Understanding Configurable Workflow
PeopleSoft Enterprise Components Approval Framework (AF) is a feature that provides a configurable framework and page interface to implement workflow approval. PeopleSoft General Ledger uses AF for its header-level actuals journals, standard budget journals, and Commitment Control budget journal approval processes.
PeopleSoft General Ledger from the previous release supports both the Virtual Approver (approval method from prior releases) and the Approval Framework (alternative "configurable workflow" approval method). The default is the Virtual Approver method.
For information regarding common workflow setup as well as Virtual Approver setup, see PeopleSoft Enterprise General Ledger 9.1 documentation, Approving Journal Entry.
You select the approval method on the Installation Options - General Ledger page (Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Install, Installation Options, General Ledger).
See Installation Options - General Ledger Page.
Note: PeopleSoft General Ledger does not upgrade approval history data from prior functionality to the current AF approval data. Both the Journal Entry Approval Log table (JRNL_APPR_LOG) and the Journal Approval Worklist Record table (JRNL_APPR_WL) in the prior workflow functionality remain as they are. You must post all approved journals already in the old workflow functionality before you upgrade to AF-based workflow approval.
PeopleSoft General Ledger delivers much of the AF setup, either as system data or demo data. However, some changes are necessary to conform to your workflow requirements and are enterable by means of the AF components described in this topic.
Note: This functionality does not affect the submitting and approving of journals by means of the Journal Entry component. You can continue to submit journals for approval using the Journal Entry Lines page and approvers select the approval action (to either approve, deny, or pushback) using the Journal Entry Approval page. You can also submit journals using the Journal Entry Approval page.
See PeopleSoft FSCM documentation: Approval Framework
See PeopleTools: Workflow Technology
This diagram outlines the steps in the inspection and assessment of the delivered setup and the required considerations to set up and implement workflow using the Approval Framework in your particular environment.
General Ledger Actuals and Standard Budget Journals Approval Setup
AF requires the inspection of the delivered registration definition, the approval configuration definition, and the approval templates for changes that are necessary for your particular installation.
In addition, you define the GL approval process approver user lists, GL approval process rules, and enable the approvals hierarchy for source, ledgers for a unit, and business unit.
The following diagram shows the approval process using AF from submitting a journal entry through the checking of the rules by priority, definition name, and effective date; the checking of criteria for paths and steps; and the routing of approval requests by worklists and email.
Submitting Journals through Approval Process Using Approval Framework
The PeopleSoft Approval Framework provides for approval of journals using the following methods:
Configure Approval Framework to approve journals from the Journal Entry component.
Configure Approval Framework to approve journals from a separate GL Journal Approval component.
For more details, see Article ID 1329609.1 on My Oracle Support website for details regarding journal approval using Approval Framework.
You can configure the Approval Framework to enable journal approval using the Journal Entry component or using . With this configuration, approvers can access the journal entry for approval through their worklist. You can enable the journal email approval process using Integration Broker and the Email Collaboration Framework (EMC).
The following diagram shows the approval request routed to approvers by worklist or email using approval framework. This approval process uses the Journal Entry Component:.
Approval Flow Using Journal Entry Component or Email
The following diagram shows the approval request routed to approvers by worklist or email using the GL Journal Approval component (or Manage GL Journal Approval component for mass journal approval):
Approval Flow Using GL Journal Approval Components or Email
General Ledger uses the Email Collaboration Framework (EMC) for the Journal Email Approval process, which also involves the use of Integration Broker.
PeopleSoft FSCM Documentation: Approval Framework
PeopleTools Documentation: Workflow Technology