approval-workflows

Approval Workflows for ServiceNow

Approval workflows route records through configurable approval chains.

Approval Architecture

Record (change_request, sc_req_item, etc.)
    ↓
Approval Rules (sysapproval_rule)
    ↓
Approval Records (sysapproval_approver)
    ↓ Approve/Reject
Record State Updated

Key Tables

Table	Purpose
sysapproval_approver	Individual approval records
sysapproval_group	Group approval configuration
sysapproval_rule	Approval rules
sys_approval_workflow	Approval workflow stages

Approval Rules (ES5)

Create Approval Rule

// Create approval rule (ES5 ONLY!)
var rule = new GlideRecord("sysapproval_rule")
rule.initialize()

// Rule identification
rule.setValue("name", "Change Request Manager Approval")
rule.setValue("table", "change_request")
rule.setValue("order", 100)
rule.setValue("active", true)

// Conditions - when rule applies
rule.setValue("conditions", "type=normal^priority<=2")

// Approver type
rule.setValue("approver", "manager") // manager, group, user, script
// For user: rule.setValue('approver_user', userSysId);
// For group: rule.setValue('approver_group', groupSysId);

// Approval type
rule.setValue("approval_type", "and") // and (all must approve), or (any can approve)

// Wait for previous level
rule.setValue("wait_for", true)

rule.insert()

Script-Based Approver Selection

// Approval rule with script (ES5 ONLY!)
var rule = new GlideRecord("sysapproval_rule")
rule.initialize()
rule.setValue("name", "Cost-Based Approval")
rule.setValue("table", "sc_req_item")
rule.setValue("approver", "script")

// Script to determine approvers (ES5 ONLY!)
rule.setValue(
  "script",
  "(function getApprovers(current) {\n" +
    "    var approvers = [];\n" +
    '    var cost = parseFloat(current.getValue("estimated_cost")) || 0;\n' +
    "    \n" +
    "    // Manager approval for all\n" +
    "    var caller = current.requested_for.getRefRecord();\n" +
    "    if (caller.manager) {\n" +
    "        approvers.push(caller.manager.toString());\n" +
    "    }\n" +
    "    \n" +
    "    // Director approval for > $5000\n" +
    "    if (cost > 5000) {\n" +
    "        var director = getDirector(caller);\n" +
    "        if (director) approvers.push(director);\n" +
    "    }\n" +
    "    \n" +
    "    // VP approval for > $25000\n" +
    "    if (cost > 25000) {\n" +
    "        var vp = getVP(caller);\n" +
    "        if (vp) approvers.push(vp);\n" +
    "    }\n" +
    "    \n" +
    "    return approvers;\n" +
    "})(current);",
)

rule.insert()