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The PO_APPROVAL_LIST_LINES table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) 12.1.1 or 12.2.2 is a critical repository for purchase order (PO) approval hierarchy data. It stores detailed information about approvers assigned to specific approval lists, which are used in the procurement approval workflow. This table works in conjunction with PO_APPROVAL_LISTS to define hierarchical approval rules for purchase requisitions and purchase orders based on criteria such as amount, document type, or organizational hierarchy.

Table Structure and Key Columns

The PO_APPROVAL_LIST_LINES table contains the following key columns:
  • APPROVAL_LIST_ID – Foreign key linking to PO_APPROVAL_LISTS, identifying the parent approval list.
  • APPROVAL_LIST_LINE_ID – Primary key uniquely identifying each approval line.
  • SEQUENCE_NUM – Determines the order in which approvers are processed.
  • APPROVER_ID – References PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F to identify the employee assigned as approver.
  • APPROVER_GROUP_ID – Optional reference to PO_APPROVER_GROUPS for group-based approvals.
  • START_DATE_ACTIVE and END_DATE_ACTIVE – Define the validity period of the approval assignment.
  • CREATION_DATE, CREATED_BY, LAST_UPDATE_DATE, LAST_UPDATED_BY – Standard Oracle audit columns.

Functional Role in Approval Workflows

The table enables multi-tiered approval routing by:
  1. Storing sequential approvers for an approval list (e.g., Manager → Director → VP).
  2. Supporting both individual approvers (APPROVER_ID) and approval groups (APPROVER_GROUP_ID).
  3. Allowing date-effective approver assignments for compliance.
When a PO/requisition is submitted, the Approval Workflow Engine queries this table via the POAPPROV workflow to determine the approval path.

Integration Points

Key integrations include:
  • Workflow Engine – Directly referenced during approval routing.
  • PO_APPROVAL_LISTS – Parent table defining the overall approval list.
  • PO_APPROVER_GROUPS – Used when line references a group rather than individual.
  • PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F – Validates approver assignments against HR data.

Customization Considerations

Common extensions involve:
  • Adding custom columns for enhanced approval logic (e.g., project-based approvals).
  • Creating triggers to enforce business rules (e.g., preventing certain approver combinations).
  • Developing APIs to bulk-manage approval hierarchies during implementations.

Data Management

Typical operations include:
  • Mass updates via PO_APPROVAL_LISTS_PKG APIs during organizational changes.
  • Audit reports tracking approval hierarchy changes.
  • Purge scripts for obsolete records (with caution due to referential integrity).

Performance Implications

The table is heavily indexed (typically on APPROVAL_LIST_ID, SEQUENCE_NUM) to optimize approval routing performance. However, complex hierarchies with 50+ approvers per list may require query tuning. This table is foundational for Oracle's flexible approval management, enabling organizations to model complex approval chains while maintaining segregation of duties and auditability.