How to translate the date (parsed from the email body) into acceptable format

[AysenurU]

Hello Community

I am trying to create an automated standard change record using inbound email content via Flow Designer. 

1- I set my trigger as Inbound email and also set the relevant conditions.

2- For the action part, I selected Create Record (Create Change Request Record)

3- I filled in the fields (type, category, description, assignment group, close notes etc.)

Even though filling out those fields was pretty straight forward, I have an issue with "actual start date " field. I wanted to take it from email, not to pick a date using the calendar icon. Therefore I created a custom action in flow designer and called it "Parse Date from email". I will also share the script which seems to be working fine. 

(function execute(inputs, outputs) {

const emailContent = inputs.emailBody;

const dateRegex = /Started at (.* UTC)/;

const dateMatch = emailContent.match(dateRegex);

if (dateMatch && dateMatch[1]) {

  const actualStartDate = dateMatch[1];

  outputs.actual_start_date = actualStartDate;

} else {

  throw new Error("Actual Start Date not found in email content.");

}

})(inputs, outputs);

However, my problem is the date format. In the email, the date format is like "Started at Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:26:53 UTC". When I look at the actual start date format in change record, it is like this 17-05-2021 15:25:27.  Therefore, this field cannot be populated in the change record that is to be created automatically.

How should I fix this? 🙄

TIA😇

[AnveshKumar M · Accepted solution]

Hi @AysenurU 

You can convert this to GlideDateTime object, try the following script in your script step. Also change the output variable type to Date/Time (both script step and action outputs).

(function execute(inputs, outputs) {
const emailContent = inputs.emailBody;
const dateRegex = /Started at (.* UTC)/;
const dateMatch = emailContent.match(dateRegex);

if (dateMatch && dateMatch[1]) {
  const actualStartDate = dateMatch[1];
  var simpleDateFormat = 'E, dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss z';
  var gdt = new GlideDateTime();
  gdt.setDisplayValue(actualStartDate,simpleDateFormat);
  
  outputs.actual_start_date = gdt;

} else {
  throw new Error("Actual Start Date not found in email content.");
}
})(inputs, outputs);

Please mark my answer helpful and accept as solution if it helped 👍✔️

[Peter Bodelier]

Hi @AysenurU 

Using a background script I can convert this to a GlideDateTime object. 
You can use this in your script:

var dt = 'Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:26:53 UTC';
var dtObj = new GlideDateTime();
dtObj.setDisplayValue(dt, "E, d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss z");

gs.info(dtObj.getDisplayValue());

[Ankur Bawiskar]

@AysenurU 

you can use script shared by Peter and enhance your script

check this blog for more details on GlideDateTime formats

The Secrets of GlideDateTime 

If my response helped please mark it correct and close the thread so that it benefits future readers.

[AnveshKumar M · Accepted solution]

Hi @AysenurU 

You can convert this to GlideDateTime object, try the following script in your script step. Also change the output variable type to Date/Time (both script step and action outputs).

(function execute(inputs, outputs) {
const emailContent = inputs.emailBody;
const dateRegex = /Started at (.* UTC)/;
const dateMatch = emailContent.match(dateRegex);

if (dateMatch && dateMatch[1]) {
  const actualStartDate = dateMatch[1];
  var simpleDateFormat = 'E, dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss z';
  var gdt = new GlideDateTime();
  gdt.setDisplayValue(actualStartDate,simpleDateFormat);
  
  outputs.actual_start_date = gdt;

} else {
  throw new Error("Actual Start Date not found in email content.");
}
})(inputs, outputs);

Please mark my answer helpful and accept as solution if it helped 👍✔️

[AysenurU]

Hi @AnveshKumar M 

Many thanks for your answer!!! It solved my issue. 😇