Approval flows stopped working and I can no longer save new approval flows

[Anonymous]

As of couple months ago I can no longer create approval flows but get a following error message when I try to save my flow.   We have a E3 office 365 license.   Is this an licensing issue.

Failed to create the Common Data Service database in this environment with status code ViralServicePlanRequired.

[ScottShearer]

@Anonymous 

Can you check to see if you were/are using a trial license of some type that may have expired?

[Anonymous]

As far as I know (I am not admin so it is hear say)  nothing has changed with our E3 office 365 license.   I created approval flow already a year ago for the first time.   I have a feeling something has changed about what Microsoft requires for having approval flow (licensing or otherwise).   E.g. the error message mentions CDS.   I don't think approval flows used to be stored in CDS (I assume they are now) and maybe my current licensing lacks CDS.

While back there was a announcement about updating previous version of CDS database.

https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/upgrade-your-previous-version-common-data-service-databas...

I don't think anyone thought they were using CDS so admins didn't do anything and I assume previous database got deleted by microsoft.   Admin tried to create a new Environment and CDS database but couldn't.

My suspicion is (as was yours)   that this is a licensing issue but not that existing license would me expired but that licensing level that was not previously required to be able to create approval flows is now required.

[ScottShearer]

@Anonymous 

Approvals do use CDS behind the scenes, but no upgraded license is required for use with Approvals.  That said, I strongly suggest that you check to see what liceses have been assigned to you by the Office 365 admin.  Nothing has cganged recently that would cause this issue to the best of my knwoledge.  However, you may have had an upgraded trial license that expired.

[v-bacao-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Have you tried creating Approval Flow in other environments?

Or you could create a new Environment to configure Approval Flow yourself.

Best Regards,

[ggieseke]

No sure if appropriate to tag onto this thread, but..... We are trying to create a flow using the "Request manager approval for a selected file" template and we are getting the "Failed to create Common Data Services database in this environment with status code "ViralServicePlanRequired". We have active E3 license. Any ideas?

[jlindst-msft]

You can have your Global Administrator with a P2 or P2 trial create a CDS databasse in the default environment. Then you should be able to use Flow approvals. It might have previously been deleted if you were not using it and did not upgrade the CDS instance to the latest version of CDS earlier this year. 

[lras1202]

Hi, @ggieseke ,

I know it's been a while that you had the issue. I am getting the same error message. Would you be kind to let me know how you resolved the issue?

Thanks!