Multiple Approval updates (Comment box on sharepoint)

[shertech25]

Hi! 

 Im doing up a flow for multiple approval, and each time when the approver approves, would need to reflect it under SharePoint's comment box. Currently, im only able to reflect the first's approval

First Approval:

Second Approval:

However, for the 2nd update after 2nd approval approved, i receive this error message

Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you 😄

[PrasadAthalye]

Where in the flow you are using Update List Item action? Also what approval property you are using to approve? Are you looping through responses?

[shertech25]

Hi @PrasadAthalye 

I would use Update List every time after an approval process (e.g Start and wait for approval -> Condition -> Update List)

Currently each approval is kind of "hard code" on the flow itself, but im also trying to figure out how to retrieve email/user from Approval List (another list on sharepoint)

[PrasadAthalye]

Okay. Can you please upload screen shot of Update Action ? It appears that you are using Reponses array as against outcome..

[shertech25]

This is my whole sequence:

 

replace(body('Create_HTML_table'),'<table>','<table border="1">')

[shertech25]

I've also tried another method:

It will only reflect the first approver. Once the 2nd approver responded, it will become the one shown below (Approved By: Approve..)

[PrasadAthalye]

okay. Approval Action has 2 outputs. If you have only single approver in the process, you can check outcome. But if you have multiple, you will have to work with Responses Collection. So you can not write a condition like 'Outcome' is Approve.  Please refer below thread.. 

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Issue-updating-list-item-after-approval-Flow/m-p/...

You will have to loop through responses collection and use update item inside the loop...

[shertech25]

So does that mean i cant use the select and table html method? Dont quite get the sequence exactly.

[shertech25]

[PrasadAthalye]

Instead of checking Outcome equals Approve, Check Response Approver Response property of approvals inside the loop.

[shertech25]

Is this the way?

On a sidenote, im trying to retrieve the approver's e,ail via "Approval List" on sharepoint list. I've used an additional coloum - Dept Value as the trigger to pull specifically to retrieve which approval;s email (e.g Admin1, Admin2, etc)

But im not sure why the 2nd request, its still sent back to first approver for approval. 

Thank you!!

[PrasadAthalye]

I am somewhat confused what do you mean 2nd approval OR first Approval. Let us recap and please clarify following.

You have 2 approver actions --> 

• Approver from Admin Staff (Round 1) --> Question --> How many people approve this approval ? Do you have 1 person or 2?
• Approver from CD Admin (Round 2) - How many people approve this approval ? Do you have 1 person or 2?'

If you have 1 single person, you can check Outcome Property of that action to know if person approved OR Rejected?

If you have more than 1 person in the approval action, you need to loop through responses collection and check approvers response property to check if they approved? If anyone rejected, you treat it as rejection.

Regarding Approver List, can you upload a picture, where you are retrieving Approvers List and how you are using it within Approval Actions?

[shertech25]

Both round 1 & 2 can have 1 or more approval. But let's take it as 1 for now to make it simple. 

This is the approval list on sharepoint:

The whole flow:

I've now take the "Responses Approver Response" instead of "Outcome" to check for Approve/Reject. But am not sure how to reflect multiple names under the sharepoint list:

 (This is the Approval Comment column on Sharepoint that reflects the name and responses)

[shertech25]

How do I put the circled Approval Name and Responses in a table like the one shown above?

Currently using this method:

But i cant do another one because it will be nested. 

** The one in the table is First stage of Approval, the one outside is the Second stage of Approval:

 (2nd Approval)

Thank you!

[PrasadAthalye]

Move your update list Action outside responses Loop just before the the loop and use HTML table that you have created within Approval Comments. This way all your responses will be updated in the list. 

What do you want to do if someone rejects it? If you wish to terminate the workflow, then just have Terminate Control under No Part of the condition and leave Yes part empty. So If no one rejects, control will flow to next action. 

I think you will have to allow Append to Text for Comments column and do this process again for 2nd step also.

Another recommendation is to just create another SharePoint List to manage history and insert items there instead of storing tables. Thats what I do. In that list, you can use your main list ID so that you can join them.