Create a Complex Date Calculation

To create a complex date calculation, do the procedure in this topic.

Figure: Calculate Date Difference screen

Calculate Date Difference screen

Good to Know

How to Start

  1. Open Process Builder.

    For information about how to open this screen, refer to Process Builder.


    Open Process Builder
  2. Do one of these:
    • Add an activity:
      1. In Process Builder, in the Activity Library, open the Utilities tab.

        Open Utilities tab
      2. On the Utilities tab , drag the Calculate Date Difference activity onto your process.

        Drag Calculate Date Difference activity
    • Change an activity:
      1. In your process, double-click your activity.
  3. Click Calculate Date Difference Calculate Date Difference icon.

Procedure

  1. On the Calculate Date Difference screen on the Input tab, complete this field as necessary.
    Field NameValue

    Input Date Time
    Description:
    Specifies the reference date for your date calculation.

    Two Date Time fields are available: Input Date Time 1 and Input Date Time 2.

    Allowed Values:
    • Custom Attributes - Specifies a process data variable that stores the date-time value and your date-time format.

      You can use App Data screen to specify a process data variable.

      You can also use a custom date-time format. For more information, refer to Customize Your Date-Time Format.

    • Static - Specifies a static date and time.
    • Now - The date and time the system activity starts at runtime.
    Default Value:
    Custom Attributes
    Example:
    Refer to:
  2. Click the Operation tab.
  3. On the Operation tab, select Calculate Difference, and complete these fields as necessary.
    Field NameValue

    Compare Difference
    Description:
    Specifies how to compare the difference between the two Input Date Time values.
    Allowed Values:
    1. The operator used to compare the two Input Date Time values:
      • <= - Less than or equal to.
      • >= - Greater than or equal to.
      • = - Equals
      • <> - Not equal to.
    2. An integer, or a process data variable that stores an integer.

      You can use App Data screen to specify a process data variable.

    3. The time unit.

      Options are:

      • Seconds
      • Minutes
      • Hours
      • Days
      • Weeks
      • Months
      • Years
    Default Value:
    None
    Accepts Variables:
    Yes

    Calculation Type
    Description:
    Specifies how the difference between the Input Date Time 1 and Input Date Time 2 is calculated.
    Allowed Values:
    • Real - The actual difference between the two DateTime values. The result depends upon the option set in the Result field.
    • Relative - The relative difference between the two DateTime values. This setting is useful for situations when an action is allowed, for example, once per week or once per month.
    Default Value:
    Real
    Example:
    The difference between the dates Sat 29-Dec-2007 23:50:00 and Wed 02-Jan-2008 00:00:00 is calculated as follows. Note that these dates are 4 days apart, but occur in different years, different months, and different weeks.
    • When you select the Real option the difference is calculated based on the actual number of days (and hours and minutes) between the two dates: 4 days and 10 minutes.
    • When you select the Relative option, the difference is 4 days, 1 week or 1 month, or 1 year, depending upon the time unit specified.
  4. Click the Output tab.
  5. On the Output tab, complete these fields as necessary.
    Field NameValue

    Result Boolean
    Description:
    Specifies the name of the variable that stores the Boolean result returned from the Compare Difference date calculations.

    If the Compare Difference option is enabled, the difference is evaluated as a Boolean result, and the Boolean value is associated with the variable that appears in this field.

    Allowed Values:
    A process data variable that stores a Boolean Date Time result.
    Default Value:
    None
    Accepts Variables:
    Yes

    Date String
    Description:
    Specifies the process data variable that stores the result received from the date calculations if it is in the Date Time format.

    The results of the date calculations that changes from the Date Time format to a String. The format of the string is specified in the list.

    Allowed Values:
    A process data variable that stores the result in the selected String format.
    Default Value:
    None
    Accepts Variables:
    Yes
    Example:
    Refer to:

    Difference
    Description:
    Specifies the result returned from the Compare Difference date calculations. In terms of a number of time units, such as 5 seconds, or 10 days.

    If Compare Difference is enabled, the difference is stored as a variable with the name that appears in this field. The value is the output value of the comparison.

    Allowed Values:
    • A process data variable that stores the value of the comparison result.
    • The time unit.

      Options are:

      • Seconds
      • Minutes
      • Hours
      • Days
      • Weeks
      • Months
      • Years
    Default Value:
    • None
    • Days
    Accepts Variables:
    Yes

    Result
    Description:
    Specifies the type of value to return for the date calculations where the Calculation Type is set as Real.
    Allowed Values:
    • Decimal - Returns the difference as is, including any decimals.
    • Whole Number - Returns the integer part of the result by removing the decimal part.
    • Rounded - Rounds up (>=0.5) or rounds down (<0.5) the result.
    Default Value:
    None