---
title: Generate a formula using ServiceNow Otto
description: Use ServiceNow Otto to automatically generate formulas to compute values such as summing hours, calculating date differences, or deriving metrics from existing fields.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-business-management/collaborative-work-management/generate-formula-cwm-board-now-assist.html
release: australia
product: Collaborative Work Management
classification: collaborative-work-management
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 2
keywords: [formula column, Now Assist, ServiceNow Otto, CWM, formula builder, List view, generate formula, formula syntax]
breadcrumb: [Add a formula column, Manage work using Boards, Use, Collaborative Work Management, Strategic Portfolio Management]
---

# Generate a formula using ServiceNow Otto

Use ServiceNow Otto to automatically generate formulas to compute values such as summing hours, calculating date differences, or deriving metrics from existing fields.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn\_cwm\_ai.cwm\_ai\_user

## About this task

Formula columns in the List view of a CWM Board compute values from existing CWM columns. Examples include calculating date differences from existing Date columns or deriving metrics such as Profit from existing values of Revenue and Cost columns.

Instead of building the formula syntax manually, you can describe your calculation in plain language. ServiceNow Otto then generates a valid formula that you can insert directly into the column with a single click.

The steps in this procedure use the example of a formula column that calculates the number of days remaining until a task's due date. Follow the steps as guidelines to build a formula of your choice.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **Workspaces** > **Collaborative Work Management**.

2.  From a Space, open the Board where you want to add a formula column.

3.  In the List view of the Board, select **Add column** from the column header and select **Formula**.

    \[Omitted image "cwm-formula-column.png"\] Alt text: Add column menu in the List view of a CWM Board, with the Formula option selected.

4.  Provide a name for your formula column.

    In this example, the column is named **Days until due**.\[Omitted image "cwm-formula-column-name.png"\] Alt text: Formula column name field with "Days until due" entered as the column name.

5.  In the Define Formula side panel, describe your formula in natural language in the ServiceNow Otto input field and submit.

    ServiceNow Otto generates a formula syntax based on your instruction.

6.  Review the generated formula and select **Insert** to add it to the Formula field.

7.  Select **Set Formula** to save and apply to the formula column.


## Result

The Board refreshes to display the new formula column, and its values populated per the formula you defined.\[Omitted image "cwm-formula-on-board.png"\] Alt text: CWM Board List view displaying the new formula column with computed values populated for each task.

**Parent Topic:**[Add a formula column in CWM Boards](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/collaborative-work-management/add-formula-column-cwm-boards.md)

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[Add custom columns for tasks in a CWM Board](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/collaborative-work-management/add-custom-columns-for-tasks-in-board.md)