li class="li">Continue Sync</li><li class="li">In Progress</li><li class="li">Queued</li><li class="li">Waiting</li></ul> <div class="dangertitle">Danger</div><div class="note danger">Do not change or delete data in this table. <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> uses this table for flows and actions that are in an active state.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removes these records when the flow stops running and creates an entry in the sys_flow_report_doc_chunk_archive table.</td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_report_doc_chunk_archive</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Child table that stores the reporting data and execution details for flows and actions that have stopped running. A stopped flow or action can be in one of these states.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_jtl_jqg_jtb"><li class="li">Cancelled</li><li class="li">Complete</li><li class="li">Error</li></ul> <div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:</span> This table replaces the sys_json_chunk table as the location to store reporting data for inactive execution details.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removes these records when it removes the parent context record from sys_flow_context_chunk_archive.<ul class="ul" id="flow-reporting__ul_ec3_5cj_ktb"><li class="li">2 weeks for completed flows</li><li class="li">6 weeks for flows in the error or cancelled state</li></ul> </td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_json_chunk</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Table that stores compiled process plans for future, running, and completed flows and actions created prior to the <span class="ph">San Diego</span> release.<div class="dangertitle">Danger</div><div class="note danger">Do not change or delete data in this table. <span class="ph">Workflow Studio</span> uses this table for flows and actions that are in an active state.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removed these records when it removed the parent record.</td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_log</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Table that stores replicated log entries from the Log [syslog] table. Enables users to correlate logs with flow contexts.</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 "><p class="p">The system removes these records in 28 days when the table is rotated or when it removes the context record, whichever comes first.</p> <p class="p">The table rotation on sys_flow_log is configurable. For more information, see <a class="xref" href="https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_TableRotation&version=xanadu&pubname=xanadu-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Table rotation</a>.</p> </td></tr><tr class="row"><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e83 ">sys_flow_plan_context_binding</td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e86 ">Table that stores a unique identifier for each context record and the trigger that started it. Whenever a triggering event occurs, the system calculates the unique identifier and compares it to a sys_flow_plan_context_binding record. If the calculated unique identifier matches an existing sys_flow_plan_context_binding record, then the triggered flow is not started.<div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:</span> This unique identifier is used to determine when to run flows with either the "run once" or "for each unique change" conditions.</div> </td><td class="entry cellrowborder" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d225788e89 ">The system removes these records 12 months after creation.<div class="note important"><span class="importanttitle">Important:</span> The system may rerun flows whose unique identifier was removed by the retention policy. For example, if the trigger conditions of a "run once" flow are met, and the sys_flow_plan_context_binding record was removed, then a new unique identifier is created and the flow runs.</div> </td></tr></tbody></table> </div> </div> <div class="section" id="flow-reporting__section_x5w_zz2_bfb"><h2 class="title sectiontitle">Unavailable flow data</h2> <div class="p">A message displays at the top of the flow report to indicate that action reports are not available for a flow because of table cleanup. The <span class="ph uicontrol">Show Action Details</span> link and Action states are not available in this case. A similar message is shown to indicate when reporting for a flow has been deactivated. In this case, a link to the report settings also displays.<div class="fig fignone" id="flow-reporting__fig_thn_343_xgb"><span class="figcap"><span class="fig--title-label">Figure 1. </span>Sample flow execution details with data removed by the report retention policy</span> <img class="image" id="flow-reporting__image_xxl_443_xgb" src="../images/flow-execution-cleanup-notification.png" alt="Flow execution details page displaying the data retention notification, The action details for this flow have been removed according to the report retention policy." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section" id="flow-reporting__section_kdf_1d3_45b"><h2 class="title sectiontitle">Recovery options</h2> <p class="p"><a class="xref" href="http://www.servicenow.com/support/contact-support.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Contact Customer Service and Support</a> to restore data from an instance backup.</p> <p class="p">To know the period until which a data recovery request is accepted, see the <a class="xref" href="https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0547654" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instance Backup and Recovery [KB0547654]</a> article in the <span class="ph">Now Support</span> Knowledge Base.</p> </div> </div> <div class="related-links"> <div class="familylinks"> <div class="parentlink"><strong>Parent Topic:</strong> <a class="link" href="https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/xanadu-build-workflows/page/administer/flow-designer/concept/flow-administration.html" title="Identify and troubleshoot potential issues by reviewing action and flow executions, their result state, and their runtime duration.">Flow administration</a></div> </div> </div></body></html></div>