Add a Stage

Adds a stage to an approval flow.

Updated

POST
/v1/approval-flows/{flow}/stages
curl -X POST "https://api.orshot.com/v1/approval-flows/<FLOW>/stages" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <ORSHOT_API_KEY>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "<NAME>",
    "category": "<CATEGORY>",
    "slug": "<SLUG>",
    "color": "<COLOR>"
  }'

Adds a stage to an approval flow. Give a name and a category (open, review, approved, done, rejected, archived); rules default sensibly for the category (approved stages are locked). Place it with after. Reviewers can't change stages.

Send an Idempotency-Key header to retry safely: a repeat within 24 hours returns the first response and changes nothing.

Endpoint#

Endpoint
https://api.orshot.com/v1/approval-flows/:flow/stages

Path Parameters#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
flowStringYesThe approval flow's id or slug. A number is an id, anything else a slug.

Request Body#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
nameStringYesDisplay name. Up to 80 characters.
slugStringNoStable id; generated from the name when omitted.
categoryStringYesopen, review, approved, done, rejected or archived.
colorStringNoThe stage's color, on its chips and the dot on its board column. Leave it out or send null for no color (the default): a plain chip. One of subtle, blue, green, amber, rose, orange, purple. Can be null.
rulesObjectNoStage rules to change (partial).
afterStringNoPlace after this stage; null for first, omit for last. A number is an id, anything else a slug. Can be null.

rules#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
editableBooleanNoThe design can be edited while the template is in this stage.
renderObjectNoOutput kinds the render API may produce from this stage.
enterObjectNoFields in the table below.
approvalObjectNoFields in the table below.
nextObjectNoFields in the table below.
onEditStringNoOne of require_reapproval, keep_approved_rendering.
dueHoursIntegerNoFrom 1 to 8760. Can be null.

rules.render#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
imageBooleanNo
pdfBooleanNo
videoBooleanNo

rules.enter#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
fromString or ArrayNoStages a template may come from: "any" or a list of stage slugs. Must be "any". Up to 50 items.
requireCommentBooleanNoMoving a template here needs a comment.
requiresStringNoThe grant a manual move into this stage needs. One of contribute, decide.

rules.approval#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
modeStringNoOne of any, all, count.
countIntegerNoFrom 1 to 50.
allowSelfBooleanNoThe person who submitted may approve (owners and admins always may).
perOutputBooleanNoApprovals name the output kinds they cover.
allowConditionsBooleanNoApprovers may attach field limits to an approval.

rules.next#

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
onApprovedStringNoCan be null.
onChangesRequestedStringNoCan be null.

Headers#

HeaderRequiredDescription
AuthorizationYesBearer <API key or OAuth token>
x-workspace-idNoOAuth tokens with several workspaces: the workspace to act in. API keys ignore it.
X-Orshot-User-IdNoAPI keys only: the user id of the owner, admin or member this call is for. See Acting for a Team Member below.
Idempotency-KeyNoUp to 255 visible characters, unique per request. A replay within 24 hours returns the stored response with Idempotent-Replayed: true.
X-Session-IdNoGroups the calls of one agent or MCP session in the activity history.

Acting for a Team Member#

With an API key, you can send X-Orshot-User-Id with the user id of an owner, admin or member of the workspace to make this call for them. It needs both the key's access level and that person's own access, and it's credited to them: people see "Priya Shah, via API key", and they aren't notified about their own change. See acting for a team member.

Request#

JavaScript
await fetch("https://api.orshot.com/v1/approval-flows/developers/stages", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: "Bearer <ORSHOT_API_KEY>",
    "Idempotency-Key": "<unique request id>",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "name": "Code review",
    "category": "review",
    "after": "to-do"
  }),
});
JSON
{
  "stage": {
    "id": 8,
    "slug": "code-review",
    "name": "Code review",
    "color": null,
    "category": "review",
    "rules": {
      "editable": false,
      "render": {
        "image": false,
        "pdf": false,
        "video": false
      },
      "enter": {
        "from": "any",
        "requireComment": false,
        "requires": "contribute"
      },
      "approval": {
        "mode": "any",
        "count": 1,
        "allowSelf": false,
        "perOutput": false,
        "allowConditions": false
      },
      "next": {
        "onApproved": null,
        "onChangesRequested": null
      },
      "onEdit": "require_reapproval",
      "dueHours": null
    },
    "sortKey": "n",
    "archivedAt": null,
    "itemCount": 0
  },
  "warnings": [
    {
      "path": "stages[1].rules.next.onApproved",
      "code": "no_next_stage",
      "message": "\"Code review\" keeps approved templates in place"
    }
  ]
}

Response Fields#

Responds 201 with:

FieldTypeDescription
stageObjectOne ApprovalStage, fields below.
stage.idIntegerNumeric id.
stage.slugString
stage.nameStringDisplay name.
stage.colorStringOne of subtle, blue, green, amber, rose, orange, purple. The color of the stage's chips and of the dot on its board column. A stage has none by default (null): a plain chip, no dot. Can be null.
stage.categoryStringOne of open, review, approved, done, rejected, archived.
stage.rulesObjectStage rules v1 with every default filled.
stage.sortKeyStringPosition in its list, as sortable text.
stage.itemCountInteger
stage.archivedAtStringISO 8601 timestamp. Can be null.
warningsArrayNon-blocking notices, each { code, message? }, for example no_approver. Always present on writes, empty when there is nothing to say.

Error Responses#

Every error has the same body: error, code, message and helpUrl, plus the fields that apply (required, role, context, blockers, violations, issues, current). Branch on error; code is more specific. See the error reference.

Status CodeErrorDescription
401oauth_token_invalidThe OAuth token is invalid, expired or revoked.
403api_key_missingNo Authorization: Bearer header.
403permission_deniedYou don't have access to do this. Ask an owner or admin. code names the capability, for example approval.item.decide_denied; required and role say what was missing. With code: insufficient_scope: the OAuth token lacks workspace:approvals:admin. With code: approval.member_header_not_member: X-Orshot-User-Id names someone who isn't an owner, admin or member of the workspace now. With code: approval.member_header_not_allowed: an OAuth token sent X-Orshot-User-Id.
403plan_requiredThe workspace's plan doesn't include Approvals, or doesn't include this part of it.
403enterprise_api_requiredUsing approvals with an API key needs an Enterprise plan. Contact hi@orshot.com to turn it on.
403flow_limit_reachedYour plan allows N stages in one approval flow. Archive one or upgrade to add more.
404not_foundThis doesn't exist or isn't available to you. Reviewers get this, never 403, for flows and templates outside their access.
409state_conflictWith code: approval.request_in_progress: the same Idempotency-Key is still running.
422validation_failedSome fields aren't valid: the fields listed in issues. issues lists each field with a path and a reason.
422validation_failedWith code: approval.member_header_invalid: X-Orshot-User-Id isn't a user id.
422validation_failedWith code: approval.idempotency_key_reused: the Idempotency-Key was used with a different request.
429rate_limit_exceededMore than 120 approvals requests in a minute from one person or key. Wait for Retry-After.
503approvals_unavailableApprovals aren't available right now. Try again in a moment. Also returned while approvals are not switched on for the API.
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