Trigger Approval in Dataverse Web API

[johnryanrobles]

Hi is there a way to trigger Approvals [Approve / Reject] via Dataverse Web API? 

[ivan_apps]

Do you mean to respond to an existing approval or to create an Approve/Reject approval and assign it to someone?

There is an ‘Approvals’ table in Dataverse where the approval process is recorded behind the scenes of the Approvals flows. The approvals flow is simply a UI interface for records created in this table, if you create new table rows then the UI will show it. 

You can use the Web API to create new rows, or if you have an exiting Approval row ID, you can send an update to record the Approve or Reject response. Take a look at the Dataverse Rest Builder tool to view how to create these queries, it will provide you the proper syntax for you. 

[johnryanrobles]

Hi yes, I need to approve the existing approvals via dataverse WEB API , can you share to me the rest builder to trigger it? Thanks!

[ivan_apps]

I'll show you how to use the Dataverse Rest Builder tool (DRB)

1. Retrieve all Active Approval assigned to you

Xrm.WebApi.online.retrieveMultipleRecords("msdyn_flow_approval", "?$filter=_ownerid_value eq 12766fd2-a152-eb11-bb24-000d3a9c3679 and statecode eq 0").then(

2. Update the record you want (based on the Primary ID you want to update from #1)

There are many methods of using the Web API to execute your actions, you can chose which method via the DRB tool.

JS

var record = {};
record.statecode = 1; // State
record.statuscode = 192350004; // Status

var updateRequest = {
	etn: "msdyn_flow_approval",
	id: "60b8fff0-5dce-43e7-9073-eeb6e7421ffa",
	payload: record,
	getMetadata: function () { return { boundParameter: null, parameterTypes: {}, operationType: 2, operationName: "Update" }; }
};

Xrm.WebApi.online.execute(updateRequest).then(
	function success(response) {
		if (response.ok) {
			console.log("Record updated");
		}
	}
).catch(function (error) {
	console.log(error.message);
});

[johnryanrobles]

Hi Ivan, what should we update is it the request created from Approval Request Table right that is assigned to user?

[ivan_apps]

Yes I imagine that you are retrieving active approval requests assigned to a specific user (maybe current logged in user). Modify the retrieval query to put in the appropriate owner GUID. You do the retrieval first to get all those records + any additional filter criteria you may have based on your use case.

You can then iterate through the results and update the status of the approval request. The approval flow UI should display the update once you execute the update function. 

I hope that answers your questions and gets you on the right path.

[johnryanrobles]

Hi Ivan, i was able to retrieve the owner id and the approval request id from the Approval request table.

{"@odata.etag":"W/\"44976130\"","msdyn_flow_approvalrequestidx_owninguserid":"74503F71-FE6B-E911-A81B-000D3A37F60D","statuscode":1,"msdyn_flow_approvalrequestid":"469e0630-bdff-419c-87b1-477d488f82b9","msdyn_flow_approvalrequestidx_approvalid":"7FA8A954-34F1-4B6E-8834-A5E0D30B9E10","statecode":0,"_ownerid_value":"74503f71-fe6b-e911-a81b-000d3a37f60d","createdon":"2023-11-16T05:04:26Z","msdyn_flow_approvalrequest_approval":{"_ownerid_value":"74503f71-fe6b-e911-a81b-000d3a37f60d","msdyn_flow_approval_title":"Second Testing","msdyn_flow_approval_source":"Approvals","msdyn_flow_approval_details":null,"createdon":"2023-11-16T05:04:25Z","msdyn_flow_approval_priority":192350002,"statecode":0,"statuscode":192350001,"msdyn_flow_approvalid":"7fa8a954-34f1-4b6e-8834-a5e0d30b9e10"}},

   What field should we update to process the approval request? How can i do that via dataverse web api/ dataverse client. 

Thanks!

[Daved1]

There is a pretty good video on Approvals and Dataverse - Demystifying Modern Approvals Data Storage in Dataverse | Data model | CDS | Power Platform - YouTub....  Several Tables involved with Approvals (Approval, Approval Request, Approval Response)

I hope this helps

Dave

[ivan_apps]

Take a look at my previous post here and the JavaScript section.

var record = {};
record.statecode = 1; // State
record.statuscode = 192350004; // Status

You have to send a POST request with an object of the fields to update. In this case, update the State and Status Code.  If you respond to approve- State=1 makes it Inactive, and Statuscode = 192350004 is the Approved status option that is allowed only when the record is Inactive. 

[johnryanrobles]

Hi Ivan will this create a record also on approval response? since the records are created on approval request for specific approvers then the response go to approval response.