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Variable in expression- For date calculation throws error "invalid expression"

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Posted on by prteotia Microsoft Employee

In my flow, I have a date calculation to subtract 8hours from current time like below.

addHours(utcNow(),-8,'yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ss')

 

I want to take this parameter value(8) from a variable. I have set an integer variable with value 8. so, new expression is like

addHours(utcNow(),-variables('varHours'),'yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ss').

 

But this expression is throwing error invalid expression.

 

please help?

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I have the same question (0)
  • v-yetonggu-msft Profile Picture
    v-yetonggu-msft Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi @prteotia ,

    I did a test for your reference.

    In my scenario:

    vyetonggumsft_1-1699945893755.png

    vyetonggumsft_3-1699945965116.png

     

    Best Regards,

    Sunshine Gu

     

     

  • Verified answer
    michael0808 Profile Picture
    michael0808 304 on at

    This is where you're going wrong addHours(utcNow(),-variables('varHours'),'yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ss')

     

    Expressions don't work in this fasion. In order to get the negative of an integer, you can multiply by -1.

     

    Try this:

     

    addHours(utcNow(),mul(variables('varHours'), -1),'yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ss')

     

  • prteotia Profile Picture
    prteotia Microsoft Employee on at

    Thanks @michael0808 , it works.

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