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Error: Stage 'n': Rule 'x' references itself

You may get this error on any transaction type in FocalPoint which uses NLevel approval and on which the Approval Stage has either a Pre or Post Stage Rule which references itself.

The error itself should give you the Approval Stage name (n) and the pre or post stage Rule name (x).

What you then need to do is check this further within FocalPoint Administrator

  1. Log in to **FocalPoint Administrator** as an administrator user.

  2. Go to the Transaction Type setup menu.

    • **for instance if this was a Purchase Request causing the error you would:

      1. Click System Options, Purchasing, Purchase Requests Setup

  3. Select the specific Record Type and then click Edit

  4. Click the **Approval** tab.

    • Now you should see the Approval Stage which was included in the Error's Short Description

  5. Click the Approval **Stage** and then click **Edit**.

  6. Click the **Pre Stage Rules** tab to check whether the **Rule** name from the error is listed here. If not, click the **Post Stage Rules** tab.

  7. Once you've located the pre or post stage Rule there will be a True Action and a False Action

    • This is the action which is taken based on the outcome of the Expression being only one of two outcomes (True or False)

  8. Either Action cannot reference itself or the Approval Stage it is under either.

  9. Take the corrective action to update the True Action and/or False Action and then click on OK to save the changes.

  10. Keep clicking OK until you have closed the Transaction Type setup window for that record type.

  11. Now go back to FocalPoint and continue with submitting the transaction for approval.

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