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Trying to trigger an email when start date equals today

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Posted on by Lisa_26

Hi,

I am trying to create a simple flow that sends an email based on a start date within a SharePoint list. The flow works when I test it but doesn't send an email. I'm hoping someone can help me find the issue. I've pasted the flow below.

TIA!

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Mister_Shaik 1,008 on at

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Hi @Lisa_26 ,

There can be multiple scenarios causing your condition to fail, which includes "Start Date" column type being of Date/DateTime or having different date format. You can fix this by formatting your "Start Date" column before using it to compare with today's date. Below is the expression to use in place of "Start Date" in the condition,

formatDateTime(items('Apply_to_each')?['Start date'],'MM/dd/yyyy')

Hope this helps 🙂

Kind Regards,
Shaik Sha
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MarkRahn 1,424 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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You would be better off modifying your Get Items Action to use a Filter Query to just get back the items you want to send the email for.
Something like

startDate ge '@formatDateTime(utcNow(),'yyyy-MM-dd')' and startDate lt '@addDays(utcNow(),1,'yyyy-MM-dd')'

for your Filter.

You would only process matches from your list based on the Start Date. You would not need the Condition Action.

@Mister_Shaik is also correct if you chose that option. The format of the two values you are trying to compare is important. Maybe you need to process all items with an Email Action on a match and something else happening when there is no match.

You can use a Compose Action for debugging and drop that into your Apply for Each. In the Compose, put your Start Date and the Expression you are using (formatDateTime). The Compose Action will show you the values when you review the Run.

I use this to output variables when I can't figure out why something is not working.
Lisa_26 9 on at

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Hi Mark,

I entered the filter Query but now it failed in the get items part:

I do not get an output, what am I doing wrong?
MarkRahn 1,424 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi Lisa,

Your Filter Query is incorrect. I created a list and added a column named "Start Date". The internal name is Start_x0020_Date because I used a space in the name. I was trying to duplicate what you may have done. You may need to edit your column in the list and look at the end of the url to get the internal name of the column. You will need that for your filter.

The full filter I put in was:
Start_x0020_Date ge '@{formatDateTime(utcNow(),'yyyy-MM-dd')}' and Start_x0020_Date lt '@{addDays(utcNow(),1,'yyyy-MM-dd')}'

I'm not sure you can just cut and paste that in. You may need to type it in. When you get to the "@" you will need to insert the formulas using "Add dynamic content".

Look at Filter

Check your list to make sure the Filter Query has results to return. i.e. the Start Date column is between today at 12AM and tonight at 11:59PM.

Hopefully that gets you going.
Lisa_26 9 on at

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Hi,

I entered the filter Query like you said but the flow still failed right away.

I made sure that there was a test item with today's date.

Thanks!
MarkRahn 1,424 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi Lisa,

Your Filter Query will be different from mine. You have to find out the Internal Name of your "Start Date" field. The error that you are getting indicates that the field name is different.

-Open you list in SharePoint
-from the Gear in the top right select List settings (if this is a Document Library, then select Library settings)
-in the section named Columns, find the field you want to filter on. In the example you gave, it was called Start Date.
-Click on the Column and you should see a screen similar to below:
Internal Field Name is at the end of the URL
If you look at the above URL, you will see Field= followed by the Internal Name of the field.
The name that you find there is what you need to change in the Filter I gave you.

If it still does not work, then remove the filter completely and try just part of it such as:
Start_x0020_Date ge '@{formatDateTime(utcNow(),'yyyy-MM-dd')}'
where "Start_x0020_Date" is changed to what your Internal Field is named and
"ge" means "Greater than or Equal to".
If the Filter is running with no errors but you are getting no results, try changing "ge" to "le" (Less than or equal to). You are just trying to see if Filtering is working at that point.
Lisa_26 9 on at

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Hi Mark,

Seems like the filter is working now:

I tried to add those same rules into the condition part but it's given me false result. Maybe I am thinking wrong

Thank you in advance,
Lisa
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MarkRahn 1,424 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi Lisa,

The Filter is taking the place of your Condition Action. By using a Filter for the Get Items Action, it should only return the items you want for the "Send an email" Action.

Move the "Send an email" Action out of the Condition Action and remove the Condition Action. It should not be needed.

You shouldn't need to check the "Start Date" field again in the Condition Action because the Filter already did that. Only matching items are returned for the Get Items Action.

-Mark