Is there any way to do a timestamp?

[Bizzo]

At certain points, I like to add a timestamp when an action completes, but I haven't found a way to do this. An example of how I would use this:

- New item created in sharepoint --> Status column set to "New"

- Kicks off flow

- action completes

- Status column updated to, for example, "Stage 1 complete"

- set, for example, Stage 1 Complete Date column to CURRENT_TIMESTAMP or some sort of equivalent.

Thanks!

[JonL · Accepted solution]

Hi Bizzo,

Indeed there is!

First, make a column in your SP list for the timestamp to be placed.

Second, In your flow, insert a "Compose" action and in the compose card type "@utcnow()"

Third, Insert an action below the compose card "update item" -> connect it to your SP list, and pass the "Output" from the compose card into the corresponding field in your list.

Voila! instant timestamps!

Let me know if this helps!

[Bizzo]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the tip! Haven't actually implemented on a Production flow, but marked it as the solution since it seems like it'll do the trick. 

Is there documentation for all the functions available through "Data Operations - Compose"? Might be some other goodies in there that will make my life more better good! 

Thanks,

Jason

[Bizzo]

For anyone else who finds this and uses the solution, please note that you have to have the double quotes. Took me a bit to figure that out. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your solution.

How can I convert this to ET? I don't see any function for ET.

[Bizzo]

I'm not really sure what you mean by "ET", but this page will give you a rundown of the Workflow definition language date functions.The date functions are near the end of the page.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/logic-apps-workflow-definition-language

Also, since it sounds like you're doing some sort of conversion or formatting of the date, I recommend looking at this post, too.

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Formatting-Date-List-Items-from-SharePoint-when-s...

EDIT: Fixed link.

[Anonymous]

Oh I am sorry for confusing you. I mean Eastern Time.

[Bizzo]

I thought that might be it, but was expecting EST or EDT. 🙂

I didn't see anything about choosing a timezone (but I only skimmed the pages). You might have to use the addhours option to add (or subtract) time from the timestamp to convert it to Eastern Time.

[Anonymous]

For anyone who's looking for this. This is what I did: addhours(utcnow(),-4)

[CarinaNebula]

I typed in @utcNow() and got an error message "The expression is invalid." What did I miss? The Inputs field contains my "Shadow timestamp" column, which displays a "yes" or "no" depending on whether the user has made a selection.

I got another error message when I removed the input column and only entered the expression.

[Bizzo]

In case someone else finds this thread, try something like this:

convertTimeZone(

utcNow(),

'UTC',

'Eastern Standard Time'

)

[Bizzo]

I often get that error message with a valid expression, but when I click it a second time it just works.