Format created date in HTML table

[MN003]

Hello,

I'm trying to format dates in an HTML table based on the Created date for files in a SharePoint library. When I create the formatDateTime expression, the dynamic content option for 'Created' disappears. As a workaround, I tried to save the 'Created' to a variable and then using that variable within the formatDateTime expression but I still get an error. Would anyone be able to provide guidance on what I may be missing in the expression or doing wrong otherwise? I greatly appreciate any help. Below is a shot of my flow.

Current expression code: formatDateTime(variables('varCreatedDate'), 'MM/dd/yyyy')

Error: The execution of template action 'Select' failed: The evaluation of 'query' action 'where' expression '{
"Document Name": "@item()?['{Name}']",
"Created On": "@formatDateTime(variables('varCreatedDate'), 'MM/dd/yyyy')",
"Document Link": "<a href=\"@{item()?['{Link}']}\">@{item()?['{Name}']}</a>"
}' failed: 'In function 'formatDateTime', the value provided for date time string '2023-11-16T16:56:07Z2024-01-29T19:44:39Z' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'.

[wskinnermctc · Accepted solution]

Your Variable is not working how you think it will. See the error message:

the value provided for date time string '2023-11-16T16:56:07Z2024-01-29T19:44:39Z' was not valid.

You have 2 datetimes in the field. Individually, they are valid date strings, but put together they are not.

This has to do with Apply to Each "APPEND TO STRING" action. You are appending (adding) each Created date to a string. For every apply to each, it is going to add the created date to the string. If you had 20 items, it would be a single text string of 20 datetime values. You need to delete the Apply to Each and Variable.

Dissapearing Dynamic Content:

The dynamic content is not visible because PA is trying to be helpful and only provide certain options based on field type. (This is absolutely not helpful and I hate this function. It causes more problems that it solves.)

The dynamic content still exists and you can still use it. You will just have to write it in as an expression.

You will need to use:

item()?['Created'] 

as an expression in the Select action to get the value.

formatDateTime(item()?['Created'],'MM/dd/yyyy')

[MN003]

Thank you @wskinnermctc for the helpful explanation! Worked like a charm.