# How approvals work

> An approval request puts options in front of your client and records one clear answer. Here is how a request moves from draft to decision.

Source: https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/how-approvals-work

An approval request is how you ask your client to decide. You show up to three
options, with images, prices and notes, and your client approves one or asks for
changes. The answer is stamped with the date and who gave it, so months later you can
show exactly what was agreed and when.

## Where requests come from

- **General requests** start from the project's **Approvals** list or a space's
  **Approvals** card. You build the options yourself. See
  [Create an approval request](https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/create-an-approval-request).
- **Product section requests** send the options in a product section for a decision.
  See [Send options for approval](https://docs.moodiri.com/products/send-options-for-approval).
- **Product requests** ask your client to approve a single product. See
  [Send a product for approval or approve it directly](https://docs.moodiri.com/products/send-a-product-for-approval-or-approve-it-directly).
- **Family proposals** ask your client to accept a change to a product family. See
  [Family revision proposals](https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/family-revision-proposals).

All of them appear on the project's [Approvals list](https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/approvals-list) and in
your client's portal.

## The stages of a request

| Status | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Draft** | Only your team can see it. You can change anything. |
| **Sent** | Your client has been emailed a link and can see it in their portal. |
| **Viewed** | Your client has opened it. |
| **Changes requested** | Your client asked for something different, usually with a comment. |
| **Approved** | Your client chose an option, or you recorded their choice for them. |
| **Closed** | You closed it. Your client can no longer respond until you reopen it. |
| **Expired** | The request is no longer open for a decision. |

The status panel on each request shows the same journey as five steps: **Draft**,
**Sent**, **In review**, **Approved** and **Closed**, with the date of each.

## What locks and when

- **Before your client answers**, you can edit a general request in full. See
  [Edit an approval](https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/edit-an-approval).
- **Once your client answers**, the options are locked, so the record always matches
  what they saw. If they asked for changes, you can still update the description and
  due date.
- **Your client can change their answer** until you close the request.
- **A closed request** accepts no answers. Your client can ask you to reopen it, and
  you can reopen it from the request.

## Deciding for your client

When your client decides on a call or at a site visit, you can record their choice
yourself. The record shows the decision came from you, with your note. See
[Decide on behalf of the client](https://docs.moodiri.com/approvals/decide-on-behalf-of-the-client).

## Due dates

A due date is optional. It shows the same calendar day everywhere: on cards, in the
client portal and in emails. On an open request, the due date turns amber when it is a
week away or less and red once it has passed.

## What your client sees

Your client gets an email with a **Review and respond** button that opens the request
in their portal. They see your options, prices and notes, never your costs or markup.
See [Approvals in the portal](https://docs.moodiri.com/for-clients/approvals).

## Questions

### What is the difference between Viewed and In review?

**Viewed** is the request's status once your client has opened it. The **In review** filter collects viewed requests and requests where your client asked for changes, so you see everything waiting on a next step.

### Does my client get reminded?

Yes, if the request has a due date. When the due date is a week away or less, Moodiri emails your client a reminder. Requests with no due date get no reminder.