Power Automation Condition

[Raguram]

Hi I have a situation here : I have a Microsoft form using which requestor request for exam voucher. When they submit form I capture the details using power automation and store it in share point. 

Now challenge I have is When the requestor is submitting the form for voucher. If he is going to choose same certification which he has already cleared, power automation shld trigger email stating please wait for 3 yrs to retake the certification by comparing submission date and exam date(which is already available in the sharepoint) how to write a condition which compares current date with the exam date in sharepoint. I tried this condition : addDays(utcNow(), -1096)(left box) "greater than" Exam date (right box) from Get items sharepoint. This throws below error message " Unable to process template language expressions for action 'Condition' at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'greater' expects two parameter of matching types. The function was invoked with values of type 'String' and 'Null' that do not match.'.   Also every time i select exam date in right column it goes in apply each loop. 

[rzaneti]

Hi @Raguram ,

You can solve that by formatting both sides of your condition as 'yyyy-MM-dd'. For the left side input, enter this expression: formatDateTime(utcNow(), 'yyyy-MM-dd'). For the right side input, enter this one: 

formatDateTime(variables('exam_date'), 'yyyy-MM-dd'), replacing the text in red by your expression date dynamic content. It may look like this:

I'm also sharing some articles that I wrote about how to work with dates in Power Automate, which can be helpful for you other users that find this thread:

- Handling date and time in Power Automate: http://digitalmill.net/2024/04/12/handling-date-and-time-in-power-automate/ 

- Extracting days an time from timespans: http://digitalmill.net/2024/04/16/extracting-days-and-time-from-timespans-in-power-automate/ 

- Date and time format strings:  http://digitalmill.net/2024/04/26/date-and-time-format-strings-in-power-automate/ 

Let me know if it works for you or if you need any additional help!

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[Raguram]

Thanks a lot for timely reply. I will try this and let you know the outcome. 

[Raguram]

I missed to ask above function only converts the date and time , but how will compare the date for than 3 yrs of exam date before next attempt

[rzaneti]

Hi @Raguram ,

Thank you for pointing that: I forgot to include it in the answer. In the left side of the condition, you can just use  addDays(utcNow(), -1096, 'yyyy-MM-dd') as expression. The addDays() can receive the date formatting as optional parameter, so you won't need the formatDateTime() expression for that 🙂

Let me know if it works or if you need any additional help 🙂

[Raguram]

Thanks for your response, it is not working. however let me try once day and keep you updated. It throws error "Unable to process template language expressions for action 'Condition' at line '0' and column '0': 'In function 'formatDateTime', the value provided for date time string '' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'."

[rzaneti]

Hi @Raguram ,

The error is happening because your "Exam date" apparently is not in a date format. Ideally, it should follow a pattern of "year-month-day".

Can you share a sample on how does your "Exam date" property look like?

[Raguram]

7/8/2024 - this is default format in the share point i do not have option to change it 

[rzaneti]

Hi @Raguram ,

In general, dates from SharePoint columns should be represented as 'year-month-day' in Power Automate, even if we have other display formats in the SP List. Could you please confirm the data type of the SharePoint column? Check if it have a "calendar icon", like highlighted in the image below:

If it doesn't, please share an image of your SharePoint List column.

[Raguram]

Hi Unfortunately the flow failed to read the formatDate option and flow failed. I will share a screen shot again 

[Raguram]

Hi 

Let me explain you the scenario once again. 

1. When a new request for certification is raised flow should accept the form based on the Get items (to check if any existing entries of the same person in the sharepoint. If exists then false condition flow will go in different condition which is already in working state. 

So the requirement he is:

1. When the new request is raised via Form and if the request is for same certification which is already completed it shld reject under the condition that they can take up same certification only after 3 yrs from the exam date available in share point. 

2. When the new request is raised via Form and if the request is for different certification and condition to create entry is based on pass condition of the existing certification. I have attached my flow below for above 2 scenarios