---
title: Define help information for a service catalog variable
description: Enter help information for a variable to help users determine what info they must provide for a service catalog variable.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform/service-catalog/t\_DefineHelpInformation.html
release: australia
product: Service Catalog
classification: service-catalog
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Create a service catalog variable, Service catalog variables, Service Catalog Reference, Service Catalog, Manage service capabilities, Extend ServiceNow AI Platform capabilities]
---

# Define help information for a service catalog variable

Enter help information for a variable to help users determine what info they must provide for a service catalog variable.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **Service Catalog** > **Catalog Definitions** > **Maintain Items** and click the catalog item with the variable that you want to provide help for.

2.  In the **Variables** related list, click the variable.

3.  In the **Annotation** section of the Variable form, select the **Show help** check box.

    The **Help tag**, **Help text**, and **Instructions** fields appear.

4.  In the **Help tag** field, enter the short descriptive text that appears between the question and the responses.

    For example, **Click here for help** or **Preview**.

5.  In the **Help text** field, enter the help text that displays for users who clicks the **Help tag** on the page for the catalog item.

    **Note:** The **Help** and **Help text** fields do not support HTML tags.

    \[Omitted image "DefineHelpInfoG.png"\] Alt text: screenshot for help text


**Parent Topic:**[Create a service catalog variable](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/service-catalog/t_CreateAVariableForACatalogItem.md)

**Related topics**  


[Service Catalog variable attributes]()

[Define a question choice for a variable]()