How do I format dates correctly in Zoho Flow?

Most date problems in Zoho Flow come from passing a date in one format to an app that expects another. Check the format the target app needs, then convert the value in Flow using its date formatting options or a custom function written in Deluge. Watch time zones too, because a date-time converted without one can shift a day.

Each app in a flow sends and expects dates its own way. One might send a full date-time with a time zone, while the next expects only a date in a set pattern. Run the flow once, open the history, and look at the exact value going in and the error coming back. That tells you what to convert.

Zoho Flow lets you transform field values when mapping, and for anything beyond simple changes you can add a custom function in Deluge. Deluge can parse a text into a date and format it with a pattern such as year, month and day. Keep the function small and reusable, so other flows can call the same conversion.

Time zones cause the most confusing bugs. A midnight time in one zone is the previous day in another. Decide which zone your flow works in, convert explicitly, and test with dates near midnight and at month end before turning the flow on.

Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question