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How to use date formatting in datatable

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Posted on by RPJ

Hi,

I have a datatable that gets its data from a website using the 'Extract data from webpage' action. In column 5 is a list of dates. However when i want to write the data to an Excel file it keeps formatting the dates to mm-dd-yyyy excepts when the monthnumber is bigger than 12. Then it uses dd-mm-yyyy. How do i format the column in the table that it always writes dd-mm-yyyy?

Note: i have Power FX enabled in PA desktop.

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Power Automate Desktop

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Gidi 601 on at

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Hi RPJ,
please check the data format of the column values. Usually they are text and you need to convert it to date before writing it to excel.

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CU16071609-1 6,255 Moderator on at

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@RPJ

Could you please share your system/VM datetime format?

I believe it would be written based on your system date format only.

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RPJ 19 on at

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Hi Gidi, Could you please explain where i could check the data format? When i run the web extract it shows the datatable but i cant seem to edit it.

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RPJ 19 on at

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Hi @Deenuji,

When i use the action get current date/time it gives the result below. In the variable itself it gives the wrong dateformat, however when i click on the variable on the right it opens the variable in the wrong format. Do you know where i should change it?

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CU16071609-1 6,255 Moderator on at

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Hi @RPJ ,

Could you please share your computer date and time format screenshot like below? Also could you pls confirm what PAD version you are using in your machine?

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CU16071609-1 6,255 Moderator on at

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@RPJ

I understand the problem you're facing. It seems that your computer's date format is set to 5-3-2024, which is why it's displaying values in that format.

I was able to reproduce the issue by changing my system's format on my machine.

Simply adjust your system's date format as needed, and when writing data to the Excel file, it will automatically reflect your system's date format. Hope this solution helps!

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RPJ 19 on at

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Hi @Deenuji ,

My current format is:
This is the correct format. I have looked at the options to change this format, but currently this is already the correct format. After running the proces again the dates in excel still had the format mm-dd-yyyy. The red cells are in the wrong format and the green ones correct. Are there other places where i should format the date?

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RPJ 19 on at

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@Deenuji I am currently using the newest version of PAD

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CU16071609-1 6,255 Moderator on at

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@RPJ
The DataTable writing in excel is functioning correctly for me. The dates within the DataTable were formatted based on the system's date format.

Register this portal with you email id - ACME System 1 - Log In (uipath.com) and Login into this portal in chrome browser and try the below example.
Code:
WebAutomation.LaunchChrome.AttachToChromeByTitle TabTitle: $'''ACME System 1 - Work Items''' AttachTimeout: 5 BrowserInstance=> Browser
WebAutomation.ExtractData.ExtractHtmlTable BrowserInstance: Browser Control: $'''html > body > div > div:eq(1) > div > table''' ExtractionParameters: {[$'''Actions''', $'''WIID''', $'''Description''', $'''Type''', $'''Status''', $'''Date'''], [$'''''', $'''''', $'''''', $'''''', $'''''', $''''''] } PostProcessData: False TimeoutInSeconds: 60 ExtractedData=> DataFromWebPage
Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchUnderExistingProcess Visible: True Instance=> ExcelInstance
Excel.WriteToExcel.WriteNamedCell Instance: ExcelInstance Value: DataFromWebPage CellName: $'''A1'''

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Gidi 601 on at

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try it indirect with action convert text to date and check on error

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