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Maharba
Frequent Visitor

SharePoint - Set a Reminder flow - Convert Time Zone

Howdy,

 

I'm trying to set up automatic reminders for a SharePoint List I have based on a Date Column. Using the Set A Reminder automation built into the List, I can get an email going no problems.

 

Running across an issue where I can't get the Convert Time Zone (CTZ) action to work. The automation uses the Get Items action instead of Get Item, so whenever I try to add in a CTZ action, it automatically converts to an Apply to Each [VALUE] action with a nested CTZ. I wouldn't think this a problem, but when attempting to format an email message to pull the output of CTZ, the flow errors because it either I don't have the CTZ action high enough to be a parent to the Send An Email (V2) action (and therefore won't save), or because email just doesn't recognize the output of the Time Zone. 

I'm pretty sure i'm overthinking this, as I've found some fun ways to break this flow further and have been trying to manually replicate what is automatically applied when you create a Reminder through SharePoint.

 

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

Default Reminder Flow:

Maharba_0-1679412162400.png

 

Added Convert Time Zone:

Maharba_1-1679419114581.png

 

Changed "Email Reminder" to "Send an Email (V2) action:

Maharba_0-1679420119768.png

 

 

 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Looks like I have it working now. ChatGPT confirmed the if(empty(outputs())) expression you changed the Get_Item caller to Get_Items, referencing the original Get_Items action in the flow. I also am breaking it down into two expressions: First for formatting, 2nd for converting to CST. My guess is that the expressions didn't like the call out to Get_Item for whatever reason.

 

Now the only error I'm getting is because my Convert Time Zone function doesn't like when the Format function returns empty (and I'm still testing to figure out WHY that field is returning empty), but that's a different matter for a different forum post. Much like IT tickets, One problem per ticket/post is my deal.

 

Thanks for all your assistance.

 

Old Code:

if(empty(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate']),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

 

Working Code:

if(empty(outputs('Get_items')?['body/StartDate']), '', formatDateTime(outputs('Get_items')?['body/StartDate'], 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy, h:mm tt'))

 

View solution in original post

10 REPLIES 10
wskinnermctc
Super User
Super User

Can you just use the expression instead of the step?

 

convertFromUtc({timevalue},'Central Standard Time', 'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss tt')

 

Maharba
Frequent Visitor

I've also tried using the Compose action to convert use language from official MPA forums. the date and receive the error below. I may come across the answer eventually. Maybe. 

 

Code for expression:

convertTimeZone(triggerBody()?['Date'],'UTC', 'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy', 'HH:mm')

 

Error received:

Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Convert_Date_And_Start_Time' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'convertTimeZone' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Null'.

 

Maharba_0-1679431313339.png

 

Am I over thinking it and should just be using the expression in the body of the email instead of making a compose action?

The problem with your expression is the final part that is where the hours and minutes aren't within the quotes for text.

 

convertTimeZone(triggerBody()?['Date'],'UTC', 'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy, HH:mm tt')

 

Maharba
Frequent Visitor

Hmm. Even the corrected expression is returning the same error. I cleared out the convert altogether and now the built in variable for Today + X Days is breaking with the same error. So I'm going to continue to chug along. 

 

If I find a solution, I'll update it here. Thanks for the help so far.

Maharba
Frequent Visitor

Okay. I've gone about this a different way. Well, a few different ways, but they've all failed, so I'm only going to talk about the one that gave me different results.

After the Get Items action, I've added a Get Item action that runs as an Apply to Each off Get Items' output.

I then create the Compose action to run the variable below.

if(equals(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate'],null),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

 

Alternative of variable:

if(equals(outputs('Get_item')?['body/field_StartDate'],null),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/field_StartDate'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

or 

if(equals(outputs('Get_item')?['body/field_4'],null),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/field_4'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

 

So, the error has now changed from "returned null when expecting string" to "Array elements can only be selected using an integer index. Check this link and git gud noob." (last part may be me reading into things...)

Maharba_0-1679505654017.png

 

I attempted to change the field to an integer ['body/field_4'], based off it being the fourth column in the list. That could be a gross error on my part. I checked the output of both Get Items and Get Item to see if there were any integers associated with the output there, but they only have the field names.

 

So, while I have made progress(?), not much. At least everything else in this flow works. It's just getting this stupid time converted. 

 

wskinnermctc
Super User
Super User

Try it again, but don't use the equals() expression to see if it is null. Instead use the empty() expression to see if there is anything in the field.

I never have luck when dealing with null because you are asking it to compare to null which it can't do. (We can do it in our heads, but the computer doesn't.) I always use empty() and get better results.

 

The empty() expression is like a mini true/false check. So just put the value in the empty() expression and it will return true if there is nothing in it aka null and it will return false if there is something.

FYI: Even if there is a space ' ' in the empty() expression, it will return true. So if you're ever using empty() with text, it is best to first wrap the value in trim() to remove any blank spaces empty(trim({value})). You might not need that for this date example though.

 

I used your first expression below and changed the equals to empty.

if(empty(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate']),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

 

See if that helps make a difference.

Unfortunately, the if(empty()) is returning the same error which means the issue likely lies with how it pulls data from the Get Item action. Screenshot below is current order of how I added the Get Item and Compose (Format Start Date Time) actions to the existing flow. Maybe I did that wrong.

 

Maharba_0-1679511579222.png

 

wskinnermctc
Super User
Super User

I would really need to see the whole flow and what values are being used.

 

However, to save you some time, try to start back at the beginning, you don't need a secondary Get Items on the same SP List if you are just trying to get a single item that you already have.

 

Put a compose step directly above the email step (This is just for testing). In that compose step put the date time value with no changes or expression. Just drop the value you want into the compose.

 

Run the flow and see if that compose step contains the date time you are trying to convert. (It will be in UTC, we'll worry about that afterwards.)

 

You need to focus on getting the date time value you will use in the email into the compose step directly above the email step. Don't convert it. This way we know the value you want to use exists right where we want it.

Looks like I have it working now. ChatGPT confirmed the if(empty(outputs())) expression you changed the Get_Item caller to Get_Items, referencing the original Get_Items action in the flow. I also am breaking it down into two expressions: First for formatting, 2nd for converting to CST. My guess is that the expressions didn't like the call out to Get_Item for whatever reason.

 

Now the only error I'm getting is because my Convert Time Zone function doesn't like when the Format function returns empty (and I'm still testing to figure out WHY that field is returning empty), but that's a different matter for a different forum post. Much like IT tickets, One problem per ticket/post is my deal.

 

Thanks for all your assistance.

 

Old Code:

if(empty(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate']),'', convertFromUtc(outputs('Get_item')?['body/StartDate'],'Central Standard Time', 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy hh:mm tt'))

 

Working Code:

if(empty(outputs('Get_items')?['body/StartDate']), '', formatDateTime(outputs('Get_items')?['body/StartDate'], 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy, h:mm tt'))

 

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