Apex trigger : Error:Invalid id on approval Process

Question

I need some help

Aim- To create a basic approval process.

I have created the following trigger “AutomateApprove” on the campaign object, however I am keep getting error messages when populating fields “Next Step” And “Next Approver”. “Next Step” and “Next Approver” are both Custom fields and both of these fields have the data type as “Text(255)

When I populate the field “Next Step” with “Submit” And “Next Approver” as “Daniel Hotmail mason” I get the following error

Error:Invalid id: Daniel Hotmail Mason.

User : Daniel Hotmail Mason User iD : 00520000003Cznv

When I put the user id into ““Next Approver” field I get this error message “Error:Process failed. First exception on row 0; first error: NO_APPLICABLE_PROCESS, No applicable approval process found.: []

trigger AutomateApprove on Campaign(After insert, After update)
{

    for (Integer i = 0; i < Trigger.new.size(); i++)
    {
     try
     {
        //Insure that previous value not equal to current, else if there is any field update on approval process action
        //there will be recurrence of the trigger.

        if(Trigger.new[i].Next_Step__c == 'Submit' && Trigger.old[i].Next_Step__c != 'Submit')
        {
           submitForApproval(Trigger.new[i]);
        }
        else if(Trigger.new[i].Next_Step__c == 'Approve' && Trigger.old[i].Next_Step__c != 'Approve')
        {
             approveRecord(Trigger.new[i]);
        }
        else if(Trigger.new[i].Next_Step__c == 'Reject' && Trigger.old[i].Next_Step__c != 'Reject')
        {
             rejectRecord(Trigger.new[i]);
        }
     }catch(Exception e)
     {
         Trigger.new[i].addError(e.getMessage());
     }
    }

    // This method will submit the Campaign automatically
    public void submitForApproval(Campaign opp)
    {
        // Create an approval request for the Campaign
        Approval.ProcessSubmitRequest req1 = new Approval.ProcessSubmitRequest();
        req1.setComments('Submitting request for approval automatically using Trigger');
        req1.setObjectId(opp.id);
        req1.setNextApproverIds(new Id[] {opp.Next_Approver__c});

        // Submit the approval request for the Campaign
        Approval.ProcessResult result = Approval.process(req1);

    }

    //Get ProcessInstanceWorkItemId using SOQL
    public Id getWorkItemId(Id targetObjectId)
    {
        Id retVal = null;

        for(ProcessInstanceWorkitem workItem  : [Select p.Id from ProcessInstanceWorkitem p
            where p.ProcessInstance.TargetObjectId =: targetObjectId])
        {
            retVal  =  workItem.Id;
        }

        return retVal;
    }

    // This method will Approve the Campaign
    public void approveRecord(Campaign opp)
    {
        Approval.ProcessWorkitemRequest req = new Approval.ProcessWorkitemRequest();
        req.setComments('Approving request using Trigger');
        req.setAction('Approve');
        req.setNextApproverIds(new Id[] {opp.Next_Approver__c});
        Id workItemId = getWorkItemId(opp.id);
        //opp.addError(workItemId);

        if(workItemId == null)
        {
            opp.addError('Error Occured in Trigger');
            //opp.addError(workItemId);
        }
        else
        {
            req.setWorkitemId(workItemId);
            // Submit the request for approval
            Approval.ProcessResult result =  Approval.process(req);
        }
    }

    // This method will Reject the Campaign
    public void rejectRecord(Campaign opp)
    {
        Approval.ProcessWorkitemRequest req = new Approval.ProcessWorkitemRequest();
        req.setComments('Rejected request using Trigger');
        req.setAction('Reject');
        //req.setNextApproverIds(new Id[] {UserInfo.getUserId()});
        Id workItemId = getWorkItemId(opp.id);
        //opp.addError(workItemId);

        if(workItemId == null)
        {
            opp.addError('Error Occured in Trigger');
            //opp.addError(workItemId);
        }
        else
        {
            req.setWorkitemId(workItemId);
            // Submit the request for approval
            Approval.ProcessResult result =  Approval.process(req);
        }
    }

}

Answer 1

The error message you want to get is:

Error:Process failed. First exception on row 0; first error: NO_APPLICABLE_PROCESS, No applicable approval process found.: []

This error is basically telling you that it actually ran through the logic, but couldn't find an approval process. The other error means you were not setting that field properly. As far as why you are receiving that error, there are two possible problems.

1) The data on the object you are attempting to submit for approval does not meet the entry criteria. Look at Step 2 in your setup wizard and make sure it matches the data on your object:

You can also access this through the edit menu

2) Your approval process is inactive. I have run into this myself before when I forgot to activate an approval process, but make sure your approval process is marked as Active.

Once you have Approval Steps entered, you should see an Activate button you can click

---

If you are absolutely brand new to Approval Processes, you will want to read up on some of the documentation Salesforce provides. They break down how to use them in more detail than I can, but take your time and go through each of them. You can only access an Approval Process in Apex once you have it fully set up declaratively. There is a good chance you may not need your trigger at all.

• Getting Started with Approval Processes
• Creating Approval Process
• Approval Process Considerations
• Approval Process Terminology
• Approval Process Checklist
• Examples of Approval Processes