Condition Keeps Returning False on Date Conversion

[Phineas]

Trying to build a flow that sends out an email if the 'NextMeetingDate' is within 7 Days of the current date.

I have a 'Get future time' a 'Substring' and a 'Compose' action that working with the 'Get items' to pull in the 'NextMeetingDate' from the SP List and convert is to 00/00/0000.

The items need to have a 'Frequency' of "Weekly" (which it does, there is only one that does) and the NextMeetingDate must equal 7 days out (3/12/2024, which the 'Weekly' does), but I am still getting a 'false' in my condition.

What am I missing?

I have a 'Covert Date' action that is converting the date.

The 'Condition' ahead of the Send Email action keeps returning false.

As you can see, the data in the list (below) meets the parameters.

[ekarim2020]

Hi @Phineas ,

You can try the following date pattern: yyyy-MM-dd which is how the the dates are stored in SharePoint (ISO 8601 format):

 

 
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[Phineas]

I made the change you suggested. Same result -'false'.

SharePoint List -

[creativeopinion]

@Phineas You need to format your dates so they match since you are using the is equal to operator in the Condition action. 

If you look at the output of the Convert Time Zone action

and compare it to what you have in SharePoint. There isn't a match. Your condition action will return false.

2024-03-13 IS NOT EQUAL TO 03/13/2024.

Use a formatDateTime() function to format your converted time to match:

formatDateTime([insert converted time],'mm/dd/yyyy')

I would recommend using a Compose action to ensure the output is what you are expecting. I cover this and other troubleshooting FAQS in this YT Tutorial: 5 Power Automate Troubleshooting FAQs and Helpful Tips for Creating Better Flows

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to troubleshoot a false Condition action result

✅ How to get dynamic content when it isn’t selectable from the list of dynamic content

✅ How to troubleshoot an Apply to Each action that isn’t looping through

✅ How to troubleshoot a skipped Apply to Each action

✅ How to troubleshoot a Filter Query

✅ How to use a SharePoint yes/no column in a Filter Query

✅ How to use Compose actions to troubleshoot a Power Automate flow

✅ How to troubleshoot multiple emails being sent

✅ How to troubleshoot multiple Teams messages being sent

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
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[Phineas]

Again, same result - false.

[creativeopinion]

@Phineas As mentioned in my previous post you need to use the formatDateTime() function so the output of your converted time is in the format that matches the dynamic content from your SharePoint list. The output of the Convert Time Zone action doesn't match as shown in the output below.

As mentioned in my previous post. Use a Compose action. 

Run a test. Verify the output of the Compose action.

Use the output of the Compose action in your Condition action.

Hope this helps!

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[Phineas]

Trying hard to get it right. Same error.

[creativeopinion]

@Phineas As mentioned before to troubleshoot a condition action you need to ensure the output of the dynamic content is what you are expecting.

If you put the dynamic content of the Final Meeting date into a Compose action, you should see that it actually outputs the date in this format:

Which means that the condition would return false because of the way the date is formatted in the convert time zone action.

You actually need to adjust the date so it's in this format.

When you run a test, can see the dates match in format.

Using the contains or is equal to operator will return true.

Hope this helps!

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[Phineas]

Can you show me your condition?

This is what I now have for the dates/conversions.

[creativeopinion]

@Phineas My condition is comparing the Due Date (in my case) against the converted date from the Convert time zone action. 

Can you clarify if these two Apply to Each actions are looping through the same SP List items? If so, the second Apply to Each action is redundant. You only need one.

I'm a bit confused about your Convert Time Zone action. In your OP you had utcNow() and now, you've inserted dynamic content. Are you able to clarify the logic?

[Phineas]

Yes, same list.

I apply the parameters (based on what I think I see in you posts) and PA created the Apply to each automatically; so, I must be doint something wrong.

[creativeopinion]

@Phineas I'm running a test on a single item. The reason PA is adding an Apply to Each action to your flow is because you are using the Get Items action—which returns an array of items that need to be looped through.

You didn't provide any clarity around why you are using the dynamic content from the Get Items action in the Convert Time Zone action in the base time field when your original post had the utcNow() function.

If you want to check and see if the next meeting date is within 7 days from today. You need to use the Convert Time Zone action to get the date 7 days from today. This means you need to use the utcNow() function in the Base Time field.

In this YT Tutorial I cover how to send an email based on a date column: Send Emails Based on a 📆 Date Column in SharePoint with Microsoft Power Automate

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to Send an Email based on a Date Column in SharePoint

✅ Using the Recurrence Trigger in Power Automate

✅ How to Use the Filter Array Action with multiple conditions

✅ How to Get Dynamic Content from a Filter Array Action

✅ How to Get a Date Three Days from Today

✅ How to Create a Dynamic Date Based on utcNow()

✅ How to Return a Count of Items

✅ How to initialize and set a variable

✅ How to use the Send an Email (V2) action

✅ How to send test emails

You need to create a dynamic date that is 7 days from today. The addDays() function takes three parameters:

addDays([date],[days to add/remove],[format pattern])

Insert the converted time dynamic content as the date parameter.

Add a comma and a positive number to add days or a negative number to subtract days. You want to use a 7 in your case.

Add another comma and a date pattern between single quotes.

Run a test. The two compose actions should contain today's date, and a date 7 days from today.

Use a Filter Query

In your Get Items action, use a Filter Query to reduce the number of items returned. You'll need to customize the query to suit your requirements.

In my filter query i'm checking to see if the DueDate is greater than or equal to Today's Date and less than or equal to the Date in 7 days. You should also include the check for your meeting frequency. 

Your flow will be a lot more efficient when you filter out the items first BEFORE looping through them.

You will need to use the internal column name of your Next Meeting Date column. Keep in mind that the internal column name may not always match the name displayed in your Sharepoint list. If you aren't sure how to get the Internal Column name, you can refer to this section of one of my YT Tutorials.

Return a Count of Items

Whenever I use a Filter Query in a Get Items action, I always like to return the count of items returned in a Compose action. This is helpful when building a flow and can also be used to troubleshoot your flow. Insert a Compose action. Add an Expression. Use the length() function.

Select the Dynamic content tab and insert the body dynamic content from the Filter Array action into the length() function.

Run a test. Review the number of items returned based on your Filter Query. If the number is not correct, you'll need to adjust your query.

Condition Check

Add a Condition action to check if there are any items returned. If items have returned (aka there is number stored in the Compose action—that is not equal to 0), add the rest of your actions to the Yes branch. If not, do nothing.

Hope this helps!

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