Error converting Date format

[PAUser_CR23]

Hello,

I had this flow working previously and today it decided to start giving an error... 

In my flow, I am pulling a date from an online Excel sheet. The output of the date is the following: 

"Date": "2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z"

When I call "Get a row" I am specifying the DateTime Format as ISO 8601. 

Then I am using Compose to format my date. Here is my expression: 

addDays('1899-12-30',int(outputs('Get_a_row')?['body/Date']), 'yyyy-MM-dd')

The error I see now is: 

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'int' was invoked with a parameter that is not valid. The value cannot be converted to the target type.'.

This was working previously and now the flow is giving me this error. How can I resolve this? The error makes sense that the Date text is not an integer, but how can I resolve this to get my date to the right format? Thank you in advance for any guidance. 

[creativeopinion]

@PAUser_CR23 It looks like your date is outputting in ISO8601 format already. Use a negative number to subtract days, a positive to add days.

formatDateTime(addDays([dynamic date content],[days to add/remove]), 'yyyy-MM-dd')

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[PAUser_CR23]

Thanks for your response. Yes, I have the DateTime Format specified as ISO 8601 and the output is "2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z" but I'm trying to use addDays to convert to this format: yyyy-MM-dd

[creativeopinion]

@PAUser_CR23 I provided the expression in my previous post. Did the date not output in the correct format? The expression I provided you with is the addDays() function which is used to add or subtract days from a date. The formatDateTime() function is used to format the date and time with a format pattern.

Sorry I missed a comma in my original expression. I've updated it below and above in my prev post. 

formatDateTime(addDays([dynamic date content],[days to add/remove]),'yyyy-MM-dd')

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response! If you're feeling generous— ☕️  Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/acreativeopinion

👉 Watch my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok

[PAUser_CR23]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your response - what value would I put for days to add/remove, or would I put 0? I am only trying to convert the format of the date. 

[creativeopinion · Accepted solution]

@PAUser_CR23 I apologize then. I misunderstood your original request because you were using the addDays() function in your original expression. 

If you are looking to convert the date only, you only need to use the formatDateTime() function.

You'll need to replace the dynamic date content place holder (including the square brackets) with the appropriate dynamic content.

formatDateTime([dynamic date content],'yyyy-MM-dd')

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✅ Power Automate Beginner Tips and Tricks

✅ Why use the Manual Trigger instead of an Automated Trigger

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Hope this helps!

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[PAUser_CR23]

That worked perfectly. Thank you for your help! 

[PAUser_CR23]

For some reason, I'm running into a similar issue again where this was working and now it is throwing an error. 

My date field shows the output is 2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z and I have the advanced option for Date Time Format set to ISO 8601. 

When it hits the step to compose the date, I get this error: 

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_-_Format_Date' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'In function 'formatDateTime', the value provided for date time string '45394' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'.

Why would the date field not read as 2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z, and why would it read as 45394 instead? It seems like it's not processing correctly. 

[creativeopinion]

@PAUser_CR23 That error would indicate that your date/time from Excel is not in ISO8601 format. Are you using the New Designer or Classic Designer? If you are using the New Designer, I would recommend switching over to the Classic Designer as the new one is still buggy.

If you have switched over to the Classic Designer and are still experiencing problems. I would recommend creating a brand new flow and switching over to the Classic Designer first before editing. The switching back/fourth can cause issues too.

Hope this helps!

[PAUser_CR23]

Interesting, thank you. I am using the classic designer and I have DateFormat set to ISO 8601. I'm not sure why this error keeps coming back sporadically. 

[PAUser_CR23]

When I run my flow, this is what I see: 

INPUTS -> DateTime Format: ISO 8601

OUTPUTS -> Date: 2024-04-12T00:00:00.000Z

But my Compose step is giving this error: 

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_-_Format_Date' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'In function 'formatDateTime', the value provided for date time string '45394' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'.

[creativeopinion]

@PAUser_CR23 Have you tried to create a brand new flow? If not pls try that. Ensure you switch to the classic designer first before you start editing your flow. 

[PAUser_CR23]

In my step to "Get a row" from my online spreadsheet, I switched back to the DateTime Format of Serial Number instead of ISO 8601, and now I'm using addHours to convert to the valid format. I'm using my Compose output when I "Create a Teams meeting" and it's working now. I'm not sure why there were issues with setting the initial DateTime Format to ISO 8601, but it would work sometimes and then break eventually. I think it must just be buggy, so this route is just accepting the date as Serial and then converting later with a Compose step instead.