Convert UTC to Time Zone (US/Eastern) from GlideRecord query output

[keith_rokoske]

I'm relatively new to ServiceNow development and have encountered an issue that seems very simple but has thwarted me, thus far.   I've referenced:

Re: How to convert GMT date to ESTand other entries, but haven't been able to figure it out yet.

In a workflow script, there's a GlideRecord query (called, "sysapproval") that pulls some change request variables that are sent to an OnBase approval engine in an XML payload.   The fields, "current.sysapproval.start_date" and "current.sysapproval.end_date" are currently output in UTC.   Times need to be converted to system time (US/Eastern) or via the java time zone utilities: ("America/New_York").   Because these times aren't actually displayed in ServiceNow, they don't get automatically converted to the system time zone (US/Eastern).

I've tried to do this time zone conversion within the payload function via the GlideDateTime setTZ(tz) method: GlideDateTime - ServiceNow Wiki

var tz = Packages.java.util.TimeZone.getTimeZone("America/New_York");

var ps_dt = new GlideDateTime(current.sysapproval.start_date);

var plannedStartDt = ps_dt.setTZ(tz);

var pe_dt = new GlideDateTime(current.sysapproval.end_date);

var plannedEndDt = pe_dt.setTZ(tz);

However, when I do this, the resulting values in the XML get set to "undefined" and the approval engine chokes on the payload:

<Property><Name>Planned Start</Name><Value>undefined</Value></Property>

<Property><Name>Planned End</Name><Value>undefined</Value></Property>

I've tried to do this just about every alternative way I can think of but haven't had any success.   What am I missing?

Thanks,

Keith

[PeterWiles]

Are we doing this on a UI Page?

[keith_rokoske]

Hi Peter,

You're definitely very kind to keep helping me out!

No, this isn't on a UI page, it's in a script that generates an XML payload that gets sent to OnBase (approval engine).

I was not able to solve this issue in a timely manner and so I've passed it on to a contracting company that does ServiceNow development for my employer.   I plan on posting the result here once it gets solved.   I believe that the solution should be rather simple and it was just due to my inexperience with SN development that caused this issue.

Thanks!
Keith

[kungfuu72]

Hi Keith,

I've run across some issues with this and found that I had to do this in order to get the right time to be displayed in either all UTC format or all EST format.

function getLocalDate() {

   var gdt = new GlideDateTime(); // Without input sets it to current UTC.

   //gs.log(gdt); *** Script: 2015-02-28 02:08:41 (UTC).





   var timeZoneOffSet = gdt.getTZOffset();

   //gs.log(timeZoneOffSet); *** Script: -18000000 (milliseconds). -5 Hours offset (EST)





   gdt.setNumericValue(gdt.getNumericValue() + timeZoneOffSet);

   //gs.log(gdt); *** Script: 2015-02-27 21:08:41 (EST).





   return gdt;

}

[tim_harris]

Just did this successfully. I tried to provide all the necessary comments. Hope this helps! If it's what you were looking for can you mark is as correct answer? Thanks!

       // Get date from service now

       var time = new GlideDateTime(current.u_start_date);

       // Display date retrieved

       gs.print('GMT Time: '+time);

       // Set timezone

       var tz = Packages.java.util.TimeZone.getTimeZone("America/New_York");

       time.setTZ(tz);

       // Get offset of timezone set above

       var timeZoneOffSet = time.getTZOffset();

       // Add offset to current time

       time.setNumericValue(time.getNumericValue() + timeZoneOffSet);

       // Print date/time in desired timezone

       gs.print('Eastern time: '+time);

[kungfuu72]

Keep in mind, since this post, I believe the updated GlideDateTime functions in Eureka/Fuji have greatly made date/time functions and calculations much easier since they have added a bunch of Local date/time specific functions.