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Power Automate - Building Flows
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Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

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Posted on by 24

Hi All,

 

I am attempting to create a workflow for a document library that stores job descriptions. The concept is as follows:

 

1. Employee makes a change to a job description that requires review 

2. Workflow kicks off (preferrably automatically)

3. First approver = their manager, Second approver = their department head, Third approver = Human Resources 

6. If ALL approve, content status is set to Approve. If anywhere along the way someone rejects it, the content status is updated to Reject.

7. If rejected, employee is notified of rejection. If approved employee and HR are notified of the approved document in the library

 

The final step is that I want to have the document library display all the approvers in the library, so HR knows who approved a document OR where it is at in the workflow (since if the third approver hadnt looked yet, the field would be blank).

 

I got so far that the entire workflow is there EXCEPT for the part where approvers are displayed in the library. Everytime i try to add this, i have to use the "update file properties" function, which in turn restarts the entire flow as that is my initial prompt. So, you end up with four workflows for a single document (minimum) that never end.

 

Any ideas how i can get this working the way I want?

snip1.PNGsnip2.PNG

snip3.PNG

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @RezaDorrani  seeing if you have any ideas?

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @RezaDorrani  Ok, and what about the ID?Capture.PNG

  • RezaDorrani Profile Picture
    12,141 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @NetworkAdmin 

    Select custom value

    and enter doc library name

    it works !!!

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    @RezaDorrani Ok, but it asks for a "List Name" and I am not in a list, I am in a document library. How do I account for that?

  • RezaDorrani Profile Picture
    12,141 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @NetworkAdmin 

     

    Use get item action first

    Id will be the fileid dynamic content from your trigger action

     

    The try get file matadata

    and use file identifier as Identifier dynamic content from get item action

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @RezaDorrani ,

     

    I add the "for a selected file" trigger - thanks! 

     

    New issue now that I cannot sort out, is i am getting an error code for the "Get File Metadata" trigger. Any idea why this would be happening? it is the second step of the flow. It says the file is not found. Capture.PNG

     

    "status": 404,
    "message": "The file /sites/SITE AND SUB FOLDER NAME /79861 does not exist.\r\nclientRequestId: 9bc082ee-ed52-4354-9186-5e2aa90e3228\r\nserviceRequestId: 7ec4fc9e-f030-9000-f2aa-ca66e154cd35",
    "source": "https://SITE AND SUB FOLDER NAME/_api/web/GetFileByServerRelativePath(decodedUrl=@p)?@p='%2fsites%2f________________%2f___________%2f79861'",
    "errors": [
  • RezaDorrani Profile Picture
    12,141 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @NetworkAdmin 

     

    You can use the for a selected file trigger in Flow

     

    so when a user is ready to review the file, they can select the file in SharePoint and trigger the Flow themselves 

     

    Regards,

    Reza Dorrani

     

    If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @RezaDorrani ,

     

    That makes sense! thank you. So what sort of trigger would i set to ensure it is reviewed only when necessary?

     

     

  • RezaDorrani Profile Picture
    12,141 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @NetworkAdmin 

     

    One option is to trigger the Flow on demand (for a selected file trigger action)

    Here the user can start the approval process when ready

     

    Also, Microsoft Flow can also be started based on trigger conditions

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-gP-E6CCE4

    Define some condition based on which you want your flow to get triggered

    Example : Trigger flow on item added/updated with a conditon which says if a field value is Yes

     

    Regards,

    Reza Dorrani

     

    If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

     

     

     

  • NetworkAdmin Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Document Workflow - Multiple Approval Steps

    Hi @RezaDorrani ,

     

    We want the flow to start whenever someone makes a change to a job description, or adds one in to ensure HR is aware of the change or addition.

     

    If there is a way for a flow to be prompted in another way i am open to hearing it? I just dont know how else to set it up. 

     

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