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Anvil

Substitution

When the actors of a transition are absent, a substitute can run it.

Permission Allows
workflows.<key>.override every transition of the workflow
workflows.<key>.override.<transition> one transition, e.g. workflows.order-approval.override.approve

Both are listed in the role editor under Workflows.

Rules

Section titled “Rules”
  • The override applies only when the user is not one of the actors; actors run transitions normally.
  • A reason is required – the dialog asks for it even if the transition has no reason.
  • Four eyes and guards still apply: a substitute cannot approve their own submission.
  • The history marks the transition as override, and the audit log records workflow.override instead of workflow.transition.
  • Substitutes do not get decision tasks; they open the record and run the transition there.

Give the override permission sparingly, e.g. to the head of a department for their department’s workflows, and review the workflow.override entries regularly.