Trigger a flow based on date and time

[david_ashworth]

Hey guys,

I am trying to trigger a flow based on a particular date and time, but in a different timezone (so not UTC).

This is what i have:

So i am taking the current time, and adding 10 hours to make it the correct time zone. This is the output:

So i get 2021-09-10T12:22

Now i want to use that output to trigger the next step at that date and time. If it is not that time, it waits until that date and time. How would i go about doing that?

Thanks,
David

[VJR]

Hi @david_ashworth 

Check out the "Delay Until" action.

[david_ashworth]

Hi @VJR , thanks for that i didnt know that existed.

So i ran a  new test and get this:

So the delay until should have run at 12:38 on 14/09/2021 but it didn't. I then noticed the delay until is based on a date and not time? So is my scenario achievable? 

I have added in the current time and convert time but unsure how the flow knows what the current time is and compare it to that target date and time

Thanks,

David

[VJR]

Hello @david_ashworth 

The flow does internally maintain and knows when it is time to perform the next step.

Could you please refer this post which also had the same issue and post back what you come up with.

Edit: I just tested and it worked out fine.

The Convert Time Zone is a bit confusing.

Because the "Delay until" works in UTC time zone, make sure you pass the right date-time to this action (and not the one from your own time zone).

[david_ashworth]

Hi @VJR ,

I now see what you mean about the convert. So i have swapped it around but still no action. 

and these are the outputs

But looks like its still outputting my timezone rather than UTC?

[VJR]

Hi @david_ashworth 

Just showing the conversion of timezone from utc is giving the correct outputs.

You need to manipulate the same according to your requirements.

Flow:

Inputs/outputs of "Convert time zone" After running

[david_ashworth]

Hi @VJR ,

Thanks for your assistance on this one but I don't think I'm getting anywhere and I still feel that the Flow is not aware of the current time. All the tests I did yesterday resulted in the final step (email) being sent overnight.

So after I have submitted my form (which is a date picker along with a specified time), I get the response details in a compose for each result

I then check the current time (which shows as 23:42) which is in UTC

I then do a convert and come out out with my desired time which is 2021-09-15 09:42

I then run another compose to get the converted time

Then I run my delay until the time and date I set in my form but it just sits waiting - that's why I say the flow is not aware of the current time or is unable to continue based on my inputs

That was supposed to trigger at 09:44 but hasn't. As a reference these are my settings:

I appreciate your assistance on this one and don't want to take up too much of your time

Thanks,
David

[david_ashworth]

Hi @VJR ,

Thanks for your assistance on this one but I don't think I'm getting anywhere and I still feel that the Flow is not aware of the current time. All the tests I did yesterday resulted in the final step (email) being sent overnight.

So after I have submitted my form (which is a date picker along with a specified time), I get the response details in a compose for each result

I then check the current time (which shows as 23:42) which is in UTC

I then do a convert and come out out with my desired time which is 2021-09-15 09:42

I then run another compose to get the converted time

Then I run my delay until the time and date I set in my form but it just sits waiting - that's why I say the flow is not aware of the current time or is unable to continue based on my inputs

That was supposed to trigger at 09:44 but hasn't. As a reference these are my settings:

I appreciate your assistance on this one and don't want to take up too much of your time

Thanks,
David

[VJR]

Hi @david_ashworth 

Just do this small test in a separate flow and it will give some clarity that the time is working fine.

Refer yellow highlighted in the time screenshots.

This is the flow overview:

After capturing the current time (in UTC) added 2 minutes to it.

Delayed the next step for those 2 minutes

<---At this point I saw that the flow waited for 2 mins and then went ahead and completed the Compose Step--->