Format Date Time expression gives back error message on syntax

[Anonymous]

In my flow when sending an email with a date it is shown as yyyy/MM/dd. I want to change the format to dd/MM/yyyy. I tried converting the format using this Data String:

formatDateTime(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate'],'dd/MM/yyyy')

However, I always get this error message: 

InvalidTemplate. InvalidTemplate. Template language expressions in the entries of the action "Write" in line "1" and column "2866" cannot be processed: The template language function "formatDateTime" expects a parameter of type "string" as first parameter. The specified value is of type "zero".

The date I want to convert is in a sharepoint list in the column named _Hidden_VacationStartDate.

Thank you!

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

Change the format expression to

formatDateTime(string(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate']),'dd/MM/yyyy')

If this doesn't work add a compose and map the triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate'].  Run the flow and see what values are returned from run history.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi @abm 

thank you. I tried to use your data string in the compose step, but I still get the same error message back.

Do you have another idea?

Thanks

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

Did you tried my second option which I mentioned earlier?

Add a compose and map the trigger date field. Check the run history. See what values are returned?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi @abm,

I'm not sure I understand what you mean with mapping.

I added a compose and added as expression: 

formatDateTime(string(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate']),'dd/MM/yyyy')

When testing the flow, I only get a error message back and no values:

"InvalidTemplate. Template language expressions in the entries of the action "Write" in line "1" and column "2867" cannot be processed: An invalid value was specified for the date/time string "" in the function "formatDateTime". The datetime character string must correspond to the ISO 8601 format."

Thank you!

[abm]

Is this field optional?

if(empty(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate']), triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate'], formatDateTime(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate'] 'dd/MM/yyyy'))

The error is related to the data what you getting in flow. Did you checked the runtime history what values are returned?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

@abm 

The field is mandatory.

When I check the runtime history, I get back the date of  _HiddenVacationStartDate in the format yyyy-MM-dd the step prior to compose (which is create item). In the compose step, there is just the error text.

Thank you!

[ChristianAbata]

hi @Anonymous  please try converting your value before compose.

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

Looks like your expression is not right. Could you post a screenshot of your expression.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

@ChristianAbata 

It now returns the date in the format M/d/yyyy even though I specified it to be in the format dd/M/yyyy:

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

@abm 

the whole string is: 

formatDateTime(string(triggerBody()?['_Hidden_VacationStartDate']),'dd/MM/yyyy')

[ChristianAbata]

@Anonymous  please try to use that returned value to change it with the formatdtetime expresion,

[Anonymous]

@abm @ChristianAbata 

 I now did the following:

Convert time zone -> compose -> send approval

I don't get an error message now on the compose part, but the date format still doesn't change:

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

Believe you adding the expression as plain text here. You need to click the dynamic content expression and paste the text then click ok.

Thanks

[ChristianAbata]

@Anonymous  string is bad closed see you need ) before your coma

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

See below.

[abm]

Hi  @Anonymous 

Like @ChristianAbata  mentioned the  brackets are missing. If you have used the expression like I mentioned below it should have failed with an error. Believe you are using it as a plain text now. Follow my instructions below.

Thanks

[v-bacao-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Please try the following method:

Put the Date field in Compose, then use the formatDateTime() function to format the output of Compose, and then configure the formatted value in the email body.

In Flow run history, you can view the output of Compose to see if the value of this field is valid and the format is as expected.

Please take a try again.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hi @v-bacao-msft 

it works. Thank you!