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Problem with Flow approval/denial

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Posted on by Camma5150

Hey all, I'm using Flow and Sharepoint to approve or deny overtime for employees. I used Form to create a form that is pasted to their browser on their desktop or phone. They fill it out to request overtime and send it. Then we get an email notification to approve it or deny it. If we approve it, then it goes to OUR supervisor for another approval. If it gets approved the original overtime requester gets an email saying it has been approved and we get an email notification as well. The flow history lists it as "succeeded." The problem we are having is when we get the initial overtime request and we deny it. The original requester gets notification that is has been denied and we do too, but the flow continues to run. In flow history it will say "running" for pretty much forever. How do we get it to stop and become a "succeeded" flow. It seems like it is searching for that second approval or denial, when in reality it should just stop there. I have tried adding in a "stop flow" action but it isn't working. If everyone approves it, there doesnt seem to be any issues and its listed in Flow history as succeeded. HELP! Thanks! - Craig

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AlanPs1 2,471 on at

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Please can you post a picture of your Flow and details of any expressions and values used.
If you cross reference a post something like this it may give you an idea of the type of detail that would be helpful.
Also posting the results of a flow and expanding on any errors or sticking points where you feel it didn't work and explain why.

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v-yamao-msft on at

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Hi @Camma5150,

Could you share a screenshot of your flow?

From your description, it seems that you have two Start an approval actions included in the flow. How is the second approval action configured?

Do you want to terminate the flow when you deny the request?

I have made the following flow, please check it for a reference.

When an item is created in the list, start an approval. Add a Condition, if the response is equal to Approve, start second approval to supervisor. If no, do nothing.

Add Condition2, if Response is equal to Approve, send an email to the item creator, then send an email to the first approver. If no, do nothing.

A screenshot likes below.

Best regards,

Mabel

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Camma5150 10 on at

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Hello Mabel,
My flow works but what happens is even if I deny a request for overtime, it still goes to my supervisor for approval/denial. Here's how it works now: When a request for overtime comes to me, I approve it or deny it. If I approve, it emails my supervisor to review the request, and he must approve or deny it. If he approves it, then the original requestor gets an email, along with myself saying it has been approved. This completes the flow successfully. If he denies it, the original requestor, along with myself, gets an email saying it has been denied. This completes the flow sucessfully. If the overtime request comes to me, and I deny it, I want it to send an email to the original requestor along with my comments of why it was denied. Then the flow should end sucessfully. I cant get it to do this. Instead, if I deny it the overtime request, it still goes to my supervisor for approval or denial. He sees that I denied it and he denies it too, but its an annoying extra step (and email) that he really doesnt want or need to be getting. Please advise.

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Dorul 340 on at

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Hi @Camma5150

My guess is that your flow looks like this (and the second approval/the next steps are running no matter what the answer is)

And instead, it should look like this:

Drag and drop your second approval to the "If yes" branch (or if you cant, recreate the steps in the "if yes" branch) If thats the case, please mark @v-yamao-msft`s post as the solution.

Cheers

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Camma5150 10 on at

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I've posted some pics of my Flow. I've blacked out the names. I'd like the flow to end successfully if I initially reject it, with no further emails to my supervisor. An email would be sent to the original requestor saying it was denied, and my reasons why in any comments I decide to leave. If I approve it, it goes to my Supervisor for approval. If he approves it, then an email goes to the original requestor and myself saying its approved and the flow should end successfully. If he denies it, an email should be sent to the original requestor and myself saying it was denied and the flow should end successfully. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

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Dorul 340 on at

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Well I was right. Your "Start an approval 2" starts in the middle, and it should start in the left, in the Yes branch of your condition.
Starting with "Start an approval 2", move everything, all the steps, under your Update item. I don't know how to be clearer than this 🙂

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Camma5150 10 on at

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Ok I will give it a try. In the "No" branch of my condition do I have to put send an email to original requestor? or does it do that automatically?

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Dorul 340 on at

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As I see, it should send mail to the requestor because in your No branch you already have a "send an email".

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Camma5150 10 on at

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How often do I have to put the "Update in Sharepoint action"

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Dorul 340 on at

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As often as you want, so you can track what happens in flow without open the flow run - just by looking in your sharepoint list.

So for example in my case, after every approval, in the Yes branch I have an "Update item", also in the No branch, another "Update item" - so I`ll know who didnt answer yet, who approved or rejected and when.

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