Save approver automatically in Approval Processes with Process Builder and Flows

In previous post,I shared how to 《Create Roll-Up Summary field to count Contacts on Account with Process Builder and Flows》.
In this post I will share about how to save approver(current user) to the target object automatically in Approval Processes, with Process Builder and Flows.

Actually,this is another interesting usages of Process and Visual Flows.

Here is the list of setting we need to create,include Approval Processes:
・Custom Fields (Contract Object)
・ContractApproval (Approval Processes)
・ContractApproverUpdate (Flows)
・ApproverUpdateProcess (Process Builder)

New custom fields

Create a custom field(Formula(Text)) on Contract named “CurrentUserId” for getting current running user. Create another custom field(Lookup(User)) named “Approver” for storing approver value.

ContractApproval

Create an Approval Process named “ContractApproval” on Contract like the following image. And the Field Updates “StatusUnapproved”. Field Updates “StatusApproved”. Don’t foget to check the “Re-evaluate Workflow Rules after Field Change” option.Trust me, this is really important.
※The Process “ApproverUpdateProcess” we need to create next will not be evaluated if it’s without that option.

ContractApproverUpdate

Create a Visual Workflow add a Fast Loopup element named “LookupTarget” to flow area. Create a Variable named “varTargetId” and a SObject Variable named “targetContract”. Add a Record Update element “ApproverUpdate” at the end. Now,set the Fast Loopup element to be a Start Element and link two elements. Save flow as “ContractApproverUpdate” and activate it.

ApproverUpdateProcess

Create a process named “ApproverUpdateProcess” from Create > Workflow & Approvals > Process Builder. Add Contract object and save it. Add a criteria with the below Formula and save it. Add a action for the criteria when it is true,and select the flow “ContractApproverUpdate” we created before. Now activate the process.

Operation check

Create a contract and submit for Approval with user “Staff” Approval contract with user “Manager” Not bad, isn’t it?
Enjoy it!