unfortunately I have no solution for this but am also desperately trying to
find a way to customize the email.

To customize approval  request e-mail:

1) create a virtual directory (m:), launching the following in the command
prompt:
cd\
Subst m: "\\.\backofficestorage\localhost\SharePoint Portal Server"

2) browse the m: directory to
<http://deimos/sapconsulting/system/Subscriptions/Templates>
workspace/system/Subscriptions/Templates folder and copy the approval.xsl
file to a location  where you can work on it (e.g. Desktop)

3) modify  the file  as you wish and then copy it back to templates folder.

Just one problem: when you log off and log on again on the server maybe you
have to create again the virtual directory. So it would be good if you
create a bat file containing this code:
echo off
cd\
Subst m: \\.\backofficestorage\localhost\SharePoint Portal Server"

I took a look at the stylesheet and found this bit of code (see below). The
German text says something like: The following document has been approved.
It is now published and can be accessed by all readers of the portal."

I have never ever gotten such a message. But this sounds like a mail someone
gets at the end of the workflow (the author????) to tell him that the doc is
published. We have tried the approval  workflow over and over but we did not
get such a message. Could it be that there is something not working in sps
or something is hidden from the people buying sps, which would be very
unfortunate because this is a function that is only logical and craved for
by all of us???

Maybe there is someone who can tell me if I'm right or wrong. My insight
into XSL/XML is not that professional.

I was also looking at that peice of code...but we haven't been getting that
email either. If anyone has any ideas, please share them.

Correction:
2) open Windows Explorer and browse to
M:\workspaces\workspace_name\system\Subscriptions\Templates ...

It can be found in

<http://>
//system/Subscriptions/Templates">http://<server>/<workspace>/system/Subscri
ptions/Templates

We did successfully modify  two files related to approval  and notifications :
these are approval.xsl and results.xsl
They are located in http://server/workspace/system/subscriptions/Templates .
These might invisible folders, so you have to enable the view invisible
folders option.

it puts it in the resoruces virtual folder i think.
go to natwork places, and inside  the portal workspace  name, portal, is the
resources folder. i think the folders are hidden so turn view hidden folders
on.
we have moddded the approval  code template - just some colour changes
nothing to heavy.

sometimes the easiest changes to think up are the most
difficult to create. i will be able to sell upper mgmt. on the idea
much easier if i can make the whole package much more aesthetically
pleasing, including emails.

I have been able to succesfully modify  approval.xsl.
What is the "results.xsl" for? I see it is in the same folder, but I'm
not sure what it controls.

This file  "results.xsl" controls the notifications emails.
For every type of notification sent to a subscriber, the information is taken
from this file.

that will be fun to play with as well. thanks

Here's a good one...has anyone figured out how to open a document in an
approval process in its application? (ie: my approval  email gives a
link that opens the document locally...If I could change the properties
of that hyperlink so the document opens right in the webfolder, like
team Services does, then I could simplify the whole approval process.
Team services seems to use a java script reference...any thought?