cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

Error when trying to trigger email based on SharePoint List Date Value

Hi

 

I'm trying to trigger an email to be sent when a date field for a SharePoint list item is equal to today. I've set this as a scheduled flow to run once a day to check the date and trigger the email. 

 

When the flow runs I get the following error: 

 

The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@items('Apply_to_each_2')?['Date_x0020_Acknowledgement_x0020']' is of type 'String'. The result must be a valid array.

 

I'm assuming this is a formatting issue for the date field? It is formatted correctly as a date rather than text (as I need it to display correctly as a date in SharePoint). Have I done something else wrong? Attached is the condition used to trigger the email.

 

If anyone can help I will be very greatful! 🙂

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

It is likely a Time zone issue with your SharePoint tenant.

 

There's a few things you can do (in no particular order, note also you only need to do one of the options below -not all):

1-

Change Date field on SharePoint to include times and set it to be 21/07/2022 23:00 for example (this may not be suitable if your getting users to enter in this data manually to the list)

 

2 -

Convert the time zone on the SharePoint date field to your time zone via the flow using the an OOTB action or expression: Converting time zone in Power Automate - Power Automate | Microsoft Docs

 

3 -

Change the date field to a single text field instead on SharePoint (this may not be suitable if your getting users to enter in this data manually)

 

4 -

You can add 1 day to the date by using the expression below:

formatDateTime(addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?['Date_x0020_Acknowledgement_x0020'],1),'dd/MM/yyyy')

View solution in original post

15 REPLIES 15
AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

This is the condition setThis is the condition set

Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

Hi @AlanStevens,

There is two problems I can see with your Flow:

1. You need to move your condition out of the “Apply to each” and then delete the “Apply to each” so your left with the condition within the “Apply to each 2” only. (That will remove the error your seeing)

 

2. Your condition will need a function to format the date fields as utcNow() includes minutes and seconds so your date won’t match exactly down to the minute or second.

 

You can use a formatDateTime() function on both your Date Acknowledgement and the utcNow().
Here’s utcNow as an example: formatDateTime(utcNow(),‘dd/MM/yyyy’) you will need to do the same for the Date Acknowledgment dynamic content also.

 

let me know if this resolves your issue, thanks 

Hi

 

Thanks for your response - How do I use that function? Is it the initialise variable? when I try to do that for the Data Acknowledgement - it doesn't let me pick from the list of dynamic content - all that is there under dynamic content is 'Body' and 'Value' - all my other fields names are not showing.

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

I cant seem to select the synamic field to formatI cant seem to select the synamic field to format

Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

Hi @AlanStevens 

 

So you need to identify what the dynamic content field name is and enter it manually into the function, you can find the name by first adding it into a compose and then selecting "Peek code":

 

Blurryface_0-1658396207460.png

 

Blurryface_1-1658396291565.png

 

So your function will read something similar to the following you will just need to change the piece in red to be your Data Acknowledgement field:

 

formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['AppVersion'],‘dd/MM/yyyy’)

 

Also once you have this working you can delete the Compose as this is only used to identify what the dynamic content field name is you need to refer to add to the function.

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

Thank you for your help!. I've done that now for both the UTC now and the dynamic field. The flow seems to run without error, however it's not triggering the action as it is saying the expression result is false not true which I can't understand. I've checked my data (see below) the Date acknowledgement due is today so it should have triggered the action but it isn't. Any other ideas?date1.PNGformatdate1.PNGrun1.PNG

Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

No problem at all - can you share the expression for both within the condition please?

 

Also if you want to add two composes above the condition you can check what the condition is trying to evaluate - see example below:

 

Blurryface_0-1658401598051.png

 

Flow run then shows:

Blurryface_1-1658401683779.png

 

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

Hi

 

Expression for the dynamic field: 

formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['Date_x0020_Acknowledgement_x0020'],'dd/MM/yyyy')
 
Expression for 'Today' 
formatDateTime(utcNow(),'dd/MM/yyyy')
 
I have tried to add those compose sections in above the condition but now I get an error saying it can't save so not sure what i'm doing wrong! - Apologies, i'm really bad at this LOLCompose1.PNG
Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

No worries at all 🙂

 

So the composes need to be within the apply to each - they can't be outside it as the apply to each loops and checks each value in the list including the composes.

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

Hi,

 

Thank you - I have done that and managed to save the flow. Thank you for the suggestion as I can now see why the action isn't triggering, although I don't understand how this has happened! 

 

In the screenshot below - you can see the first compose is for the dynamic field pulled from SharePoint, and the second compose is the 'today' condition..

 

The action isn't triggering because the dates do not match - but the data field in SharePoint is showing 21/07/2022 NOT 20/07/2022 - so I don't understand how the date is somehow different when the data is being retrieved by Power Automate??  There is no date field at all in my SharePoint list that shows 20/07/2022CompFlowRun.PNG

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

I've had a closer look at the data - I think the problem is in SharePoint rather than Power Automate. The date field im using to act as the condition is a calculated field based on another field's value (So in my case I have a received date and then other dates are populated as trigger points for activities based on the received date plus x days). Looks like although the calculated fields display correctly in SharePoint and in an excel extract, the data being supplied to PowerBI isn't the same - maybe due to the time being included?? 

 

Anyway, I was wondering, rather than use these calculated date fields as the condition - can I use a normal date field and within the expression add a number of days? (as well as ensuring the format is dd/MM/yyyy) ? Is this possible?

 

Hope you can help

Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

It is likely a Time zone issue with your SharePoint tenant.

 

There's a few things you can do (in no particular order, note also you only need to do one of the options below -not all):

1-

Change Date field on SharePoint to include times and set it to be 21/07/2022 23:00 for example (this may not be suitable if your getting users to enter in this data manually to the list)

 

2 -

Convert the time zone on the SharePoint date field to your time zone via the flow using the an OOTB action or expression: Converting time zone in Power Automate - Power Automate | Microsoft Docs

 

3 -

Change the date field to a single text field instead on SharePoint (this may not be suitable if your getting users to enter in this data manually)

 

4 -

You can add 1 day to the date by using the expression below:

formatDateTime(addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?['Date_x0020_Acknowledgement_x0020'],1),'dd/MM/yyyy')

AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

Hi

 

I opted for option 4 - I get an error when running. This is the compose error:

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'In function 'addDays', the value provided for date time string '19/07/2022' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'.

 

This is the format of the expression: 

 

formatDateTime(addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?['DateofComplaint'],2),'dd/MM/yyyy')
 
The new field im using from SharePoint which is just a normal date field (not calculated) is 'DateofComplaint'
 
Any idea what i'm doing wrong?
AlanStevens
Helper I
Helper I

I've FINALLY got it to work bny changing the format of the date field as you suggested! Thank you so much for spending all this time helping me with this - really appreciate it!!

Blurryface
Resolver I
Resolver I

Great! 😀 Your welcome - I ran a test and it was actually this code that I should've sent you which should do the trick also.

addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?['DateofComplaint'],2,'dd/MM/yyyy')

Helpful resources

Announcements

Back to Basics Tuesday Tip #10: Community Support

This is the TENTH post in our ongoing series dedicated to helping the amazing members of our community--both new members and seasoned veterans--learn and grow in how to best engage in the community! Each Tuesday, we feature new content that will help you best understand the community--from ranking and badges to profile avatars, from Super Users to blogging in the community. Our hope is that this information will help each of our community members grow in their experience with Power Platform, with the community, and with each other!   This Week: All About Community Support   Whether you're a seasoned community veteran or just getting started, you may need a bit of help from time to time! If you need to share feedback with the Community Engagement team about the community or are looking for ways we can assist you with user groups, events, or something else, Community Support is the place to start.   Community Support is part of every one of our communities, accessible to all our community members.     Power Apps: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Community-Support/ct-p/pa_community_support Power Automate: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Community-Support/ct-p/mpa_community_support Power Pages: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Community-Support/ct-p/mpp_community_support Copilot Studio: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Community-Support/ct-p/pva_community-support   Within each community's Community Support page, you'll find three distinct areas, each with a different focus to help you when you need support from us most.     Community Accounts & Registration is the go-to source for any and all information related to your account here in the community. It's full of great knowledge base articles that will help you manage your community account and know what steps to take if you wish to close your account.  ●  Power Apps  ●  Power Automate  ●  Power Pages, ●  Copilot Studio      Using the Community is your source for assistance with everything from Community User Groups to FAQ's and more. If you want to know what kudos are, how badges work, how to level up your User Group or something else, you will probably find the answers here. ●  Power Apps   ● Power Automate    ●  Power Pages  ●  Copilot Studio      Community Feedback is where you can share opportunities, concerns, or get information from the Community Engagement team. It's your best place to post a question about an issue you're having in the community, a general question you need answered. Whatever it is, visit Community Feedback to get the answers you need right away. Our team is honored to partner with you and can't wait to help you!   ●  Power Apps  ● Power Automate   ● Power Pages   ● Copilot Studio  

Microsoft Ignite 2023: The Recap

What an amazing event we had this year, as Microsoft showcased the latest advancements in how AI has the potential to reshape how customers, partners and developers strategize the future of work. Check out below some of our handpicked videos and Ignite announcements to see how Microsoft is driving real change for users and businesses across the globe.   Video Highlights Click the image below to check out a selection of Ignite 2023 videos, including the "Microsoft Cloud in the era of AI" keynote from Scott Guthrie, Charles Lamanna, Arun Ulag, Sarah Bird, Rani Borkar, Eric Boyd, Erin Chapple, Ali Ghodsi, and Seth Juarez. There's also a great breakdown of the amazing Microsoft Copilot Studio with Omar Aftab, Gary Pretty, and Kendra Springer, plus exciting sessions from Rajesh Jha, Jared Spataro, Ryan Jones, Zohar Raz, and many more.     Blog Announcements Microsoft Copilot presents an opportunity to reimagine the way we work—turning natural language into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet. With AI, organizations can unearth value in data across productivity tools like business applications and Microsoft 365. Click the link below to find out more.     Check out the latest features in Microsoft Power Apps that will help developers create AI-infused apps faster, give administrators more control over managing thousands of Microsoft Power Platform makers at scale, and deliver better experiences to users around the world. Click the image below to find out more.     Click below to discover new ways to orchestrate business processes across your organization with Copilot in Power Automate. With its user-friendly interface that offers hundreds of prebuilt drag-and-drop actions, more customers have been able to benefit from the power of automation.     Discover how Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft Dataverse are activating the strength of your enterprise data using AI, the announcement of “plugins for Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365”, plus two new Power Apps creator experiences using Excel and natural language.       Click below to find out more about the general availability of Microsoft Fabric and the public preview of Copilot in Microsoft Fabric. With the launch of these next-generation analytics tools, you can empower your data teams to easily scale the demand on your growing business.     And for the rest of all the good stuff, click the link below to visit the Microsoft Ignite 2023 "Book of News", with over ONE HUNDRED announcements across infrastructure, data, security, new tools, AI, and everything else in-between!        

Back to Basics Tuesday Tip #9: All About the Galleries

This is the ninth post in our series dedicated to helping the amazing members of our community--both new members and seasoned veterans--learn and grow in how to best engage in the community! Each Tuesday, we feature new content that will help you best understand the community--from ranking and badges to profile avatars, from Super Users to blogging in the community. Our hope is that this information will help each of our community members grow in their experience with Power Platform, with the community, and with each other!     Today's Tip: All About the Galleries Have you checked out the library of content in our galleries? Whether you're looking for the latest info on an upcoming event, a helpful webinar, or tips and tricks from some of our most experienced community members, our galleries are full of the latest and greatest video content for the Power Platform communities.   There are several different galleries in each community, but we recommend checking these out first:   Community Connections & How-To Videos Hosted by members of the Power Platform Community Engagement  Team and featuring community members from around the world, these helpful videos are a great way to "kick the tires" of Power Platform and find out more about your fellow community members! Check them out in Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages, and Copilot Studio!         Webinars & Video Gallery Each community has its own unique webinars and videos highlighting some of the great work being done across the Power Platform. Watch tutorials and demos by Microsoft staff, partners, and community gurus! Check them out: Power Apps Webinars & Video Gallery Power Automate Webinars & Video Gallery Power Pages Webinars & Video Gallery Copilot Studio Webinars & Video Gallery   Events Whether it's the excitement of the Microsoft Power Platform Conference, a local event near you, or one of the many other in-person and virtual connection opportunities around the world, this is the place to find out more about all the Power Platform-centered events. Power Apps Events Power Automate Events Power Pages Events Copilot Studio Events   Unique Galleries to Each Community Because each area of Power Platform has its own unique features and benefits, there are areas of the galleries dedicated specifically to videos about that product. Whether it's Power Apps samples from the community or the Power Automate Cookbook highlighting unique flows, the Bot Sharing Gallery in Copilot Studio or Front-End Code Samples in Power Pages, there's a gallery for you!   Check out each community's gallery today! Power Apps Gallery Power Automate Gallery Power Pages Gallery Copilot Studio Gallery

Unlocking the Power of Community: A Journey with Featued User Group leaders Geetha Sivasailam and Ben McMann

In the bustling world of technology, two dynamic leaders, Geetha Sivasailam and Ben McMann, have been at the forefront, steering the ship of the Dallas Fort Worth Power Platform User Group since its inception in February 2019. As Practice Lead (Power Platform | Fusion Dev) at Lantern, Geetha brings a wealth of consulting experience, while Ben, a key member of the Studio Leadership team at Lantern, specializes in crafting strategies that leverage Microsoft digital technologies to transform business models.   Empowering Through Community Leadership Geetha and Ben's journey as user group leaders began with a simple yet powerful goal: to create a space where individuals across the DFW area could connect, grow their skills, and add value to their businesses through the Power Platform. The platform, known for its versatility, allows users to achieve more with less code and foster creativity.   The Power of Community Impact Reflecting on their experiences, Geetha and Ben emphasize the profound impact that community engagement has had on both their professional and personal lives. The Power Platform community, they note, is a wellspring of resources and opportunities, fostering continuous learning, skill enhancement, and networking with industry experts and peers.   Favorite Moments and Words of Wisdom The duo's favorite aspect of leading the user group lies in witnessing the transformative projects and innovations community members create with the Power Platform. Their advice to aspiring user group leaders? "Encourage diverse perspectives, maintain an open space for idea-sharing, stay curious, and, most importantly, have fun building a vibrant community."   Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers Geetha and Ben encourage others to step into the realm of user group leadership, citing the rewarding experience of creating and nurturing a community of like-minded individuals. They highlight the chance to influence, impact, and positively guide others, fostering connections that extend beyond mere technology discussions.   Joining a User Group: A Gateway to Growth The leaders stress the importance of joining a user group, emphasizing exposure to diverse perspectives, solutions, and career growth opportunities within the Power Platform community. "Being part of such a group provides a supportive environment for seeking advice, sharing experiences, and navigating challenges."   A Year of Milestones Looking back at the past year, Geetha and Ben express pride in the group's growth and global participation. They recount the enriching experience of meeting members in person at the Microsoft Power Platform conference, showcasing the diverse range of perspectives and guest speakers that enriched the community's overall experience.   Continuous Learning on the Leadership Journey As user group leaders, Geetha and Ben recognize the continuous learning curve, blending interpersonal skills, adaptability, and dedication to foster a vibrant community. They highlight the importance of patience, persistence, and flexibility in achieving group goals, noting the significance of listening to the needs and suggestions of group members.They invite all tech enthusiasts to join the Dallas Fort Worth Power Platform User Group, a thriving hub where the power of community propels individuals to new heights in the dynamic realm of technology.

Visit the Community Lounge at Microsoft Ignite!

Are you attending Microsoft Ignite in Seattle this week? If so, we'd love to see you at the Community Lounge! Hosted by members of our Community team, it's a great place to connect, meet some Microsoft executives, and get a sticker or two. And if you're an MVP there are some special opportunities to meet up!     The Community Lounge is more than just a space—it's a hub of activity, collaboration, and camaraderie. So, dive in, explore, and make the most of your Microsoft Ignite experience by immersing yourself in the vibrant and dynamic community that awaits you.Find out the schedule and all the details here: Community Lounge at Ignite! See you at #MSIgnite!    

Back to Basics Tuesday Tip #8: Subscriptions & Notifications

This is the eighth post in our series dedicated to helping the amazing members of our community--both new members and seasoned veterans--learn and grow in how to best engage in the community! Each Tuesday, we feature new content that will help you best understand the community--from ranking and badges to profile avatars, from Super Users to blogging in the community. Our hope is that this information will help each of our community members grow in their experience with Power Platform, with the community, and with each other!   This Week: All About Subscriptions & Notifications Subscribing to a CategorySubscribing to a TopicSubscribing to a LabelBookmarksManaging & Viewing your Subscriptions & BookmarksA Note on Following Friends on Mobile   Subscriptions ensure that you receive automated messages about the most recent posts and replies. There are multiple ways you can subscribe to content and boards in the community! (Please note: if you have created an AAD (Azure Active Directory) account you won't be able to receive e-mail notifications.)   Subscribing to a Category  When you're looking at the entire category, select from the Options drop down and choose Subscribe.   You can then choose to Subscribe to all of the boards or select only the boards you want to receive notifications. When you're satisfied with your choices, click Save.   Subscribing to a Topic You can also subscribe to a single topic by clicking Subscribe from the Options drop down menu, while you are viewing the topic or in the General board overview, respectively.   Subscribing to a Label You can find the labels at the bottom left of a post.From a particular post with a label, click on the label to filter by that label.          This opens a window containing a list of posts with the label you have selected. Click Subscribe.   Note: You can only subscribe to a label at the board level. If you subscribe to a label named 'Copilot' at board #1, it will not automatically subscribe you to an identically named label at board #2. You will have to subscribe twice, once at each board.   Bookmarks Just like you can subscribe to topics and categories, you can also bookmark topics and boards from the same menus! Simply go to the Topic Options drop down menu to bookmark a topic or the Options drop down to bookmark a board.   The difference between subscribing and bookmarking is that subscriptions provide you with notifications, whereas bookmarks provide you a static way of easily accessing your favorite boards from the My subscriptions area.   Managing & Viewing Your Subscriptions & Bookmarks To manage your subscriptions, click on your avatar and select My subscriptions from the drop-down menu. From the Subscriptions & Notifications tab, you can manage your subscriptions, including your e-mail subscription options, your bookmarks, your notification settings, and your email notification format.     You can see a list of all your subscriptions and bookmarks and choose which ones to delete, either individually or in bulk, by checking multiple boxes.     A Note on Following Friends on Mobile Adding someone as a friend or selecting Follow in the mobile view does not allow you to subscribe to their activity feed. You will merely be able to see your friends’ biography, other personal information, or online status, and send messages more quickly by choosing who to send the message to from a list, as opposed to having to search by username.              

Users online (2,799)