This article explains how to use the Deployment Tool to enable approval routings on supported transaction and custom record types.
For a complete list of all supported records compatible with the Deployment Tool, visit our Supported Record Types article.
Introduction
To ensure the NetSuite environment runs as efficiently as possible, ZoneApprovals does not automatically run on every record type in the system. Instead, you must explicitly tell the application which transactions or custom records require approval routing.
The ZoneApprovals Deployment Tool is an automated feature that deploys the necessary background logic (SuiteScripts and workflows) to the specific record types of your selection. By only deploying the logic where it is actually needed, you minimize the application's footprint and conserve the NetSuite processing power.
Navigating the Deployment Tool
To access the tool, navigate to Setup > ZoneApprovals Setup > Deployment Tool. This page displays a comprehensive table of all the record types currently supported by ZoneApprovals, alongside their current deployment status.
Action Buttons
The tool is designed to guide you through the deployment process. The action buttons change color based on the status of your system:
- Green "Deploy" Button: The record type is ready to have the approval logic deployed.
- Blue "Undeploy" Button: The logic is currently active on this record type and can be safely removed.
-
Grey Button (Disabled): The action is currently blocked. If a button is greyed out, hover over the button. A tooltip will appear explaining what is preventing the action.
Common reasons include:
- Missing Prerequisites: A core NetSuite feature (e.g., Approval Routing or specific transaction types) is not enabled in your environment.
- Active Approvals: You cannot undeploy the tool from a record type if there are currently records of that type sitting in a "Pending Approval" status.
For a full list of system prerequisites, refer to the NetSuite Dependencies page.
How to Deploy Approval Logic
- Navigate to Setup > ZoneApprovals Setup > Deployment Tool.
- Locate the transaction or record you wish to route for approvals.
- Click the green Deploy button.
- The status will update in real-time to show that ZoneApprovals is deploying the logic.
Note: Depending on your NetSuite environment, this may take a few moments to complete. - When done, the Deploy button changes to blue Undeploy button.
For AP Payment Batch records, upon clicking "Deploy", the tool automatically checks for an existing script deployment of the script ZA General Record Approval UE. If one does not exist, the tool creates it. For all subsequent deploy or undeploy actions, the tool toggles the script's status on or off.
How to Undeploy Approval Logic
If you no longer need to route a specific record type for approval, you can remove the logic:
- Ensure there are no records of that type currently pending approval in your system.
- Navigate to Setup > ZoneApprovals Setup > Deployment Tool.
- Locate the active record type.
- Click the blue Undeploy button.
- The status will update in real-time as the background scripts are turned off.
- When done, the Undeploy button changes to green Deploy button.
System Notes
The deployment page allows you to quickly view the system notes for any deployment action for a given record type.
Click the Plus (+) icon at the far left of any row to expand the table and view the system notes for that specific record type.
To close the system notes, click the Minus (-) icon.