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sophieclark
Helper III
Helper III

Correct if(empty) expression for dates in excel

Hello, 

 

I'm using the following expression to auto fill empty dates from an excel table in to an email with N/A. 

 

if(empty(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date']), 'N/A', formatDateTime(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date'],'dd/MM/yyyy'))
 
This is working correctly for when a date is empty, HOWEVER, the expression just won't work if there is a visible date and i keep getting this error: 
 
Unable to process template language expressions in action 'NHS_Pass_Email' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'int' was invoked with a parameter that is not valid. The value cannot be converted to the target type.'.
 
What expression do i use to recognise a field that could be both blank or with a date so that the email still sends displaying either N/A or the date formatted as dd/MM/yyyy, depending on whats on the excel?
 
I have spent hours and hours (plus multiple posts on here) trying to find this answer and i can't get anything to work. Help 😞
 
11 REPLIES 11
SanmeshG
Multi Super User
Multi Super User

Hi @sophieclark ,

 

Based on the Error Message , I think the error is not related to date . But there is some other field which you are trying to convert to int.

 

So please check the other expressions , I think you are trying to convert a string to int maybe.

 

Please give this answer a thumbs up if it helps.

 

Thanks,

David_MA
Super User
Super User

You say the dates are from Excel? If so, Excel stores the date as a serial number hence the int error. You need to convert this serial number into a date that Power Automate can recognize since it uses the ISO8601 date format. There are a number of posts of how to do this if you search the community, but here is one: Solved: Convert excel numerical dates to date MS FLOW - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

Hi @SanmeshG thanks for your reply. 

 

Apologies, i'm not sure what you mean but trying to convert a string. Based on my tests, it has to be an issue how the date is recognised or an issue with my expression. When i run the exact same test and have a blank field for 'DBS expiry date' then it works perfectly fine and the email delivers like this : 

sophieclark_0-1685541310388.png

When i test again and add a date under the DBS expiry date (added via an MS form and captured in excel) then the flow fails and i get the error. I havent changed anything else other than add a date. 

Is this your expression?

 

if(empty(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date']), 'N/A', formatDateTime(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date'],'dd/MM/yyyy'))

 

If yes, is this outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date'] the date in your Excel spreadsheet?

 

If so, your Excel spreadsheet is returning a serial number when you invoke the formatDateTime function and the expression is expecting a string value yet it is getting an int, which is what the error message is saying. You need to update that portion of your expression as I mentioned in my previous post.

 

When you pass a blank date through it works because the second part of your expression is not invoked.

sophieclark
Helper III
Helper III

Thanks @David_MA 

 

I'm familiar with the ISO 8601 format but i must be going wrong somewhere. 

 

I'm using the following expression for all other dates that i know definitely won;t be blank, and it formats them perfectly from excel: 

 

addDays('1899-12-30',int(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/Annual Review Date']),'dd-MM-yyyy')

 

so for the fields that could be empty, i tried the following expression but power automate doesnt like this at all and won;t even save it: 

 

if(empty(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date']), 'N/A', addDays('1899-12-30',int(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date'], 'yyyy-MM-dd')

 

So i did some more research and played around with the formatdatetime and found this expression (in my original post) which work for null values but then wont format the date when there is one: 

if(empty(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date']), 'N/A', formatDateTime(outputs('Get_a_row_3')?['body/DBS Expiry Date'],'dd/MM/yyyy'))

 

Sorry for repeating myself, but can you see any obvious issues with my expression? should i be using addDays with the if(empty) or formatdatetime? 

 

I've also doubled checked the outputs of the DBS expiry date in my 'get a row' and its coming through like this: 

sophieclark_1-1685543858259.png

The time element to it seems to be new to me, i've not seen this before so does this affect how i format my expression?

 

Sorry for all the questions.. just a desperate person trying to find the answer over here 🙂

Thanks @David_MA 

 

i really appreciate you taking the time!

 

Yes is the answer to both of your questions. 

 

Apologies, the terms 'int' and 'invoked' are new to me in power automate. I'm not sure exactly where i should be changing my expression to make it work? 

 

Do you have an example expression to show me so i can basically copy it to get it working? 

 

Thanks again!

SanmeshG
Multi Super User
Multi Super User

Hi @sophieclark  ,

 

Hope you have selected the DateTime Format as ISO 8601 if you are reading the data from Excel.

 

If not , please see the screenshot and change it to ISO 8601 , see screenshot.

 

Thanks

Since you don't show your flow, I cannot tell exactly what you are doing. If I try to simulate what I *think* you are doing:

David_MA_0-1685545421912.png

The following expression works:

 

if(empty(outputs('Get_a_row_3')),'N/A', addDays('1899-12-30',int(outputs('Get_a_row_3')),'yyyy-MM-dd'))

 

 

In the Get a row 3 Compose action, I am simulating passing the Excel serial date 43734 as a string. Then the compose action expression returns the correct date for 43734:

David_MA_1-1685545587650.png

If I simulate an empty value, it also returns the correct value:

David_MA_0-1685545796997.png

Hopefully this helps so you can determine what you need to do.

Hi @SanmeshG - thanks for your reply

 

yes, i've had the format set to ISO8601 and still not working. Any other suggestions?

sophieclark_0-1685546849347.png

 

wskinnermctc
Super User
Super User

I have a post about empty dates with Excel. 

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/When-Excel-first-row-has-blank-date-all-remaining... 

 

You can look in there and see if this refers to your issue.

 

The final expression I used was:

if(empty(item()?['Birth Date']),null,addSeconds('1899-12-30',int(formatNumber(mul(float(item()?['Birth Date']),86400),'0'))))

 

You could try adjusting that expression and see if it helps,

Thanks @David_MA 

 

This is the element of the flow i'm having trouble with: 

 

sophieclark_0-1685548026835.png

do i need to add a compose action in between get a row and send email?

 

and would your expression that you've quoted work for different variables? for example i have 2 date fields that i need to quote in my email that are taken from excel that are optional, meaning they could be blank or might have a date. Would i need a separate compose action for both of those ans then add the compose outputs in to the email body? 

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