The LazyApproval feature of Nintex Workflow enables approvals or rejections of an item to be registered when the approver replies to the notification email or respond to the automated OCS or Lync conversation with a permitted word or phrase. That word or phrase is recognized and interpreted by the system and applied to the item in the workflow.

LazyApproval is not automatically enabled at the time of installation, it has to be manually enabled. For more information, please refer to the Managing LazyApproval settings.

The LazyApproval feature is only available with the Request Approval, Request Data, Request Review and Assign Flexi Task workflow actions.

There are two LazyApproval methods that can be enabled for Nintex Workflow:

• LazyApproval via email: Workflow tasks actions can be configured to accept responses from users via an email reply.
• LazyApproval via OCS / Lync:Workflow task actions can be configured to accept responses via an automated OCS or Lync conversation.

Not all workflow actions support both methods. LazyApproval via email is supported by the workflow actions that have been mentioned above. LazyApproval via OCS / Lync is only supported by the Request Approval, Request Review and Assign Flexi Task workflow actions.

 At the time of configuring the workflow action, the designer needs to check the box "Allow LazyApproval".

When LazyApproval via email is used, an addition to the standard email template footer is added that explains how to use LazyApproval. When the system receives the return email it will scan the first 20 lines of the reply for a recognized LazyApproval term. It scans from the top of an email downwards and uses the first recognized term it finds that is an exact match for a permitted whole word or whole phrase on a line by itself. Recognized words or phrases that appear with unrecognized words or phrases on the same line will be ignored and skipped.

You can customize the footer text from the Managing LazyApproval settings in Central Administration.

If a term is not found, a return email will be sent to the user informing him/her that their response was not able to be interpreted. The user can then reply to that email with a recognized term for the 'approve' or 'deny' to take effect.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When LazyApproval emails are sent, a specific piece of identification code is appended to the email subject. Do not edit or remove the identification code as any change to it will mean that the LazyApproval thread cannot be traced and approval by email will not be possible for the user involved. That user will have to approve the item by navigating through the SharePoint library or list where the item and workflow are being used. For more information, please refer to the Approving, Rejecting and Reviewing Items.

A system administrator can edit or add to the list of acceptable and recognized terms. For more information, please refer to the Managing LazyApproval settings. LazyApproval terms are not case sensitive. The default set of terms is: "approve", "approved", "decline", "declined", "no", "ok", "reject", "rejected" and "yes" as seen below: