Recipe: Validate and Block Document Submission#

In ERPNext, business rules frequently require blocking document submission when critical conditions are not met—such as when an invoice exceeds a budget limit without an assigned project code.

In this recipe, you will visually configure a rule that evaluates document criteria using the Smart Value Selector and blocks submission with a custom error popup.

Scenario Overview#

Business Goal: Prevent submission of a Purchase Invoice if the invoice amount exceeds 50,000 and no Project is assigned.

• Target DocType: Purchase Invoice
• Trigger Event: DocType Event -> Before Submit
• Visual Nodes: Start -> Check -> Stop / Error

Step-by-Step UI Instructions#

Step 1: Create the Rule Document#

1. Navigate to FlexiRule -> Rule List -> New.
2. Set Rule Name to PI - Enforce Project on Large Invoices.
3. Set Document Type to Purchase Invoice.
4. Set Trigger Type to DocType Event.
5. Set Trigger Event to Before Submit.
6. Click Save, then click Open Rule Builder.

Step 2: Configure the Check (Condition) Node#

1. Hover over the Start node and click + Add Action.

2. Select Check (Condition) from the action menu.

3. In the Check configuration panel on the right:

   • Set Group Logic to ALL.
   • Click Add Condition.

4. Configure Condition 1 (Grand Total Check):

   • Click the left value field.
   • Type @ to open the Smart Value Selector.
   • Search for Grand Total in the search popup.
   • Select Purchase Invoice → Grand Total.
   • Set the Operator dropdown to Is Greater Than.
   • In the right value field, enter 50000.

5. Configure Condition 2 (Project Assignment Check):

   • Click Add Row to add a second condition.
   • Click the left value field and type @ to open the Smart Value Selector.
   • Search for Project in the search popup.
   • Select Purchase Invoice → Project.
   • Set the Operator dropdown to Is Not Set.

Step 3: Add and Configure the Stop / Error Node#

1. From the True (Green) outbound port of the Check node, drag a connection to a new node position.
2. Select Stop / Error from the action picker.
3. In the Stop / Error configuration panel:
   • Set Mode to Error (Raise Validation Error).
   • Set Title to Missing Project Assignment.
   • Click inside the Error Message editor field.
   • Type Purchase Invoice .
   • Type @ to open the Smart Value Selector, search for Name, and select Purchase Invoice → Name.
   • Type with total amount of.
   • Type @ again, search for Grand Total, and select Purchase Invoice → Grand Total.
   • Append exceeds 50,000 and requires a Project code before submission..

Step 4: Verify with Visual Debugger#

1. Click Test Run in the top action bar.
2. In the Test Run dialog, select a Purchase Invoice record with a Grand Total above 50,000 and no Project assigned.
3. Click Run Test.
4. Observe the visual execution path highlighted on the canvas terminating at the Stop / Error node, confirming that invalid submissions will be blocked.

Key Takeaways#

• Visual Field Selection: Use @ or click the Variable (@) button in any input field to select document fields interactively.
• Transaction Rollback: Raising an error in Before Submit automatically rolls back the database transaction, keeping your data clean.