PDF Approval element not sending PDF file.

I have a workflow where I need two different approvals. Once the first approval happens it should be sent for a second approval. After the second approval I want a PDF of the form to be sent. My problem is that the second approval doesn't work. I've deleted and retried 20 different times and I never can get the second approval to work. Where the first approver clicks the approve button in the email and it takes them to the screen where they can add comments and approve, the second approver click the button in the email and it immediately loads a screen saying thank you for approving and the process never moves to the next step, whether I've got the PDF step or whether it just goes straight to end. I've modeled this workflow exactly like another one that I finally got to work, but to no avail. There's a breakdown somewhere and I need some help.

Hi Appfiles,

Thanks for reaching out to Jotform Support. I've checked and cloned your form along with the approval workflow but I wasn't able to reproduce your issue. Both of the approval elements added on the workflow are working correctly. The first approval does not require any comments to be entered before approval but the second approval does. After approving the second approval it will automatically send an email along with the PDF attachment to it. Check the screenshot below for the email received after the second approval:

Maybe the issue resolved itself. That happens sometimes. Can you try it again and see how it goes? If you run into the same problem again, let us know so we can make a direct test on your form with your approval this way we can try to test if the issue is occurring on your original form only.

Give it a try and let us know how it goes.

This continues to go straight to the Thank You page on my second approval step. I've tried different email addresses and it continues this way.

Hi Appfiles,

I have reviewed your Approval Flows and it seems that you haven't selected a PDF in your PDF element as shown below:

Give it a try and let us know how it goes.

I've added the PDF as noted above, but it continues to skip the approval window on the second step.

Hello Appfiles,

Thanks for getting back to us. I copied the structure of your Approval Flow on a cloned form that you are using. I ran a test submission and I was able to receive two Approval Action emails from two different email addresses. Please see the screencast below for your reference:

I just want to confirm, if the PDF file that you want to send is the PDF file of the form or a PDF file that is uploaded. Is the Approval Flow working before? I noticed that this form has submission or are those test submissions only?

We can move forward with a solution as soon as we receive a response from you.

I'm just looking for a PDF of the form. This flow has never worked before. I'm not sure what to tell you though. No matter what I do, every time it's the same result of the first approval works and the second doesn't.

Hi Appfiles,

Thank you for updating us and providing a screencast. I ran another test submission but cannot replicate the issue you are getting. I have a workaround that you might find to suffice the needs of your Approval Flow. Since you can attach a PDF file of the form submission, you can use the Email Element instead.

Check out the screencast below:

Reach out again if you have any other questions.

I don't know what to tell you. None of the users of the form will be Jotform users so I've been logged out of my account when testing just like they will be. You're showing me the approval screen from within Jotform every time and I wonder if that has anything to do with it. The PDF element isn't the problem here because I've tested it without that in the workflow and I'm getting the same thing. I just don't understand why this is so unnecessarily difficult. Is it possible to work on this live with someone from support instead of trading messages?

Hi Appfiles,

Kindly allow me a few moments to look into this and I'll get back to you with an update. 

We appreciate your patience.

I just made yet another clone of the form, a new approval flow and started with the basics of two approvals and the end. The second approval worked. I added in the PDF after the second approval and it still worked. I then swapped the PDF for an email and included the PDF in the email options and it still worked. So it looks like I'm good to go. I don't understand why getting multiple approvals to work is so difficult, but at least we finally got there. Thank you for your help.

Thank you for your patience, Appfiles. I cloned your form and tested it to see if I could replicate the issue, and I ran into the same problem.

I was able to fix the issue by replacing the PDF element with the form element and attaching the PDF submission along with it.

Result:

Please give it a try and let us know how it goes.