Using ODATA Filter Query on Get Items to Compare SharePoint List Date & Excel Date

[Krickner]

Hello, first, thank you for looking into this issue, I appreciate you and your time.

I have an automated flow that triggers when a new excel file has been created in one of my SharePoint Libraries.  The flow creates a table in the excel file and then does an 'Apply_to_each' Get Items from my SharePoint List (Named: Shipping List).  I have an ODATA Filter Query that needs to compare Job Number and Due Date fields between the excel file and SharePoint List.  Those fields are used because they'll never be replicated.

This is to determine if Power Automate must create a new SharePoint list item or update an existing one.  I keep getting the following error:

"Title" is my SharePoint column ID for "Job Number", the "200164-25" is just one example of a job number.  "Field_4"is Due Date.

I believe the issue is due to the date format, as it's probably coming in from the "List rows present in a table" in one format, while Get Items from the SharePoint list is in another format.  I don't know how to resolve this issue. (See Flow Below)

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Here is the formula I'm using to attempt to fix the issue, however, even without manipulating the date, it did not work.  Still, every ODATA filter query fails to find a match.

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[Sundeep_Malik]

Hey @Krickner 

Do the condition like this:

(Title eq 'JobNumber') and (field_4 eq 'formatdatetimeexpression')

[Krickner]

I'm going to try this now @Sundeep_Malik .  I'll update you in a few.  thank you : )

[Krickner]

@Sundeep_Malik the same error occurred.  My instinct is telling me it has to do with date formatting, but I don't know how to see which date format the SharePoint list is using.  I set the "list rows present in a table (excel)" format to MM/dd/yyyy.  

[Krickner]

I also tried changing the "formatdate" to be "MM/dd/yyyy" which excludes the time.  My SharePoint List column is not set up to display time (see below).  I figured it would be a long shot as I'm pretty sure it keeps that data on the backend and uses it when importing into Power Automate.  Never-the-less, it did not work.

[Krickner]

I have been able to verify that the issue lies in the "field_4 (DueDate)" portion of the ODATA Filter Query, as I removed that portion and just left my job number and the flow ran successfully.  

When the flow ran successfully I was able to see the data format GET ITEMs was pulling from my Due Date field out of my SharePoint List, and it was "yyyy/MM/dd"  So, I adjusted the ODATA filter Query to match that format "

formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['DueDate'], 'yyyy/MM/ddT00:00:00.000Z')" and it still didn't work.  😥 😪 

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

No, it's nothing to do with the time format currently. I think the problem could be because of apply to each. I will try to replicate it on my end tomorrow. Hopefully someone else till then would get back to you.

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

I want you to try some things, can you filter with 1 condition at a time, lets see which one is giving error.

Try one more thing. Run the flow without any filter query. In the next step add a compose and in that pass the value expression you are getting from get items. Could be possible the field stored in Sharepoint for field_4 and Title could be different name. Though as you have already entered field_4 I am suspecting you have already done that.

Lastly, if one condition works, use a filter query action and filter the array you are getting from get items on the other condition. I found some posts where people have done that.

I hope this helps 🙂

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

and also instead of this : formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['DueDate'], 'yyyy/MM/ddT00:00:00.000Z')

use this:

formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['DueDate'], 'yyyy/MM/dd')

[Krickner]

I tried filtering by just the Job Number (Title), and the flow worked.  I didn't try just filtering field_4 (Date), but I'll do that now.  Yeah, I verified the field names in Share Point.  Okay, so I should leave the ODATA filter in Get Items for SharePoint field (Title), but before the condition, I should insert a Filter Query action?

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

So, just keep Title in get items filter query.

After that get items, use filter array action and filter the array you are getting from get items on the field_4. 

[Krickner]

@Sundeep_Malik the flow succeeded, but no data is getting created or edited.  I did a test by changing some of the data expecting the condition to see it as a new line item, and create a list item.  The flow runs, but it's almost as if it's skipping my condition (see below)

[Krickner]

Here is the result after the changes.

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

Oh! See your filter array result is null, that's why it is getting skipped in condition. 

Now in filter query match the date formats by writing the formatDateTime function on both sides:

formatDateTime(duedateexpressionfromgetitems,'MM-dd-yyyy')

Equals 

formatDateTime(duedateexpressionfromexcel,'MM-dd-yyyy')

Or a format of your own choice.

I hope this helps 🙂

[Krickner]

@Sundeep_Malik did I write these expressions wrong?  In both sets of data I have matching dates, but the Filter Array is coming back Null.  

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[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

I am really confused here. Everything looks correct to me but even the input is coming as null. That shouldnt be happening. 😥

Input is the value you are getting from get items, that can never be null. I am sure you might have double checked that you are getting data from that get items. But I am really confused here.

Let me try it on a test data at my end.

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

So, I tried formatDateTime function on both sides of filter array and it worked.

Some things to notice:

1) The input is empty so you might not be getting something from get items

2) Try this: on left side only add due date dynamic expression, no item() function and on right side use formatDateTime function and match it to similarly stored in SharePoint. Or vice versa, on left formatdatetime function and on right directly due date from Excel value

3) Try this: Instead of item()[field_4] use item()[Duedate], use single quotes too. Hehe. 

[Krickner]

@Sundeep_Malik 

It shows as pulling from Get Items, I tried to use the dynamic field on the left like you instructed and got the same result, null input on the Filter array.  I just don't understand why it's not showing any inputs.  The Filter array is in a Apply to each loop, is that causing an issue?

[Sundeep_Malik]

@Krickner 

Oh! Correct. So for some of the iterations it might be null, check for other iterations is it working.

[Krickner · Accepted solution]

@Sundeep_Malik, I finally got it to work, and I really appreciate your help on this one.  Oddly enough, I returned to the original flow and made one adjustment.  When formatting the date on the ODATA filter, I had to use hyphens "-" instead of forward slashes "/", and I also had to use the format "MM-dd-yyyy."  I'm posting the entire flow so that others can benefit should they need a flow like this. 

1. The flow waits for an excel sheet to upload to a specific SharePoint library, which triggers the flow.
2. Creates an excel table within the excel sheet with existing data.
3. Gets items from a SharePoint list and compares the Excel table to SharePoint items.
4. If an item already exists in the SharePoint list, the flow updates the SharePoint list item.
5. The flow creates a new SharePoint list item if the item does not exist.

This flow also uses a document upload status field to let users know when the flow has been completed.  You must delete this logic if you do not want to create a custom document upload status field in your SharePoint library.