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Anonymous
Not applicable

Convert time zone null when field is empty

I noticed that when a field I have date and time in is empty "convert time zone" returns error "null" and that makes sense. Someone know how I can go around this?

 

I've tried some things put cant get it to work, i've searched the forum too.

 

My flow looks like this:

converttimezonenull.PNGconverttimezonenull2.PNGconverttimezonenull3.PNG

17 REPLIES 17
Jcook
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

Hello @Anonymous 

 

So if I understand correctly, you might have a situation where that date field is empty. But when this happens, the flow fails and throws an error?

 

So instead of throwing an error, you want the flow to continue?

 

If that is the case. I would enable run after on the action after the one that fails on empty date.

You can do this by:

Clicking the 3 dots on the action, clicking configure run after, than checkbox Succeed, and Failed.

This is saying the action will run if the action above fails or succeeds.

 

—Josh
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DeepakS
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Hi @Anonymous ,

 

You can try the option what @Jcook  suggested.

Or you can try a condition to check id date is null, option (no the best ;):

CheckNULL1.png

 

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Thata exacly what I mean. I tried exacly what you said but with no luck. It says same error message "null" =(
Anonymous
Not applicable

I will try this sooner, i'll be back

@Anonymous 

You need to enter null in the expression window rather than as just text.  If you do so, your condition will look similar to the screen shot below:

NullDate.jpg

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Scott
DeepakS
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Most Valuable Professional

Hi @ScottShearer 

 

I noticed this while ago too but recently flow started to understand 'null' text. but if this is the case we need to better understand i think. i was very confused when it works for me with plain text actually.

 

@DeepakS 

You are correct - it will work by entering null as plain text rather than as an expression.  This never worked before and I haven't seen anything saying it should work now but it does.....

I also created a condition to test for true or false.  It worked when I entered true or false as plain text or in the expression window.

I know that enhancements are being made to expressions and the expressions interface in Power Automate - I suspect that the behavior we are seeing is part of those changes.

 

 

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Now i've tried some but I cant get it to work, still getting the error.. 😞

 

This is the flow I got right now:

converttimezonenull still error.PNG

converttimezonenull still error2.PNG

 

The error message i get:

errormessage.PNG

DeepakS
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

HI @Anonymous ,

 

You have 4 "convert to time " action but only checking three date in condition block for null. Please make sure you  have all 4 date column in condition block.

 

Regards,

Hi!

Jut in case it helps, I tend to use coalesce() expression in order to evaluate if  a sharepoint column is empty, so I add two parameters inside:

-the column value

-a default text, just in case column value is null

So if i am inside an apply to each iterating all through the items from a 'Get item', and the column is named 'myColumn', the expression would be

 

coalesce(items('Apply_to_each')?['MyColumn'],'myDefault')

 

Now, you can use it in a condition (not very fficient if you are inside an Apply to Each), or, in some scenarios a default value works like a charm

 

Hope this helps

 

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Anonymous
Not applicable

i'm sorry but this wont work for me 😞

Anonymous
Not applicable

I'm sorry I dont really get it. Do you mean I should do something like this?

 

converttimezonenull still error3.PNG

Anonymous
Not applicable

I tried to put this expression inside convert time zone but I get this error:

 

error convert time zone.PNG

 

Using this expression:

coalesce(items('Apply_to_each')?['Sovtid tekniker 1'],'myDefault')

 

error convert time zone2.PNG

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello again! Someone who know what could be wrong? 🙂

Hi!

I think there are two problems with the current expression you are using:

coalesce(items('Apply_to_each')?['Sovtid tekniker 1'],'myDefault')

One is that yuo shuld replace 'myDefault' and use a valid defaultDate that will be assigned in case your item column value was not defined, for example:

"1900-01-01T00:00:00.0000000Z"

 

Second, is the fact that you used special characters in your Sharepoint Column Name -two spaces in 'Sovtid tekniker 1'-, meaning you need to figure out which is the internal column assigned to it by Sharepoint. Some people prefer to inspect the value by looking flow execution outputs, some others just add a dummy Compose action block inside the apply to each, assign as its input the column value from 'Dynamic content' menu, hover the mouse over it and check the internal name.

 

Hope this helps

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Anonymous
Not applicable

This worked, but now it shows "1900-01-01 01:00" in the email where there is supposed to be blank, doesnt look that great. Isnt there anyway to avoid that text?

Jcook
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

@Anonymous 

 

Out of curiosity have you tried what I had recommended?

 

  1.  null will cause the time conversion operation to fail, but still creates a time object.
  2. In the action immediately following the Convert time zone action, set the Configure run after to run after success and failure.
  3. Do this for every action that comes after a Convert time zone action.

Doing this will fix all the issues you have been having. 

 

 

—Josh
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