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How-to guide

Create a Chatter Post Template for approvals

Create a Post Template so approval requests for a given object show the right fields in a Chatter feed. You need a Classic Approval Process on that object and Approvals in Chatter enabled for the templates to have any effect.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated Jun 16, 2026

Create a Post Template so approval requests for a given object show the right fields in a Chatter feed. You need a Classic Approval Process on that object and Approvals in Chatter enabled for the templates to have any effect.

  1. Open the Post Templates page

    In Setup, use Quick Find to search for Post Templates and open it. This page lists existing approval post templates and is where you start a new one.

  2. Start a new template and pick the object

    Click New Template, then choose the object the approval process runs on, such as Account or Opportunity. A template serves one object only.

  3. Name it and set the default

    Enter a clear name and an optional description. Select the Default checkbox if you want this template used automatically for approval posts on this object when a process names no specific template.

  4. Select and order the fields

    Under Post Template Fields, move the fields the approver needs into the Selected column. Put short fields first and text-heavy fields like Description near the bottom, then Save.

  5. Attach it to the approval process

    Edit the Classic Approval Process and set the Approval Post Template lookup to your new template, so its field list drives the Chatter approval post.

Mandatory fields
Objectrequired

The standard or custom object the template applies to; it must match the object the approval process runs on.

Namerequired

A clear, unique label so admins can find the template in the Approval Post Template lookup later.

Post Template Fieldsrequired

The fields, in order, that appear in the approval request post; choose the few that drive the approve-or-reject decision.

Gotchas
  • You cannot delete a template while an approval process still references it; clear the lookup on every process first.
  • Only one template per object can be the Default; setting a new default does not delete the old templates, it just moves the flag.
  • Templates do nothing unless Approvals in Chatter is enabled and a process is set to post requests to feeds.
  • Put long text fields at the bottom so a single Description does not crowd out the quick-scan fields on mobile.

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