Create a Time-off Request App with Workflow in SharePoint 2013

Creation of form applications is simple in SharePoint 2013 with “out of the box” SharePoint lists and workflows. In this blog, I define the steps to create a Time-off Request form with an approval workflow in SharePoint 2013 without using SharePoint Designer or Visual Studio.

To create a Time-off Request App in SharePoint 2013, follow these steps:

1. Create a custom SharePoint list named Time-off Request.

 

2. Next, Go to List Settings to Edit and ADD columns.

a. Edit the Title column and change Title to Description

b. Add column “Time-off Type” and define as a “choice” with the following options. Require content and remove the default option.

• Vacation
• Personal
• Sick
• Jury Duty
• Training
• Other

 

c. Add a column “Comments” and define as multiple lines of text. Define as 3 lines and make it optional.

d. Add a column “Start Date” and define as date. Define as Date and require a value.

e. Add a column “End Date” and define as date. Define as Date and require a value.

3. From the SharePoint Ribbon of the Custom Time-off List select “Add a workflow”. Select “Approval – SharePoint 2010” and name it “Time-off Approval”. Use the default task and workflow history lists for tracking the workflow job.

 

4. Associate workflow to the custom Time-off list.

5. Assign the workflow to an approver.

 

6. Edit the Time-off Request form by selecting ADD NEW from Time-off List and then “Edit the page”. Add a Content Editor web part above the Time-off Request form and add instructions regarding use of the form.

7. Fill-out the time-off request form and SAVE. Once SAVED, the request status will change to “In-progress”.

8. Approve the time-off request and the outcome updated to “Approved”.

9. Return the time Time-off Request list and the Time-off Request item is Approved and Complete. 

10. To Finalize; create an additional view, Calendar view, in the Time-off list to see the time-off events in a calendar view.