Update Request in a Workflow isn't waiting for the update to complete

Allan Watkins

I have a workflow where I want to request an update and then once the update is actioned to trigger an approval for someone else to review the update.

At the moment, both seem to be triggered at the same time - in testing I am sending both alerts to me and they come into my inbox at the same time. I want the workflow to wait until the update request has been completed before continuing to the next action.

The actual sequence is:

1) Request approval on row creation

2) If approved, trigger update request

3) Request a different approval

At the moment 2 and 3 happen simultaneously rather than 3) being triggered after the update request has been responded to.

Any ideas?

Andrée Starå

Hi Allan,

It sounds like the structure of the Workflow(s) is the issue.

Can you describe your process in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s)/copies of the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Allan Watkins

OK thanks Andree. I've fixed it based on your advice. Now I think about it, I can understand how an update request is a request and doesn't include the response from the user, so Smartsheet considers that action complete as soon as the request is sent (rather than after it is responded to).

I have set up a separate workflow for the second approval which is triggered by one of the fields I expect to be changed by the update request. Not perfect, but it should do the trick.

Andrée Starå

Hi Allan,

It sounds like the structure of the Workflow(s) is the issue.

Can you describe your process in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s)/copies of the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Ella

You need some kind of a condition for # 3, so that it waits until #2 has been responded to go out. For example: set the column that #2 is updating to not be blank as a condition for #3.

Allan Watkins

OK thanks Andree. I've fixed it based on your advice. Now I think about it, I can understand how an update request is a request and doesn't include the response from the user, so Smartsheet considers that action complete as soon as the request is sent (rather than after it is responded to).

I have set up a separate workflow for the second approval which is triggered by one of the fields I expect to be changed by the update request. Not perfect, but it should do the trick.

Andrée Starå

@Allan Watkins

Excellent!

Happy to help!

Leigh

andree@workbold.com please can you let me know how this was resolved as I am having the same problem. Thank you

Leigh

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/318198#Comment_318198

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/238519#Comment_238519

Hi, I know this was a few years ago but we are having the same problem - please could you let me know how this was resolved? thank you

halohunter1

Hi Leigh and anyone else viewing,

To clarify, the solution is to send an update request at the end of one workflow.

Then create a second workflow that triggers when a value is entered into a field that was updated as part of the update request.

Ww2022

the only problem of this one field solution is that we can't determine what fields requestor would be updating. hope smartsheet can use Request an update submission button to trigger the next action.