Can't add days to date due to String error

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am trying to add 323 days to a date field in SharePoint so I can send a reminder on the date to check a process.

I am getting the below error on my adddate() function : 

Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_2' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'addDays' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Array'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#adddays for usage details.'.

How do I get the date value to read as a string so I can get this function working? 

Function currently is : 

addDays(outputs('Compose'),365,'dd-MM-yyyy')

Thanks

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

In Apply to Each 2 loop you are just doing compose of Version Date and when you access the value of the compose outside loop it behaves like array. that is why you are getting this error. If you want to do addDays do it inside loop. Not sure what you are trying to achieve but you need to do it inside loop to add days to the date.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks,

I am trying to get Power Automate to add 365 days to an existing date column(Version Date) in a document library and show that value in a second column (Version review date).

I now have it adding the 365 days thanks to your comment above.

What I need now is that output to be added to another date column in the same library. (highlighted in blue)

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Since you are already doing a get file properties you are getting Version date field value. So all you need to do is add 365 days to the same date using the expression inside loop 

addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?['body/value']?['version_date'],365)

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks I've added that and I am getting the below error : 

Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_3' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'addDays' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Null'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#adddays for usage details.'.

I have removed null from the process in an earlier array so not sure why its saying null.

Thanks

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

In the apply to each 2 loop you have selected the wrong input. it should be body of filter array . 

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks,

Unfortunately still getting the same error

"Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_3' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'addDays' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Null'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#adddays for usage details.'."

Not sure where I'm going wrong here - Still new to Power Automate. Thanks for the help

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Please update your input and try now.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Tried that and the flow took 50 minutes to run and produced the same error regarding the Null value and expecting a string ☹️

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

You can use concurrency on Apply to each loop to make it work faster as these updates are independent of each other. Right click on apply to each and select settings , in that select the flag and set the value of concurrency.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks,

That doesn't help with the "Expected String" vs "Null" error is there a way to overcome this as it would stop the flow failing?

Thanks

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

I will look at the output of Filter array and analyze that first . Can you please share output of Filter array and then what you are doing after filter array which caused this error to happen. Screenshot of flow would do .

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi,

The output of the array is massive so is in a downloadable file : 

The flow is below : 

** InterviewDateandTime" is the original name for "Version Date" **

Error message is at "Compose 3" - 

"Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_3' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'addDays' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Null'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#adddays for usage details.'."

[ManishJain]

In Apply to each 3 loop you are using the same input which contains null . also what is necessity to do that loop inside Apply to each 2 loop when you already have filtered data. 

[Anonymous]

There is no necessity - Once I picked value Power Automate automatically added another "Apply to Each"

I have changed the layout now to : 

And I have gotten the same error : 

"Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_3' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'addDays' expects its first parameter to be a string that contains the time. The provided value is of type 'Null'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#adddays for usage details.'.

Thanks

[ManishJain]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Can you please share the output of filter array result. JSON 

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I manually updated the date column "Version Review Date" to be a year from now and have changed the flow in an attempt to trigger a message to the owner 14 days before the new year date.

eg - Review date is 15th of March, Mail will be sent the 1st of March. Error is still the same regarding Null values.

Flow below : 

Condition code is : 

ticks(addDays(utcNow(),14)) is equal to ticks(item()?['Version_x0020_Review_x0020_Date'])

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi,

This is resolved now.

In the new flow I moved the body of the array into the input instead of the value and it worked.

Thanks for all your help.

[tuebat]

Hi,

could you share your solution, please? 

thanks