Skip to main content

ExFlow Approval Status

Go to: ExFlow Approval Status

When a document is created from the ExFlow Import Journal, and therefore sent for approval, the document can be found in Approval Status.

ExFlow Approval Status

ExFlow Approval Status
Verify ChangesVerify Changes
Post BatchPost Batch
CardOpens the standard purchase document card
Send ReminderSend Reminder
Open PDF-Viewer in New TabOpen PDF-Viewer in New Tab
Force Update of Purchase DocumentForce Update of Purchase Document
Filter on approverFilter on approver
Actions--> Functions
Batch Update Posting DateBatch Update Posting Date
Update Budget Info on DocumentsUpdates Budget Information on Documents. Read more under section G/L Budget Control
About ExFlowAbout ExFlow
Other --> Force Update of Purchase DocumentForce Update of Purchase Document
Actions--> Posting
PostPost Document
Preview PostingPreview Posting
Preliminary PostingPreliminary Posting
Preliminary Posting-->PostPost Preliminary Documents
Preliminary Posting-->Preview PostingPreview Posting of Preliminary Documents
Preliminary Posting-->ReverseReverse Preliminary Posting
Preliminary Posting-->Find EntriesFind Entries of Preliminary Documents
Actions--> Posting--> Other
Verify ChangesVerify Changes
Post BatchPost Batch
Related--> Approval Status
Show ContractShow Contract, if any is connected to the Document. Read more under section Contract
Revert Document ChangesRevert Document Changes
Send Unreceived Order NotificationSend Unreceived Order Notification
Related--> Approval Status-->CardOpens the standard purchase document card
Related--> Approval Status-->Send ReminderSend Reminder
Related--> Files
Show Document ImageDownload or open PDF
Show Import Details (OCR)Show import details
Import or Replace ImageImport or Replace Image
Related--> Files-->Other--> Open PDF-Viewer in New TabOpen PDF-Viewer in New Tab
Related--> Approvers
Approval follow-upRun report ExFlow Approval Follow-Up
Per ApproverShows a filtered page on per approver
Next ApproverShows a filtered page on next approver
Reset Approver filterReset the filter that was set in Filter on approver

Current approver

Approval Status show all invoices that are out for approval and/or are approved and ready to be posted. An administrator can see information regarding status. Both for the Invoice as well as the next approver for this specific Invoice.

In this example Anders Andersson has approved all his lines and Bertil Boo is current approver.

The standard purchase document card can be opened from the Approval Status menu.

ExFlow Approval Status

Verify Changes

When document is approved, status is updated to "Approved". But still the document needs to be verified. Click on "Verify Changes" to see if an approver on ExFlow Web have made any changes.

If no filter is set in the Approval Status view, then the function "Verify Changes" acts on all documents with a status of "Approved". If there is an active filter (for example, only documents for a specific vendor are shown) then "Verify Changes" will only be applied to the documents in the filtered view. Any approved documents outside the filter will still have a status of Approved.

Using a filter on Document Type in Approval Status, set to exclude Order and Quote from being verified, can be beneficial if a system user wants to only verify other Document Types like Invoice or Credit Memo.

Approval Status - Verify Changes

ExFlow Verify Changes will show all lines that have been changed on ExFlow Web. Both Registered Value in red and Updated Value in Black on the document lines.

Lines without changes will get Change Status "No Change".

Use Update Document to update Document Card for a specific document or Update All. When all documents are updated, the page will close automatically.

"Document Approval Card" will open the final approved ExFlow card.

Open the "Card" to get into the original Business Central standard Purchase document card.

The PDF viewer (FactBox) shows the document image. There is also a possibility to utilize Ctrl+I to download the document image or go via Related --> Show Document Image.

Approval Status - Verify Changes

If there are no changes done on ExFlow Web, status will automatically update to "Ready for posting" in Approval Status.

There is a possibility to skip the step "Verify Changes" in Approval Status page if no changes were made on the document which was approved. In such case "Verify Changes" action will be run automatically and the document status will be changed to "Ready for posting".

This feature can be enabled in ExFlow Setup under Background Processing by activating Verify Changes Done Automatically.

ExFlow Setup - Verify Changes Done Automatically

This feature can also be found (and setup per vendor) in ExFlow Vendor Setup.

Furthermore, another function called Bypass Verify Changes can be utilized by the AP staff. Read more about this under section Bypass Verify Changes

Reject changes in Verify Changes

Approval process can be restarted from selected Approver on "ExFlow Verify Changes" page. This function is found on the Approvers FactBox.

ExFlow Verify Changes

Restart Approval Process function has two options.

  • Restart from marked Approver - restart the marked “Document Lines” from marked Approver.
  • Restart from marked Approver for all lines - restart all “Document Lines” connected to marked Approver.

Restart Approval Process

After selecting one of the possible options Discussion Panel Dialog box is opened where a comment can be left for Approver.

Discussion Panel Dialog

The comment will be saved in Discussion Panel in Approval Status and approver can see comment in Chat on ExFlow Web. Also, if setup is done, the approver can receive an email.

Approval Status

Post Batch

Go to: Post Batch

After Verify Changes, the document is now ready for posting.

To Batch Post all documents that are Ready for Posting use Post Batch.

Batch Post Purchase Documents

To update Posting Date on all documents, add a new date in field Posting Date and activate Replace Posting Date.

Batch Post Purchase Documents

If one or several documents have Deferral Code when using Replace Posting Date, following question will occur:

Message when Batch Post Purchase Documents

Yes: To update Deferral Starting date according to settings on Deferral Code for all document lines. No: To keep Deferral Starting date as created on all document lines.

Post Document

Go to: Action --> Posting --> Post (F9)

To post one document at a time, use Post (F9).

There is also an option to manually select multiple documents and Post Batch to post all marked documents. Use "Select More" to manually choose the documents to be posted.

Select More

Then click on Post Batch to proceed with posting.

Select and post multiple documents

Preview Posting

Go to: Approval Status --> Actions --> Posting --> Preview Posting (Ctrl+Alt+F9)

Use "Preview Posting" (Ctrl+Alt+F9) to review entries that will be created from current data on Card before the actual posting.

Preview Posting can be used for all document status, not only for documents with status "Ready for posting".

To Preview Posting during approval flow use "Force Update on Purchase Document" to update Card.

Preliminary Posting

If Preliminary Posting is activated, then Posting, Preview Posting, Reverse and Find Entries can be done from Approval Status.

Go to: Approval Status --> Actions --> Posting --> Preliminary Posting

Read more under section Preliminary Posting

Send Reminder

Send Reminder for this document to current approvers for all lines on one Purchase Document.

ExFlow Approval Status- Send Reminder

Send Reminder for multiple documents

Use "Select More" to mark several documents and click on "Send Reminder". Reminders will then be sent to all current approvers for these chosen documents.

ExFlow Approval Status - Send Reminder

Following message will then pop up:

ExFlow Approval Status- Send Reminder

Send email reminders for rejected documents

Go to: ExFlow Email Setup

It is possible to send email reminders for rejected ExFlow approval documents if a quote, order, invoice, and/or credit memo gets rejected. To be able to send reminders for rejected approval documents, the document status needs to be "Rejected" in Approval Status.

Read more under section ExFlow Email Setup --> Rejected Order, Rejected Quote, and Rejected Invoice/Credit

Open PDF- Viewer in New Tab

It is possible to open the PDF in a new separate tab to get a better view of the document image.

ExFlow Approval Status- Open PDF - Viewer in New Tab

Force Update on Purchase Document

If changes are needed during the approval process, user function "Force Update on Purchase Documents" to update Card. Now changes can be done in the Card without deleting changes done from ExFlow Web.

Use Update Document to update Document Card for the chosen document. When the document is updated, the page will close automatically.

ExFlow Approval Status - Force Update of Purchase Document

Filter on approver

Filter on a specific approver (approval group) and Status in the Approval Status list.

ExFlow Approval Status- Filter on approver

Show Document Image

Go to: Approval Status --> Related --> Files --> Show Document Image

To download or open PDF.

Show Import Details

Go to: Approval Status --> Related --> Files --> Show Import Details

To show import details.

Import or Replace Image

Go to: Approval Status --> Related --> Files --> Show Document Image

To import or replace PDF.

Change G/L Account during approval

Go to: ExFlow Approval Status --> Card

Changing the number (removes the old number and adds the new) on a G/L Account, that has an approval flow, will remove it, and insert a new if applicable.

Delete a Purchase Invoice in Approval Status

Go to: Purchase Invoice/Purchase Credit Memo

When the document is created but not posted, deleting follows the Business Central standard.

Go to Purchase Invoice/Purchase Credit Memo by clicking "Card" and delete. Approval status card will be saved with Invoice No. In "ExFlow Deleted Documents".

Posted Purchase Invoices should not be deleted. Start by creating a Credit Memo that neutralizes the Invoice. Then, create a new Purchase Invoice if needed.

Revert Document Changes

Go to: ''...'' --> Related--> Approval Status --> Revert Document Changes

Use Revert Document Changes to reset the document back to original again and discard all changes made on the document lines by approvers.

For modified document lines with Status Approved, Rejected or On hold

To reset the modified document lines, AP users can use this function to reset all changes, instead of manually editing the Approval Status Card.

If AP users answers yes to the question: ''Do you want to revert all changes and restart the approval flow?'', then all changes will be reverted and the approval flow will be restarted.

Reverted documents (approved/rejected/on hold) will also be set back to ''Active''.

Revert

Nothing to revert

For documents with status ''Ready for posting'', it will not be possible to revert changes and restart the approval flow. The message: ''Nothing to revert'' will be shown.

Revert

The same message will be applied when it comes to documents with no changes.

This function will not be applied to documents that are set to Approved, On Hold or Rejected on a Header level (without any changes on lines). If the approval flow needs to be restarted in these cases, ''Restart Route'' can be used on the Document Lines in Approval Status as usual.

Discussion panel/chat will not be reverted/deleted when using this function.


Approval Status - Lines

Document Lines --> Line
ApprovalOpens ExFlow Document approval card
CompleteApprove marked document line(s)
Restart RouteRestart approval flow for document (line(s))
Copy to all linesCopy the current lines approval flow to other lines on the document. All approvers in the approval rule must approve
Show Available Approval RulesOpens a list of the available approval rules
DimensionShow the dimension on the specific document line
Deferral ScheduleOpens the Deferral Schedule if a Deferral Code is set
Show Current Dimension OwnersShows the Dimension Owner
Show BudgetShows Budget Overview
Doc. Line Approvers
Approve marked Approver LineComplete the marked line, the line must have status ‘’Current’’
Restart routeRestart approval flow. Read more about this under section ‘’Handle Rejected Invoice / Restart Approval Flow’’

Change Approval Flow

Select line and go to: Document Lines --> Line --> Approval

ExFlow Approval Status - Document Lines

A new window will open the Invoice line card (title; EDIT - APPROVAL).

Add and/or remove approvers on the "Approver Lines" if needed by clicking Manage.

Propose new approvers
Propose new approvers will delete current and add new approver/approvers from new Approval Rule.

Copy to all lines
If a document contains many documents lines, "Copy to all lines" helps copying the Approval Group (from one line) to all lines.

Handle Rejected Invoice / Restart Approval Flow

This is to be used when the correct approval workflow has been selected but for some reason it needs to be restarted (for example a rejection).

If document is rejected on ExFlow Web the approver must add a comment that will be saved on the Approver Line, and the document needs to be handled in Business Central.

When using automatic Approval Rules, the recommended option is instead to update the data on the invoice card. Then ExFlow will automatically assign a new approval workflow based on the new data.

Another way is to restart the approval flow on the line by clicking "Restart route". Or insert a new Approver manually after Approver that have rejected the document. The new Approver will receive status Current and can then view the rejected Approver's comment.

This function is found on the section "Document Lines".
Document Lines --> Line --> Restart route

ExFlow Approval Status - Document Lines

Restarting the route from Document Lines has two options.

Restart line - restart the "Document Lines", all the connected "Doc. Line Approvers" lines.

Restart all lines - restart all "Document Lines" and all connected "Doc. Line Approvers" lines.

Restart Route

To restart from marked approver on one or all lines.
Go to: Doc. Line Approvers --> Restart route

ExFlow Approval Status - Doc. Line Approvers

Restart line - restart the "Document Lines", all the connected "Doc. Line Approvers" lines.

Restart all lines - restart all "Document Lines" and all connected "Doc. Line Approvers" lines.

Restart from marked Approver - restart from marked approver on marked line.

Restart from marked Approver for all lines e.g. two "Document lines" with three approvers, all lines approved, restart standing on the second approver this option will restart all "Document Lines" from the same user on lines that contains this user. If this user occurs more than ones the rout will restart from users first line.

Restart Route

View Current Replacer on the Document Lines

On the Document Lines in Approval Status, it is possible to see who the current replacer is for the current approver.

Current Replacer

Read more about how to work with replacers under section Add a Replacer During Vacation Time

FactBoxes in Approval Status

Find useful FactBoxes on the right side in Approval Status.

FactBox
PDF PreviewPDF Preview
Incoming Document FilesIncoming Document Files
Discussion PanelDiscussion Panel
Vendor Statistic and Buy-from Vendor HistoryVendor Statistic and Buy-from Vendor History

PDF Preview

Change size on PDF Preview Press - / + to decrease or increase size of PDF.

ExFlow Approval Status

Reset size of FactBox Click "Restore".

PDF Preview

"Zoom Out", "Zoom In" and Reset Zoom

PDF Preview

Change PDF page No. use "Record Buttons".

PDF Preview

Open PDF file in full size.
Go to: Navigate --> Files --> Show Document Image (Ctrl+I)

Incoming Document Files

View and add Attach File. To attach a document without replace Main Attachment.

Go to: FactBox --> Incoming Document Files --> Attach File

Click "Choose", browse to the file to attach, and click "Open".

ExFlow Approval Status - Incoming Document Files

It can also be done from Incoming Document in Business Central standard.

Change PDF Document Image

If PDF Image needs to be change it can be done before posting the document.

Go to: Related --> Files --> Import or Replace Image

It can also be done from Incoming Document in Business Central standard.

Attach File from Purchase Invoice or Purchase Credit Memo

Attachment made from Purchase Invoice and Purchase Credit Memo Card in Business Central Standard will not show in ExFlow. Therefore, we recommend that Incoming Document Files in FactBox from Approval Status is used instead.

Discussion Panel

When adding a comment in Discussion Panel from Approval Status and click SEND the comment can be seen in FactBox to the right marked with creating Users ID, Date and Time. On ExFlow Web it will display in Chat on the Document.

If a user is mentioned by using @ the user will be able to see this document and comment on ExFlow Web even if the user is not in the approval flow.

ExFlow Approval Status - Discussion Panel

Read more about settings and how to use Discussion Panel under section: Notifications in Business Central --> Discussion Panel / Chat and Line Comments.

Read Comments from Approvers

When a web approver adds a comment on Chat in header and click "SEND" the comment can be seen in FactBox to the right marked with approvers ID, Date and Time.

Document will also have a tag in header "Comment in Discussion Panel" if there are any comments made from ExFlow or ExFlow Web.

ExFlow Approval Status

When a web approver adds a comment on a line the comment will be seen on "Doc. Line Approvers" in field "Comment".

ExFlow Approval Status - Doc Line Approvers

Read more about settings and how to use Discussion Panel under section: Notifications in Business Central --> Discussion Panel / Chat and Line Comments.

Vendor Statistic and Buy-from Vendor History

Find Vendor information in Vendor Statistic and Buy-from Vendor History FactBoxes.

These FactBoxes can also be found in ExFlow Approval History.

FactBox


Background Processing

Find all information about Background Processing here

Go to ExFlow Setup --> Background Processing

Following settings only applies to documents without changes.

If there are any changes done from ExFlow Web, they still need to be updated manually in Approval Status by running Verify Changes.

Verify with Job Queue and Verify & Post with Job Queue

Tick one of these settings to automatically create a Job Queue that will "Verify" or "Verify and Post"' approved invoices, without Changes from ExFlow Web, in Approval Status.

Verify Changes Done Automatically

Will update documents with status "Approved" to "Ready for Posing" without Job Queue Entry.

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing

Job Queue "Ex Verify & Post Job Queue" is configured to run every hour on weekdays by default, when enabling one of the mentioned Background Processing settings in ExFlow Setup.

When the function gets disabled, the Job Queue "Ex Verify & Post Job Queue" will disappear from the "Job Queue Entries" list.

Job Queue Entry Card - Verify & Post with Job Queue

Verify with Job Queue

This setting specifies if verification of approved documents should be scheduled to run in the background. This will only apply for documents without changes on ExFlow Web.

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing - Verify with Job Queue

Verify & Post with Job Queue

Specifies if documents with status "Ready for Posting" in Approval Status should be scheduled to run in the background and post documents after verification.

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing - Verify & Post with Job Queue

All "ExFlow web - changed" documents, that requires to be updated in ExFlow Verify Changes in Approval Status, will be excluded from this scheduled job. A message in Error Message field in the ExFlow Approval Status will be visible on these non-updated documents.

Verify Changes Done Automatically

This setting allows to skip the step "Verify Changes" in Approval Status page if no changes were made on the approved document. Document status is automatically changed to "Ready for Posting".

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing - Verify Changes Done Automatically

The "Verify Changes Done Automatically" setting can also be found in ExFlow Vendor Setup. It is possible to choose if this feature should be enabled/disabled for a specific vendor. Or enable the setting in ExFlow Setup for all vendors. Read more about this functionality under section Verify Changes.

ExFlow Advanced Vendor Options - Verify Changes Done Automatically

Automatically Create Documents

Enable this box if all interpreted documents should be automatically created from the ExFlow Import Journal. This function can also be setup per vendor in Vendor Setup if a specific vendor's documents (for instance) should be excluded from this setting.

If the function is enabled, then all interpreted documents with no errors or warning messages will be automatically created and sent for approval.

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing - Automatically Create Documents

It is possible to personalize the ExFlow Import Journals list page and add + enable the column "Automatically Create Documents" there, to have one dedicated journal for automatically create documents.

This function can be used without any setup on ExFlow Import Journal, simply click on Yes to below pop up:

ExFlow Setup - Background Processing - Automatically Create Documents

Read more about this under section Batch Import Documents from Interpretation

Doc. Posting Checks

Find all information about Doc. Posting Checks here

Invoice Rounding

If Invoice Rounding is activated in Business Central --> Purchase & Payables Setup--> General, then ExFlow has support to automatically post invoice rounding to match the Gross Amount on the document.

Go to: ExFlow Setup --> Doc. Posting Checks

Activate "Invoice Rounding" and add value in "Max Difference for Gross Amount". Also make sure the "Check Gross Amount" setting is ticked as well.

ExFlow makes a control between the gross amount on the purchase document head and the document line amount. A rounding line will be created if the gross amount difference is within "Max Difference for Gross Amount" tolerance when posting. Posting is done as per standard Business Central settings.

ExFlow Setup - Doc. Posting Checks - Invoice Rounding

If SweBase (for Swedish customers) is installed, rounding will be handled by SweBase and ExFlow Rounding can only be done for Preliminary Posting.

Read more under section Preliminary Posting

Delete G/L Account Lines with Line Amount = Zero

Go to: ExFlow Setup --> Doc. Posting Checks --> Delete G/L Account Lines with Line Amount = Zero
If account lines with 0 (zero) line amount needs to be added to a document before creating it but not keep it when posting, then it is suitable to activate "Delete G/L Account Lines with Line Amount = Zero" in ExFlow Setup.

When this setting is enabled, any document lines with zero amount will be deleted before posting the document.

ExFlow Setup - Doc. Posting Checks

Escalation

Find all information about Escalation here

Highlight rejected and overdue documents

To make it easier to see documents that have been rejected or are close to due date, there is a possibility to activate a setting in ExFlow Setup to highlight these documents in Approval Status with red font.

ExFlow Approval Status

Setup Highlight rejected and overdue documents

Go to: ExFlow Setup --> Escalation

Enable "Highlight Rejected and overdue documents" to activate the setting.

Enter a number in "No. of Overdue Days before highlight" to specify how many days before the due date the documents should be highlighted.

This setting operates in relation with the due date of the document and the users work date "0" will highlight the document on the due date.

ExFlow Setup - Escalation