Approval State changed to "No Longer Required" when I have 2 Ask for Approval actions

Jean-Vincent Mi · ‎08-19-2022

Hello community!

My first question! And concerning Ask for Approval action in the Flow designer.

I have this functional requirement : For a specific request, I need to proceed to 2 different ask for approval, and for each ask for approval action, it is a different person to approve or reject.

I created one Flow for each ask for approval, the trigger flow is configure to trigger when a sub-status is changed (I have 2 sub-status in my request, so one flow for one sub-status), the 2 sub-status are changed in same time in my case.

But, I encountered a problem and I don't know why I have this problem: when the first person approve the first approval, the second approval of my second ask for approval change to "No Longer Required" instead of just stay to "Requested" until the approve of second person.

Do you have any idea about this issue?

Thank you, Jean-Vincent.

Mahendra RC · ‎08-19-2022

Hello Jean,

I believe you can implement your requirement using a single flow it will be easier to manage and also easier to debug the issue in future. You can run the actions in parallel and implement the flow as per below logic (just a sample):

1. If 1st sub-status != to_validate_by_cr --- If you flow retrigger because of the change only in 1st sub-status field than the approval will be re-triggered for 1st Sub-status and not for 2nd sub-status
--> Wait for 1st Sub-status to change to to_validate_by_cr
--> Ask for Approval
--> if CDG Receiver approved
--> Update 1st Sub-status to Validated by CR
Continue with your flow steps
2. If 2nd sub-status != to_validate_by_cf --- If you flow retrigger because of the change only in 2nd sub-status field than the approval will be re-triggered for 2nd Sub-status and not for 1st sub-status
--> Wait for 2nd Sub-status to change to to_validate_by_cf
--> Ask for Approval
--> if CF Receiver approved
--> Update 1st Sub-status to Validated by CF
Continue with your flow steps

Please mark this as helpful/correct, if this answer your question

Thanks

View solution in original post

Arav · ‎08-19-2022

Hi,

Why is there a need to create two flows ? The scenarios noted can be handled in 1 flow by using the appropriate trigger conditions and "IF" blocks.

Can you add screenshots to show us what you have written in each of these flows ?

Thanks,

Arav

Jean-Vincent Mi · ‎08-19-2022

Hello Arav,

In my request, I have 2 columns: "1st sub-status" and "2nd sub-status"

When the user click on a button, we change the values of these 2 fields in the same update. I created 1 flow by sub-status change because, in a case, we can revoke the approval of 1 sub-status, and so re-execute the specific flow.

My flows:

Regards,
Jean-Vincent

Arav · ‎08-20-2022

Hi @Jean-Vincent Mieuzé ,

Yes, I am able to replicate the issue in PDI and I believe it could be related to the article below.

https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0964016

Although you have two different flows, It might be impacted by the same issue.

Is there a way you could run these approvals in sequence and not in parallel ?

Thanks,

Arav

Jean-Vincent Mi · ‎08-22-2022

Hi,

Thanks for your answer.

The solution is to use parallel action in the flow. With this way, the multi approval works correctly, maybe due to the context of the flow. If we use an Ask for Approval for the same record in the second flow, we have the issue...

I will change my flow to use parallel ask for approval.