Announcements
Hello! I know this is not the right topic but I hope someone can help me, as the forum of Power Automate is very slow with replies.I have a flow which will create a table of an excel file and then puts all of the information inside of a sharepoint list. The excel file looks like this when it is being exported (It is not a table yet but does have the column name there already):Column name (text)Row (date)Row (date)Row(date)So the column name is set to Text and the rows are a Date value. Whenever I use the function create table in my flow, it will turn the whole column into a text value as the column name is a text value instead of a date value. How could I change my flow to turn it into a date column? Create table function: https://gyazo.com/731188e6407c22e0521a4a81fd0d41cd Creating the sharepoint list with the information of the excel file: https://gyazo.com/ed9853f60bd6b44d177119a993649b9aEdit: Here is how it looks after the create table function has been finished. https://gyazo.com/3d498ea3137426345a6006a3ee533b3a This shows that the column name is a text value and the rows are a date value.
So why add data to excel just to then add it to a sharepoint list? Can’t you just use the create item step and create your list items directly without having to go to excel?
you can also ore create your spreadsheet in OneDrive with the desired table format and use the excel connector insert item step to add a record to the spreadsheet table
dates in flow are difficult. You can convert text to date using the formulas shown in this post thread.
https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Convert-string-to-date/td-p/289830
The Excel file is being exported from my Software and I need to use Sharepoint as a database for Power Apps because excel has limitations. @jlindstrom I have tried this but it does not work:
formatDateTime('Start_x002d_Date','dd-MM-yyyy')
I still get this error:
Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Create_item' inputs at line '1' and column '2144': 'In function 'formatDateTime', the value provided for date time string 'Start_x002d_Date' was not valid. The datetime string must match ISO 8601 format.'.
The date is formatted like this in the Excel file: 2-7-2020 (dd-mm-yyyy)
8601 is date format YYYY-MM-DD. Change the order of the date components
I am not able to change the date inside of my Excel file, can we change the order using the formula? @jlindstrom
Yes, instead of this
Do formatDateTime (‘Start_x002d_Date’,’yyyy-MM-dd’)
Getting this error then @jlindstrom https://gyazo.com/c9f3ae7329f39e33263c530d4300d6b0
This is what happends. I export the Excel file from my software, at this moment, there is no table made.The Start - Date column has 2 different formats. The text of the name of the of the column is set to text format and the other rows are date value, shown in this gif: https://gyazo.com/b961eb492e3ea9423e5d1d8638638bd6 (Top right)I create a table using Power Automate and I think it is then a text column and not a date column. I then list all the rows inside of the excel table and create items inside of my SharePoint list. https://gyazo.com/5c3d537692129e43e2c35daa48de47fc It then transfers the date, for example "2-7-2020" to "44014", why is this happening? The column inside of my SharePoint is set to DateAfter the create table flow goes off: https://gyazo.com/0678c3ceee3a76317e85c6991ea5e9cdIt creates the table and these are the values (on the top right)
How come the value "2-7-2020" gets changed to "44014" when it goes from a text column to another text column?
The reason that dates get changed to numbers is because it is the number of days since 1-1-1900.
If you change the formatting of the column to date it should show in date format.
Can you just format as a date after you export from your application?
What is the source system? Why not connect directly to it?
@jlindstrom I have explained this a few messages above this one, I am not able to change it.
Could you maybe show me what I have to do with the compose?
You say your date is like this format
"2-7-2020"
The split expression is your friend
Create a compose step, in expression window enter ”split(” then click on the dynamic field list and select your date field, them back in the expression tab enter ” , ’-’)” without the double quotes
You can then use the individual.compnents of the date to build whatever date format is supported
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4534778/how-to-customize-format-date-and-time-values-in-a-flow
Split gives you an array. You specify the one you want with [0] after the compose output. (replace 0 with the result number you want to use )
Under review
Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.
Congratulations to our 2026 Super Users!
Congratulations to our 2025 community superstars!
These are the community rock stars!
Stay up to date on forum activity by subscribing.
11manish 541
WarrenBelz 434 Most Valuable Professional
Valantis 289
