Power Platform Community Forum Thread Details

Hi,

Method 1: Pre-Validation (Recommended for Date Conversion)

For 'Convert text to datetime' Action:

1. Set Variable: TextToCheck = "2024-13-45"  # Invalid date example
2. IF Statement: Check if text matches date pattern
   ├── Condition: TextToCheck matches regex pattern
   │   └── Pattern: ^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$ (for YYYY-MM-DD format)
   ├── IF True:
   │   ├── Convert text to datetime
   │   └── Continue with flow
   └── IF False:
       ├── Set Variable: ErrorMessage = "Invalid date format"
       └── Handle error (log, set default, etc.)

Validation Patterns for Different Date Formats:

YYYY-MM-DD: ^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$

MM/DD/YYYY: ^\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{4}$

DD.MM.YYYY: ^\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{4}$

DD-MMM-YYYY: ^\d{2}-[A-Za-z]{3}-\d{4}$

Method 2: Try-Catch Pattern Using Block Structure

Implementation:

1. Set Variable: ConversionSuccess = False
2. Set Variable: ConvertedDate = ""
3. Set Variable: ErrorOccurred = False

4. Block: Try Conversion
   ├── Convert text to datetime
   │   ├── Input: %TextToConvert%
   │   └── Output: ConvertedDate
   ├── Set Variable: ConversionSuccess = True
   └── [Continue with success logic]

5. Block: Catch (Error Handler)
   ├── Set Variable: ErrorOccurred = True
   ├── Set Variable: ErrorMessage = "Date conversion failed"
   └── [Error handling logic]

Method 3: Advanced Date Validation Function

Custom Date Validation:

1. Set Variable: DateText = "2024-02-30"
2. Set Variable: IsValidDate = False

3. Split Text: Split DateText by "-"
   └── Output: DateParts

4. IF Statement: Check if DateParts count = 3
   ├── IF True:
   │   ├── Set Variable: Year = DateParts[0]
   │   ├── Set Variable: Month = DateParts[1]
   │   ├── Set Variable: Day = DateParts[2]
   │   
   │   ├── IF Statement: Validate Year (1900-2100)
   │   │   └── Condition: Year >= 1900 AND Year <= 2100
   │   
   │   ├── IF Statement: Validate Month (1-12)
   │   │   └── Condition: Month >= 1 AND Month <= 12
   │   
   │   ├── IF Statement: Validate Day
   │   │   ├── IF Month in [1,3,5,7,8,10,12]: Day <= 31
   │   │   ├── IF Month in [4,6,9,11]: Day <= 30
   │   │   └── IF Month = 2: Day <= 28 (or 29 for leap years)
   │   
   │   └── IF All Valid: Set IsValidDate = True
   └── IF False: Set IsValidDate = False

5. IF Statement: Check IsValidDate
   ├── IF True: Convert text to datetime
   └── IF False: Handle invalid date

Method 4: Exception Handling with Subflows

Main Flow:

1. Run Subflow: "ValidateAndConvertDate"
   ├── Input: TextToConvert
   └── Output: ConversionResult, IsSuccess, ErrorMessage

2. IF Statement: Check IsSuccess
   ├── IF True: Continue with ConversionResult
   └── IF False: Handle error using ErrorMessage

Subflow: "ValidateAndConvertDate"

1. Input Parameters:
   └── TextToConvert (Text)

2. Set Variable: IsSuccess = False
3. Set Variable: ConversionResult = ""
4. Set Variable: ErrorMessage = ""

5. Text Validation Logic:
   ├── Check format
   ├── Check ranges
   └── Check logical validity

6. IF Valid:
   ├── Convert text to datetime
   ├── Set IsSuccess = True
   └── Set ConversionResult = converted value
7. IF Invalid:
   ├── Set IsSuccess = False
   └── Set ErrorMessage = specific error

8. Output Parameters:
   ├── ConversionResult
   ├── IsSuccess
   └── ErrorMessage

Method 5: Text Parsing Alternative

For Date Conversion Without Built-in Action:

1. Extract Date Components:
   ├── Regular Expression: Extract year, month, day
   └── Store in separate variables

2. Manual Date Construction:
   ├── Create date string in standard format
   └── Use string manipulation to build valid date

3. Validation:
   ├── Check each component range
   └── Validate logical date (Feb 30th, etc.)

4. Final Conversion:
   ├── Use validated components
   └── Convert to datetime format

If I have answered your question, please mark it as the preferred solution ✅ . If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up 👍. Regards, Riyaz