As your servis.ai workspace grows, so do the connections between your apps. A Contact might be liked to Deals, Deals, might rerference Accounts, and Accounts might tie back to Projects. Seeing the full picture of how everything connects can be difficult when you are workiing with a long list of apps and fields.
The Schema Viewer is an interactive visual map that lays out all your apps and their relationships in one clear diagram. Instead of clicking through each app individually to understand what connects to what, you get an eagle’s-eye view of your entire workspace on a single screen.
This guide exaplains everything about the Schema Viewer – where to find it, how to navigate the diagram, and how to use it to understand your workspace better.
What Is the Schema Viewer?
The Schema Viewer is a visual graph of all the apps in your servis.ai workspace and the reference field connections between them. Each app appears as a labeled box (called a “node”) in the diagram, and each connection between two apps appears as an arrow (called and “edge”). The arrow points from the app that holds the reference field to the app it refers to.
For example, if you have a Deal app with a “Contact” reference field that links each deal to a specific contact, the Schema Viewer shows an arrow from the Deal node pointing to the Contact node. If an Account app also has a reference to Contacts, you will see a second arrow from Account to Contact. At a glance, you can see that both Deals and Accounts are connected to Contacts.
Note: The Schema Viewer only includes your transactional apps – the ones where you actively manage records like contacts, deals, projects, and so on. It does not include settings app or activity apps, so the diagram stays focused on the apps that matter most to your daily work.
Navigate to the Schema Viewer
The Schema Viewer lives inside the Settings area of servis.ai. To open it:
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Schema Viewer
The page will display a loading indicator while it builds your schema diagram. This usually takes just a few seconds. Once loaded, you will see your complete app relationship map.
Note: The Schema Viewer is only available to users with the Administrator role.
Understanding the Diagram
App Nodes
Each box in the diagram represents one of your apps. The box displays the app’s name and is colored using the same color you assigned to that app in servis.ai. This makes it easy to visually identify your apps.
Connection Arrows
Arrows connect apps that have reference relationships. An arrow points from the app that contains the reference field to the app being referenced. When a connection has a specific name (such as a related list name that differs from either app’s name), that label appears alongs the arrow so you can see exaclty what the connection represents.
Why Some Apps May Not Appear
The Schema Viewer shows only apps that have at least one reference field connection to another app. If an app exist in your workspace but has no refernce fields linking it to any other app, it will not appear in the diagram. This keeps the map clean and focused on the relationships that matter.
Navigating the Diagram
The Schema Viewer is fully interactive. Here is how to get around.
Panning
Click and drag any empty area of the diagram to pan around. This lets you explore different parts of your schema when it is larger thatn the visible area.
Zooming
Use the zoom controls at the top of the diagram to zoom in and out:
- + button: Zooms in, making the nodes and connections larger.
- – button: Zooms out, letting you see more of the diagram at once.
- Fit button: Automatically adjust the zoom level so the entire diagram fits comfortably within the visible area.
You can also zoom using your mouse if you prefer.
Highlighting Connections
Click any app node in the diagram to highlight it and all of its direct connections. The clicked app and everything directly connected to it remain bright, while all unrelated apps and arrows dim. This makes it easy to focus on one app at a time without the visual noise of the full diagram.
To clear the hichglight and return to the normal view, click on any empty space in the diagram.
Hovering for a Quick Summary
Hover your mouse pointer over any app node to see a quick summary of its connections. A small tooltip appears showing two lists:
- References: The other apps this app points to through its reference fields.
- Referenced by: The other apps that point to this app through their reference fields.
Each item also shows the connection label when it provides additional context. This gives you an instant snapshot of how that app fits into the bigger picture without needing to open anything.
Exploring App Details
For a deeper look at any app, double click its node. A details panel opens, organized into three sections:
Header
The top of the panel shows the app’s name against the a colored background that matches the app’s assigned color in servis.ai. You will also see a close button in the upper-right corner to dismiss the panel.
Connections
Below the header, the panel splits into two columns:
- References: Lists every app that this app points to via reference fields, along with a count of how many connections exist.
- Referenced by: Lists every app that points to this app, again with a count.
This section gives you a complete map of every relationship for that app in a compact format.
Fields by Type
The lower portion of the detail panel lists every visible field in the app, organized by field type.
Each type appears as a heading – for example, Text, Number, Date, Reference, Email, and so on – with all fields of that type shown as tags underneath.
This is a quick way to see what fields exist on an app and how they are categorized, without leaving the Schema Viewer to check the app’s field configuration.
Note: Fields load on demand the first time you double-click an app. After that, they are cached for the rest of your session, so re-opening the same app’s details is instant.
Changing the Layout
Every workspace has a different number of apps and connections, and no single layout works best for everyone. That is why the Schema Viewer offers four layout options, accessible through the segmented control buttons at the top of the page:
- Force: The default layout. It arranges apps by simulating physical forces — connected apps pull closer together, unconnected ones push apart. This tends to produce a natural-looking arrangement where tightly related apps cluster together. A great starting point for most workspaces.
- Hierarchy: Arranges apps in a top-to-bottom tree structure. Apps at the top are those that reference other apps, and the apps they reference appear below. This layout is helpful when you want to understand the flow of data from parent apps down to child apps.
- Radial: Places the most-connected apps near the center and less-connected apps around the edges in concentric circles. This makes it easy to spot your “hub” apps — the ones that have the most connections to other apps.
- Grid: Arranges all apps in a neat, evenly-spaced grid. This is useful for getting a clean, organized overview when you do not need to emphasize relationships through positioning.
When you switch layouts, the diagram smoothly animates to the new arrangement and automatically fits the entire diagram within the visible area.
The Help Banner
The first time you open the Schema Viewer, you will see a blue help banner at the top of the page with a brief reminder of how to interact with the diagram:
- Hover over an app to see its references.
- Click an app to highlight its connections.
- Double-click an app to explore its fields by type.
Once you are comfortable with the controls, click the x button on the banner to dismiss it. The banner stays dismissed — it will not reappear the next time you visit the Schema Viewer. If you ever need a refresher, you can always refer back to this guide.
Use Cases
Onboarding a New Team Member
When a new member joins your team, the Schema Viewer gives them an immediate visual overview of how your workspace is structured. Instead of explaining each app and its connections one by one, you can point them to the Schema Viewer for a self-guided tour of your app relationships.
Planning a New App of Field
Before creating a new app or adding a reference field, it helps to see the existing connections. The Schema Viewer shows you which apps already link to each other, so you can decide where the new piece fits — or whether an existing connection already does what you need.
Auditing Your Workspace
Over time, workspaces accumulate connections that may no longer be needed. By switching to the Radial layout, you can quickly identify apps with an unusually high number of connections. Double-clicking those apps lets you review every reference field, helping you spot outdated or redundant links.
Troubleshoot Automation Logic
If an automation is not behaving as expected, the issue might be a missing or incorrect reference between apps. The Schema Viewer lets you verify that the apps you expect to be connected actually have a reference-field link between them.
Communicating with Your Implementation Consultant
If you are working with a consultant or support team, sharing what you see in the Schema Viewer can help them understand your setup much faster than a verbal description. A screenshot of your schema diagram is an excellent way to communicate your workspace structure at a glance.
Best Practices
- Start with the Force layout for a natural overview, then switch to Radial to identify your most-connected apps, and use Hierarchy when you need to understand the parent-child flow of data.
- Use the highlighting feature (single-click) to isolate one app and its immediate connections before diving into the detail panel (double-click). This helps you understand context before looking at individual fields.
- Zoom in on dense areas of the diagram. If several apps cluster together, zooming in makes the labels easier to read and the arrows clearer to follow.
- Remember that only apps with at least one reference-field connection appear in the diagram. If you expect an app to show up but do not see it, check whether that app has any reference fields configured.
- The diagram is generated fresh each time you open the Schema Viewer, so it always reflects the current state of your workspace — including any apps, fields, or connections you have recently added or changed.
FAQ
Why do I not see the Schema Viewer in my Settings menu?
The Schema Viewer requires Administrator access. If you are not an administrator, you will not see it listed under Advanced. Ask your servis.ai administrator to grant you access or to walk you through the schema on their screen.
Why is an app missing from the diagram?
Apps appear in the Schema Viewer only if they have at least one reference field connecting them to another transactional app. If an app has no reference fields, or only connects to settings or activity apps, it will not be included. Also, apps that have been deactivated or marked as hidden will not appear.
Can I edit my apps or fields from the Schema Viewer?
The Schema Viewer is a read-only visualization. You cannot modify apps, fields, or connections directly from it. To make changes, navigate to the relevant app’s settings in servis.ai as you normally would. The next time you open the Schema Viewer, it will reflect your changes.
Does the Schema Viewer include all my apps?
The Schema Viewer includes your transactional apps — the ones you use to manage records day to day. It does not include activity apps or internal settings apps. This is intentional, to keep the diagram focused and readable.
What do the arrow labels mean?
Arrows represent reference-field connections. When a related list has a name that is different from both the source and target app names, that name appears as a label on the arrow. If the related list name is the same as either app name, no label is shown to keep the diagram clean — the relationship is already clear from the app names at each end.
Will the diagram change if I add or remove a reference field?
Yes. The Schema Viewer rebuilds the diagram each time you open the page, pulling the latest configuration from your workspace. If you add a new reference field between two apps, that connection will appear the next time you load the Schema Viewer. Similarly, removing a reference field will cause the corresponding arrow to disappear.
