IF NULL: This should be easy!!

[ericonline]

Not sure why this doesn't work. Can you spot the issue?

I just want to check if the timestamp coming across ("Observation_Date_Time") is null or not. If its null, write "1970-1-1 00:00:00", otherwise convert the timestamp from unix to human readable.

Works fine without the IF statement. "Invalid Expression" error with the IF. 

if(
    items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    = null, //also tried = 0 //same error "invalid expression"
    '1970-1-1 00:00:00',
    addseconds(
        '1970-1-1',
        Div(
            items(
                'For_each_childRecord')?
                ['attributes']?
                ['Observation_Date_Time'],
            1000
        ),
        'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'
    )
)  

[ScottShearer]

@ericonline
Have you tried checking for an empty string? Try two single quotes and it may work

[ericonline]

Hi @ScottShearer 

Just pasted this in:

if(
    items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    = '',
    '1970-1-1 00:00:00',
    addseconds(
        '1970-1-1',
        Div(
            items(
                'For_each_childRecord')?
                ['attributes']?
                ['Observation_Date_Time'],
            1000
        ),
        'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'
    )
)

Results:

[RezaDorrani]

Hi @ericonline 

write a compose action and check output for 

items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']

Regards,

Reza Dorrani

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly

[RezaDorrani]

Hi @ericonline 

you can also try

empty(items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time'])

which should return a true or a false 

[ericonline]

Hi @RezaDorrani ,

The Compose action for the null record yeilds:

Note: All non-null Observation_Date_Time records showed the Unix time value

Clicking the link opens a blank browser window. Right click/view source, no content on the page. 

[RezaDorrani]

@ericonline 

perfect now try

equals(items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    ,null)

empty(items( 'For_each_childRecord')? ['attributes']? ['Observation_Date_Time'])

In compose actions to see the results

[ericonline]

@RezaDorrani 

`empty()` failed all records in the Flow. 

Tried:

if(
    empty(
    items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    ),
    '1970-1-1 00:00:00',
    addseconds(
        '1970-1-1',
        Div(
            items(
                'For_each_childRecord')?
                ['attributes']?
                ['Observation_Date_Time'],
            1000
        ),
        'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'
    )
)

Results:

[RezaDorrani · Accepted solution]

Hi @ericonline 

and what about

equals(items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    ,null)

equals(items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    ,'')

[ericonline]

@RezaDorrani

NICE!

`equals(XYZ,null)` worked. 

Solution:

if(
    equals(
    items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time'],
    null),
    '1970-1-1 00:00:00',
    addseconds(
        '1970-1-1',
        Div(
            items(
                'For_each_childRecord')?
                ['attributes']?
                ['Observation_Date_Time'],
            1000
        ),
        'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'
    )
)

Results for the null-value timestamp record:

Thank you both for the Flow expertise! 

Take care!

[ericonline]

Esoteric syntax! Would have loved to use: 

if(
    items(
        'For_each_childRecord')?
        ['attributes']?
        ['Observation_Date_Time']
    = null

Ah well, these are the types of things that make us valuable I guess. 

Thank you again Reza. I look forward to the TDGI event!