I am using SharePoint 2013 and have created an Approval workflow that works as expected.

I would like to leverage the Approval Status within the document so that if someone views or prints the document, it will show "Pending" or "Approved" depending on where in the approval process the document is.

Once final approval has been made, I would also like to display within the document (e.g. cover page) the name of the approver, the date the approval occurred.

Would I have to use a Lookup column and point that to something?

Hi,

According to you description, my understanding is that you want to create an approval workflow which is able to set the status and approved time and the approver in the document.

Per my knowledge, there is no OOTB way to achieve your request. As a workaround, you can set this in document library. If someone views the document library, it will show the status and approved time and the approver in the document.

You could create a workflow using SharePoint 2010 platform in SharePoint  2013 Designer:

1. Create a date column named Date and a person column named Approver and a Single line of text column named MyStatus default value is Pending in library.
2. In SharePoint Designer 2013 using SharePoint 2010 platform ,select Start Approval Process action, set the user.
3. Add action set [Date field] to [Today], in Approval -> Change the behavior of the overall task process in Customization field -> in When the Task Process Completes field, shown as figure below.
4. Add action set [Approver] to [Current Task:Assigned To], set [MyStatus] to [Approved]in Approval -> Change the behavior of a single task in Customization field -> in When a Task Completes field. The steps are similar as above.
5. Then you can show the library content type column value in document template via Quick Parts,  access library settings -> Advanced settings -> click Edit Template, in Insert tag -> Document Property -> insert column you want, shown as figure below.

       

Thanks,

Dean Wang

• Edited by Dean_WangMicrosoft contingent staff 49 minutes ago

Hi,

According to you description, my understanding is that you want to create an approval workflow which is able to set the status and approved time and the approver in the document.

Per my knowledge, there is no OOTB way to achieve your request. As a workaround, you can set this in document library. If someone views the document library, it will show the status and approved time and the approver in the document.

You could create a workflow using SharePoint 2010 platform in SharePoint  2013 Designer:

1. Create a date column named Date and a person column named Approver and a Single line of text column named MyStatus default value is Pending in library.
2. In SharePoint Designer 2013 using SharePoint 2010 platform ,select Start Approval Process action, set the user.
3. Add action set [Date field] to [Today], in Approval -> Change the behavior of the overall task process in Customization field -> in When the Task Process Completes field, shown as figure below.
4. Add action set [Approver] to [Current Task:Assigned To], set [MyStatus] to [Approved]in Approval -> Change the behavior of a single task in Customization field -> in When a Task Completes field. The steps are similar as above.
5. Then you can show the library content type column value in document template via Quick Parts,  access library settings -> Advanced settings -> click Edit Template, in Insert tag -> Document Property -> insert column you want, shown as figure below.

       

Thanks,

Dean Wang

• Edited by Dean_WangMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Tuesday, March 31, 2015 6:46 AM
• Marked as answer by Daniel YangMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Sunday, April 12, 2015 3:31 PM

Dean,

I set up the work flow as described.  Is there a way to make it so the person initiating the work flow can select the approvers when initiating, or do I have to set up a separate work flow for each potential approver?