Sign Off Column Doesn't update

[Anonymous]

Sent document for approval, approver viewed document in excel online, didnt close it and approved the document. I recieved an email saying User signed off on your item. Note that we were not able to update the column in SharePoint because the file was locked by a user. When the approver closed the file, it still didnt update and stayed on Pending? Should this happen? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks Samuel

[v-yuazh-msft]

Hi @Anonymous，

Yes,this should happle.

Since if the approver viewed document in excel online, didnt close it and approved the document, the flow would run when the document is approved. however, the "Update item" action to update the document status would run failed because the approver viewed document and didnt close it.Event if the approver closed the file sometimes later, the flow already run failed and will not update the document status.

So please let the approver make sure to close the document firstly, and then approve the document.

Best regards,

Alice

[Anonymous]

Thank you, I really appreciate the response

Sam

[GabrielStJohn]

Hello, @Anonymous!

Thank you for posting on the Flow Community Forum! Have you had an opportunity to apply @v-yuazh-msft‘s recommendation to adapt your Flow? If yes, and you find that solution to be satisfactory, please go ahead and click “Accept as Solution” so that this thread will be marked for other users to easily identify!

Thank you for being an active member of the Flow Community!

-Gabriel
Flow Community Manager

[Anonymous]

 I have a similar issue but the file is not open and has not been opened drecently yet I get the message

 Note that we were not able to update the column in SharePoint because the file was locked by a user.

Also is there a way to use the signoff as a template as i would like to perform more actions after the sharepoint column is updated

[pnthrzrule]

I have the same issue. Does anyone have an answer?

[Anonymous]

I also have this concern :

"Note that we were not able to update the column in SharePoint because the file was locked by a user."

> For me it's not a file like excel or word, but a simple item from a list in sharepoint..

[pnthrzrule]

Hello Everyone,

I was able to fix this today by doing the following:

1. Click the flow drop down and select, "Configure Flows."
2. In the configure flows options menu, turn the toggle switch to "Off," then save.
3. Refresh your browser. (I'm not sure if this is necessary or not...I still think it's a good idea anyway)
4. Go back to the flow drop down and select, "Configure Flows."
5. Change the toggle back to, "Yes." (make sure you set the approval mode to, "Request sign-off.")
6. Refresh your browser.
7. Now run the, "Request Approval," flow.

I have been working on this for weeks and even submitted a ticket to the PowerApps/Flow team. They were not able to fix it. Also, this was only occuring on a single doc library. I created a new library and everything worked just fine. I hope this helps.