Get a GlideDateTime object from string format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss ±hh:mm

[Daniel A-C]

Hi guys,

I have an integration returning me a date time string in the format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss ±hh:mm and I would like to know how to get this into a GlideDateTime object so that I can accurately set it in a field on a GlideRecord.

E.g. a sample value returned

2016-07-16T16:15:23+01:00

So as I understand it, the UTC equivalent (and value written to the SN database) of this should be 2016-07-16 15:15:23. My user's timezone is Europe/London, I am in the UK and we are currently in DST (British summer time), so when I view it through the normal ServiceNow interface, I should see it as 2016-07-16 16:15:23.

I tried the standard method of new GlideDateTime(string) but it only picks up the date portion, has no reference to time or understanding of timezone.

I tried the function found here but the time is appearing to be two hours ahead of where it should be when viewed on the resulting GlideRecord.

I'm sure this is a common request but I can't seem to figure it out. What method should I be using to get this into a GlideDateTime object? There must be one as this is an internationally recognised ISO date format (8601:2004)

Thanks in advance for your help

Daniel

[Daniel A-C · Accepted solution]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks very much for your reply. I've used your example and combined it with the one I found earlier. Here's the resulting function, I hope it helps someone else...

/*
   _ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime
   - Returns a GlideDateTime object from an ISO8601:2004 datetime string provided in one of the following two formats:
   - Format 1: yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss ±hh:mm (E.g. 2016-07-13T16:15:23+01:00)
   - Format 2: yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss (E.g. 2016-07-13T16:15:23)
   - Note on format 2: If no offset information is given or if the offset is given as Z (zulu time), it is assumed to be UTC
*/
_ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime : function (isoDateTime) {
   gs.log('_ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime called with: ' + isoDateTime);
   if ( (isoDateTime == '') || (isoDateTime == null) ) {
   return null;
   }


   // GlideDateTime constructor expects date format: 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss'
   var parts = isoDateTime.split(/[-TZ:+]/g);
   if (parts.length < 6) {
   return null;
   }


   var dts = '';
   dts += parts[0] + "-" + parts[1] + "-" + parts[2];
   dts += ' ';
   dts += parts[3] + ":" + parts[4] + ":" + parts[5];

   // GlideDateTime object
   gdt = new GlideDateTime(dts);

   //Calculate timezone offset - if supplied
   if ((parts[6] != null) && (parts[7] != null)) {

   //determine offset amount
   var offsetTime = new GlideTime();
   var tzOffset = parts[6] + ':' + parts[7] + ':00'; // hh:mm:ss
   offsetTime.setValue(tzOffset);

   //remove offset by addition or subtraction
   var sign = /\d\d-\d\d:\d\d$/.test(isoDateTime)? '-' : '+';
   //if sign is + then remove time to get us back to UTC
   if (sign == '+') gdt.subtract(offsetTime);
   //if sign is - then add time to get us back to UTC
   else if (sign == '-') gdt.add(offsetTime);
   }

   gs.log('_ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime returning GlideDateTime with internal value (UTC by default):' + gdt.getValue());
   return gdt;
}


//TESTING OUTPUT...

gs.print(this._ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime('2016-07-13T16:15:23+01:00'));
//output: a GlideDateTime object with internal value of '2016-07-13 15:15:23'


gs.print(this._ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime('2016-07-13T16:15:23-01:00'));
//output: a GlideDateTime object with internal value of '2016-07-13 17:15:23'

gs.print(this._ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime('2016-07-13T16:15:23Z'));
//output: a GlideDateTime object with internal value of '2016-07-13 16:15:23'

gs.print(this._ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime('2016-07-13T16:15:23'));
//output: a GlideDateTime object with internal value of '2016-07-13 16:15:23'

gs.print(this._ISODateTimeToGlideDateTime('2016-07-13T16:15:23+01:00'));
//output: a GlideDateTime object with internal value of '2016-07-13 15:15:23'

The testing I've done so far suggests that this method works but I'm keen to hear any feedback you may have

Hey Chuck, just so as you know, I really enjoy your tutorial videos!! Always a pleasure to watch 🙂

Thanks all,

Daniel

[Chuck Tomasi]

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you got this resolved. Would you mind marking the appropriate response correct so others can find it quickly and it gets marked as "Answered"?

P.S. Some users do not see the Correct Answer link (per this video at 20:00 https://community.servicenow.com/thread/224893). Let me know if you do not see it and I can get a community moderation to assist.

[Daniel A-C]

Hi Chuck,

Your answer definitely pointed me in the right direction but I hope you don't mind that I've marked my own one as correct, as I've been able to successfully test it. Your example I think was doing the addition/subtraction the wrong way around for my needs.

Again, thank-you for your help!

Daniel

[Chuck Tomasi]

Not at all. Do what's best for the community, not my points tally.

[Ramya30]

Hi All, 

Are there any built-in functions available in Paris/Quebec to handle this Date Time conversion? I am having trouble populate a timestamp value in a payload from GitHub into a Date/Time field in ServiceNow via a Flow Designer. Any help here is truly appreciated. 

Thanks

Ramya