Approved invoices can not be edited - Approval process

Question

Hi Experts -
I have recently raised an incident with SAP about Approval process - the complete message and support reply is as follows - but i believe we need a change in the approval process - if the approval required is only one but you have defined two people (Either or OR) in the approver list - the system should allow the document to be edited if one of the approvers reject it.
please let me know and i believe we need  a change in design - unless otherwise a solid reason is given to justify the existing design
10.07.2009 10:32 Description (English) by SRS Manian
     We have created approval procedure for all the invoices which are entered into the system., The
'Accts' user enters the invoice into the system - the invoice comes for approval to 'Manager' user.
When the Manager opens the invoice via Alert window - he/she wants to modify certain information
(lines as well as Sales person) and approve it.
The invoice which gets opened from the alert window - does not allow the user 'Manager' to modify at
all. All the information on the invoice are greyed out.
The system should allow the user 'Manager' to modify the information. Since the manager has full
authorization to the system.
10.07.2009 10:35 Info to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Partner/Customer,
We have received your inquiry and are currently processing it.
You will be contacted with a solution or an update as soon as possible.
For further details regarding the phase your message is in at the
moment please refer to:
http://service.sap.com/%7Esapidb/011000358700000575782007E
Kind regards,
SAP Business One Product Support
10.07.2009 10:59 Reply to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Manian,
Thank you for contacting us.
When the originator sends the document for manager's approval, note that the at that stage, the document is still in the 'Approval Process'. This is because the system is waiting for the 'Manager' to 'Approve or Reject' the document. Hence, looking at the Document, it is still in 'Draft - Pending' Status.
When the document is in 'Draft-Pending' Status, the document is not available for editing, because the system considers that it is still in the waiting process. In your case, the manager cannot edit t he document.
To amend the document, an action is required from the approver either to reject it first. Once rejected, it can be amended and re-sent for approval.
I have checked our knowledge base and noted that there is an article which describes the approval process. Please refer to the Expert on Phone Wiki Article (March 2009) with title: Why a draft documen t in an approval process cannot be modified by the originator?
The link will provide the explanation:
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/wiki?path=/pages/viewpage.action&pageid=88735894
I have also attached Notes 1321234 and 1111431 for your reference.
Best regards,
Lorna Real
Support Consultant
Product Support for SAP Business One
SAP Ireland 
10.07.2009 11:59 Reply to Support Center  by SRS Manian
     Thanks for the reply. The scenario is when the Manager receives the
document for approval, he wanted to edit and add it. Your reply (and
documentations) states that it needs to be rejected first before it is
available for editing. When it is gets rejected - the person who
orignated the document gets an alert and he can edit it. Here the
Manager must get an alert so that he can edit the Rejected document.
When the 'manager' rejects the document, and goes back to the alert
window to open the document - it is still greyed out !!
How does the 'manager' reject the document and edits it ?
regards
Manian 
10.07.2009 12:11 Reply to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Manian,
If after the Manager rejects it and still the document is not editable (greyed out), it means that the document may still be in the 'Approval Process'. When it is greyed out, what is the status of the document in the header? Does it say 'Rejected' or 'Pending'?
If it is still in 'Pending' mode, please verify the number of 'Approvers' set in the 'Stages' tab of the 'Approval Template - Setup' window. If there is more than one user listed as 'Approver', and o nly 1 approval is required, the system provides an opportunity to other 'Approvers' to approve or reject the document. If in your case, the number of approvers is 2, and manager 'rejected' it, the sys tem still keeps the document in Pending status as it waits for another approver's decision to reject or approve it.
Also, verify the number of 'Approvals' required. If the number of 'Approvers' who have not rendered their decision is greater than or equal to the 'Approvals' required (e.g. approvers - 2, required ap provals - 2) the system keeps the document within the approval process. This is to allow the other 'Approvers' to decide on the document.
I hope this clarifies the behaviour. If you can provide us a step by step screenshot of the issue, this may help us to provide a more accurate response.
Best regards,
Lorna Real
Support Consultant
Product Support for SAP Business One
SAP Ireland 
10.07.2009 12:28 Reply to Support Center  by SRS Manian
     Hi:
The status of the document in the Header says 'Pending' and the status
below the document number says 'Suspended' - it is not showing as 'Draft'
Regards
Manian 
10.07.2009 12:42 Call to Customer / Partner by SAP
     Performed on: 10.07.2009 10:41:59 (UK)
Contact person: SRS Manian
Status of discussion: Customer not reached
Subject:
Called the partner but currently engaged on another line.
Would like to hold a webex. 
10.07.2009 12:42 Reply to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Manian,
I'm trying to call you but there was no response on your mobile.
When the header says 'Pending', then it means the document is still within the approval process. Please check the Approval Template and see the number of approvers and the number of approvals require d.
The number of approvals and approvers may be greater than 1. In this case, the system waits for other approvers to approve or reject the document. Once all the approvers have rejected the document, th en the document will be released and available for editing.
Best regards,
Lorna Real
Support Consultant
Product Support for SAP Business One
SAP Ireland 
10.07.2009 18:11 Reply to Support Center  by SRS Manian
     Hi:
Thanks for the reply - i tried this and found out the following:
1 - In the approval templates - we had mentioned number of approvals
required as '1'.
2 - in the number of approvers - we had mentioned two users
Though the template requires only one approvals (Either or OR) the system
expects both of them to approve or reject -
Can u please let me why is this behaving like this - or is this is the
way it is designed ? - if this is the way it is designed - i beleive it
is wrong - weneed to give a solution to the customer
regards
Manian 
11.07.2009 05:52 Reply to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Manian,
Thank you for the information. The behaviour is a current system definition documented as per Note 1321234. I have attached the said Note for your reference. When only 1 approval is required and there are 2 or more persons are allowed to approve the document, the document does not get automatically rejected when 1 person 'rejects' it. The system waits for other approvers to render their decision b ecause a person may still approve or reject the document.
The design is not an application error. If you would like to change this design, please post your requirement in our SAP Business One Product Development Collaboration
forum. You can find the forum in this link:
/community [original link is broken]
The forum is beingmoderated by members of the Solution Management team specialized in certain areas, according to the folder you are in. Partners can impact the design of specific features by posting suggestions and feedback at this forum. Kindly refer to Note 1028874 which describes more on the above process.
As the request will be handled through another process, we kindly request that this support message be closed.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
Lorna Real
Support Consultant
SAP Product Support for SAP Business One
SAP Ireland 
11.07.2009 09:02 Reply to Support Center  by SRS Manian
     Hi Thanks for the reply - however, the solution given doesnot address the
problem we are beingfaced with our client
Is there a Development Request we can raise so that this problem is
addressed in future
I am going ahead and confirming this Message though
regards
Manian 
11.07.2009 10:04 Reply to Reporter by SAP
     Dear Manian,
Thanks for the information. I understand the customer's requirement. As previously mentioned, please log a development request in this link:
/community [original link is broken] This is from Note 1028874.
Unfortunately,we at the support centre does not have access to the list of development requests. Hence, kindly follow the process in Note 1028874.
I'm sending the message back to your side for confirmation.
Best regards,
Lorna Real
Support Consultant
Product Support for SAP Business One
SAP Ireland 
SAP Notes           
Number     Short text
0001035200
Issue can be solved via existing documentation
0001111431
Deleting rejected draft documents.
0001167635
Maintenance Policy (L)
0001321234
Status of a document rejected within the Approval Process.

Answer 1

Hi Gordon - thanks for the reply - i am sorry i never realized that the message i raised could be messed up like this - the following is a clear message with some paragraphs:
Hi Experts - I have recently raised an incident with SAP about Approval process - the complete message and support reply is as follows - but i believe we need a change in the approval process - if the approval required is only one but you have defined two people (Either or OR) in the approver list - the system should allow the document to be edited if one of the approvers reject it. please let me know and i believe we need a change in design - unless otherwise a solid reason is given to justify the existing design
SRS Manian We have created approval procedure for all the invoices which are entered into the system., The 'Accts' user enters the invoice into the system - the invoice comes for approval to 'Manager' user. When the Manager opens the invoice via Alert window - he/she wants to modify certain information (lines as well as Sales person) and approve it. The invoice which gets opened from the alert window - does not allow the user 'Manager' to modify at all. All the information on the invoice are greyed out. The system should allow the user 'Manager' to modify the information. Since the manager has full authorization to the system.
Reply to Reporter by SAP Dear Manian,
Thank you for contacting us. When the originator sends the document for manager's approval, note that the at that stage, the document is still in the 'Approval Process'. This is because the system is waiting for the 'Manager' to 'Approve or Reject' the document. Hence, looking at the Document, it is still in 'Draft - Pending' Status. When the document is in 'Draft-Pending' Status, the document is not available for editing, because the system considers that it is still in the waiting process. In your case, the manager cannot edit t he document. To amend the document, an action is required from the approver either to reject it first. Once rejected, it can be amended and re-sent for approval. I have checked our knowledge base and noted that there is an article which describes the approval process. Please refer to the Expert on Phone Wiki Article (March 2009) with title: Why a draft documen t in an approval process cannot be modified by the originator? The link will provide the explanation:
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/wiki?path=/pages/viewpage.action&pageid=88735894
I have also attached Notes 1321234 and 1111431 for your reference. Best regards, Lorna Real Support Consultant Product Support for SAP Business One SAP Ireland 10.07.2009 11:59
Reply to Support Center by SRS Manian
Thanks for the reply.
The scenario is when the Manager receives the document for approval, he wanted to edit and add it. Your reply (and documentations) states that it needs to be rejected first before it is available for editing. When it is gets rejected - the person who orignated the document gets an alert and he can edit it. Here the Manager must get an alert so that he can edit the Rejected document. When the 'manager' rejects the document, and goes back to the alert window to open the document - it is still greyed out !! How does the 'manager' reject the document and edits it ? regards Manian
Reply to Reporter by SAP
Dear Manian, If after the Manager rejects it and still the document is not editable (greyed out), it means that the document may still be in the 'Approval Process'. When it is greyed out, what is the status of the document in the header? Does it say 'Rejected' or 'Pending'? If it is still in 'Pending' mode, please verify the number of 'Approvers' set in the 'Stages' tab of the 'Approval Template - Setup' window. If there is more than one user listed as 'Approver', and o nly 1 approval is required, the system provides an opportunity to other 'Approvers' to approve or reject the document. If in your case, the number of approvers is 2, and manager 'rejected' it, the sys tem still keeps the document in Pending status as it waits for another approver's decision to reject or approve it. Also, verify the number of 'Approvals' required. If the number of 'Approvers' who have not rendered their decision is greater than or equal to the 'Approvals' required (e.g. approvers - 2, required ap provals - 2) the system keeps the document within the approval process. This is to allow the other 'Approvers' to decide on the document. I hope this clarifies the behaviour. If you can provide us a step by step screenshot of the issue, this may help us to provide a more accurate response.
Best regards,
Lorna Real Support Consultant Product Support for SAP Business One SAP Ireland
Reply to Support Center by SRS Manian
Hi: The status of the document in the Header says 'Pending' and the status below the document number says 'Suspended' - it is not showing as 'Draft'
Regards
Manian 10.07.2009 12:42
Reply to Reporter by SAP
Dear Manian,
I'm trying to call you but there was no response on your mobile. When the header says 'Pending', then it means the document is still within the approval process. Please check the Approval Template and see the number of approvers and the number of approvals require d. The number of approvals and approvers may be greater than 1. In this case, the system waits for other approvers to approve or reject the document. Once all the approvers have rejected the document, th en the document will be released and available for editing.
Best regards,
Lorna Real Support Consultant Product Support for SAP Business One SAP Ireland
Reply to Support Center by SRS Manian
Hi: Thanks for the reply - i tried this and found out the following: 1 - In the approval templates - we had mentioned number of approvals required as '1'. 2 - in the number of approvers - we had mentioned two users Though the template requires only one approvals (Either or OR) the system expects both of them to approve or reject - Can u please let me why is this behaving like this - or is this is the way it is designed ? - if this is the way it is designed - i beleive it is wrong - weneed to give a solution to the customer
regards
Manian
Reply to Reporter by SAP
Dear Manian,
Thank you for the information. The behaviour is a current system definition documented as per Note 1321234. I have attached the said Note for your reference. When only 1 approval is required and there are 2 or more persons are allowed to approve the document, the document does not get automatically rejected when 1 person 'rejects' it. The system waits for other approvers to render their decision because a person may still approve or reject the document.
The design is not an application error. If you would like to change this design, please post your requirement in our SAP Business One Product  Development Collaboration forum.
You can find the forum in this link:
/community [original link is broken]
The forum is being moderated by members of the Solution Management team specialized in certain areas, according to the folder you are in. Partners can impact the design of specific features by posting suggestions and feedback at this forum.
Kindly refer to Note 1028874 which describes more on the above process.
As the request will be handled through another process, we kindly request that this support message be closed. Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards,
Lorna Real Support Consultant SAP Product Support for SAP Business One SAP Ireland
Reply to Support Center by SRS Manian
Hi Thanks for the reply - however, the solution given does not address the problem we are being faced with our client Is there a Development Request we can raise so that this problem is addressed in future I am going ahead and confirming this Message though
regards
Manian
Reply to Reporter by SAP Dear Manian,
Thanks for the information. I understand the customer's requirement. As previously mentioned, please log a development request in this link:
/community [original link is broken]
This is from Note 1028874.
Unfortunately, we at the support centre does not have access to the list of development requests. Hence, kindly follow the process in Note 1028874. I'm sending the message back to your side for confirmation.
Best regards,
Lorna Real Support Consultant Product Support for SAP Business One SAP Ireland