The template language function 'float' was invoked with a parameter that is not valid. Simple float conversion of string date

[AutomateFusion]

Hello all,

I am getting the following error message: Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Set_TheDate_2' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'float' was invoked with a parameter that is not valid. The value cannot be converted to the target type.'.

I am trying to get a date into a numeric representation like Excel uses.  I am initializing the variable TheDate (1) as type Float (2).  I also am initializing a variable called TempDate (3) as type string (4) with the date entered (5).  In order to convert it I am using the float function on the variable TempDate (7) and the result is suppose to be in TheDate (6).   It is at step 6 I am getting this error.

Any help here would be appreciated.

[Expiscornovus · Accepted solution]

Hi @AutomateFusion,

The reason it is failing is because your string value simply is not a floating-point number, it is a datetime string value.

You can even check that now with the new isFloat function

isFloat('2022-09-26T13:55:32.0000000Z')

I think in your case you might want to use a ticks function instead. Ed Gonzales has a nice article about ticks:

https://www.flyingpolymath.com/post/moving-targets

[AutomateFusion · Accepted solution]

This helped me to get on the right track.  I had to basically convert the excel data to a float variable and then compare it to a variable - I initialized the string variable (Yesterday) with the following:  startofday(adddays(utcnow(),-1)) and then initialized the float of 'Yesterday' by using this: ticks(variables('Yesterday')).   I was then able to figure out if the Excel row was created on a day great than the beginning of yesterday.   Thanks