Difference between Locking an Opportunity with Approvals and Changing Record Type to Read-Only Layout

See the solution below.

The oppty becomes "locked" and the lock symbol appears on the oppty and the edit button is disabled.

Record Type: The record is read only, but no visual clue as to whether or not anything else is going on ( ie approval process)

Locking an Opportunity using Approvals and changing the Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields are two different ways of restricting the editing of an Opportunity record. Let's discuss the differences between them:

1. Approvals:

• Approvals are a part of the Salesforce approval process and can be used to automate the approval of records based on predefined criteria.
• When an Opportunity record is submitted for approval, it goes through a predefined approval process, and its status changes to "locked."
• Once the record is locked, no user can edit it until it is approved, rejected, or withdrawn from the approval process.
• The locking of the record is temporary and is only valid until the record is approved or rejected.

2. Changing Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields:

• Changing the Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields means that the user cannot edit any fields on the Opportunity record.
• This approach does not use the Salesforce approval process, and the record remains editable until the Record Type is changed to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields.
• Changing the Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields is a manual process, and the user has to perform this action every time they want to restrict the editing of the Opportunity record.

In summary, the main difference between locking an Opportunity using Approvals and changing the Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields is that the Approvals process is automated and temporary, while changing the Record Type to a Page Layout with all Read-Only fields is manual and permanent until the Record Type is changed again.