# Date formulas
Workato supports a variety of date and datetime formulas. Formulas in Workato are whitelisted Ruby methods, and therefore not all Ruby methods are supported. You can always reach out to us to add additional formulas to the whitelist. Syntax and functionality for these formulas are generally unchanged. Take note that most formulas will return an error and stop the job if it tries to operate on nulls (expressed as nil in Ruby), except for present?, presence and blank?.
You can refer to the complete Ruby documentation for Time here (opens new window).
# Basics
# now
Returns the time and date at runtime in US Pacific Time Zone.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| now | "2020-12-02 14:45:29 -0700" |
| now + 2.days | "2020-12-04 14:45:29 -0700" |
| now + 8.hours | "2020-12-02 22:45:29 -0700" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the timestamp when the a job is being processed. Each step using this formula will return the timestamp at which the step runs.
Output datapill
If you only want the date without the time, try using the today formula instead.
# See also
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
- in_time_zone: Converts a time value to a different time zone.
# today
Returns the date at runtime in US Pacific Time Zone.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today | "2020-12-02" |
| today + 2.days | "2020-12-04" |
| today + 8.hours | "2020-12-02 08:00:00 -0700" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the timestamp when the a job is being processed. Each step using this formula will return the timestamp at which the step runs.
Output datapill
If you want the date and time, try using the now formula instead.
# See also
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- in_time_zone: Converts a time value to a different time zone.
# from_now
Returns an future timestamp by a specified time duration. The timestamp is calculated at runtime.
# Syntax
Unit.from_now
- Unit - A time value to offset.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| 2.months.from_now | "2021-02-04 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 3.days.from_now | "2020-12-07 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 30.seconds.from_now | "2020-12-04 15:15:29 -0700" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current timestamp and offsets by a specified time duration. This timestamp is calculated when the a job is being processed. Each step using this formula will return a timestamp for each step that runs.
Units
You can use any of these units: seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years.
# See also
- ago: Returns an earlier timestamp by a specified time duration.
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
# ago
Returns an earlier timestamp by a specified time duration. The timestamp is calculated at runtime.
# Syntax
Unit.ago
- Unit - A time value to offset.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| 2.months.ago | "2020-10-04 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 3.days.ago | "2020-12-01 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 30.seconds.ago | "2020-12-04 14:15:29 -0700" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current timestamp and offsets by a specified time duration. This timestamp is calculated when the a job is being processed. Each step using this formula will return a timestamp for each step that runs.
Units
You can use any of these units: seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years.
# See also
- from_now: Returns an future timestamp by a specified time duration.
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
# wday
Returns day of the week. Sunday returns 0, Monday returns 1.
# Syntax
Date.wday
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.wday | 4 |
| "01/12/2020".to_date(format:"DD/MM/YYYY").wday | 2 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the a job is being processed. The day of the week is converted into an integer output. Sunday = 0, Monday = 1.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# yday
Returns day number of the year.
# Syntax
Date.yday
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.yday | 338 |
| "2020-01-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yday | 1 |
| "2020-02-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yday | 32 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the a job is being processed. The day of the year is converted into an integer output.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# yweek
Returns week number of the year.
# Syntax
Date.yweek
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.yweek | 49 |
| "2020-01-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yweek | 1 |
| "2020-02-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yweek | 5 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the a job is being processed. The week of the year is converted into an integer output.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# Date arithmetics
We can make use of certain keywords such as days, months, years, minutes, and seconds to perform date arithmetic to add or subtract days, months, years, minutes, and seconds from dates and datetimes.
# Sample usage
| Date Arithmetic | Output |
|---|---|
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.days | "2020-01-03" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.days | "2019-12-30" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.months | "2020-03-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.months | "2019-11-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.years | "2022-01-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.years | "2018-01-01" |
# Getting first/last timestamp of the current/next periods
Using a combination of date formulas, and date arithmetic, we can easily obtain the first and last days of a current or subsequent time period using some helper formulas. Not all time periods are supported just yet.
# beginning_of_hour
Returns datetime for top-of-the-hour for a given datetime.
# Syntax
Datetime.beginning_of_hour
- Datetime - An input datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.to_time.beginning_of_hour | "2020-12-02T16:00:00.000000-07:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_hour | "2020-06-01T01:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_time.beginning_of_hour | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_day
Returns datetime for midnight on date of a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_day
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_day | "2020-12-02T00:00:00.000000-07:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_day | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_day | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_week
Returns date of the previous Monday for a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_week
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_week | "2020-11-30T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_week | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_week | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_month
Returns first day of the month for a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_month
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_month | "2020-12-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_month | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_month | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_year
Returns first day of the year for a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_year
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# end_of_month
Returns last day of the month for a given date/datetime. This formula will return a date or datetime based on the input data.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_month
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_month | "2020-12-31" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_month | "2020-06-30" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_month | "2020-06-30T23:59:59.999999+00:00" |
# Display conversion
# strftime
Returns a datetime input as a user-defined string.
# Syntax
Date.strftime(format)
- Date - An input date or datetime.
- format - The format of the user-defined datetime written as a string.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%Y/%m/%d") | "2020/06/05" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z") | "2020-06-05T17:13:27-0700" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%B %e, %l:%M%p") | "June 5, 5:13 pm" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%A, %d %B %Y %k:%M") | "Friday, 05 June 2020 0:00" |
# Parameters
As shown above, each code (%B, %e, %I etc.) refers to a specific element of datetime. Static text and punctuation can also be added, such as commas (,), slashes (/), and colons (:). Here's a list of commonly used codes in Workato:
| Code | Meaning | Example (2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00) |
|---|---|---|
| %Y | Year with century | 2020 |
| %m | Month with zero-prefix | 06 |
| %B | Full month name | June |
| %b | Abbreviated month name | Jun |
| %d | Day of the month with zero-prefix | 05 |
| %e | Day of the month without zero-prefix | 5 |
| %H | Hour of the day (24-hour) | 17 |
| %k | Hour of day without 0 prefix (24-hour) | 17 |
| %I (capital i) | Hour of the day (12-hour) | 05 |
| %l (lowercase L) | Hour of day without 0 prefix (12-hour) | 5 |
| %p | AM or PM | PM |
| %M | Minute of the hour | 13 |
| %S | Second of the minute | 27 |
| %L | milliseconds of the minute | 000 |
| %z | Time zone offset from UTC | -0700 |
| %:z | Time zone formatted offset from UTC | -07:00 |
| %Z | Time zone abbrev. name | UTC |
| %A | Full day name | Friday |
To access the full list, check out the Ruby documentation (opens new window)
# How it works
Allows the user to define a datetime format. Returns the datetime input in the specified format.
Input datatype
The input must be a date or datetime datatype. You can use the to_date formula to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
- to_date: Returns a date in date datatype.
# in_time_zone
Converts a time value to a different timezone. This formula will return a date or datetime based on the input data.
# Syntax
Date.in_time_zone(format)
- Date - An input date or datetime.
- format - (optional) The target timezone. If not specified, this formula will return the timezone defined by your Workato accounts.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.in_time_zone | "2020-12-02" |
| today.to_time.in_time_zone("America/New_York") | "2020-12-01T20:00:00.000000-04:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_time.in_time_zone | "2020-05-31T20:00:00.000000-04:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".in_time_zone | "2020-05-31T12:30:00.000000-05:00" |
# How it works
This formula uses the list of timezone names from the IANA time zone database. The output will be an equivalent time in a different timezone. Find out more here (opens new window)
# dst?
Returns true if the input datatime is within Daylight Savings Time.
# Syntax
Datetime.dst?
- Datetime - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.dst? | false |
| today.in_time_zone("America/New_York").dst? | true |
| "2020-06-01".in_time_zone("America/New_York").dst? | true |
| "2020-09-06T18:30:15.671720-05:00".dst? | true |
# Regions reference
Refer to the following table for the timezone name to use in the formula.
| Region | Timezone to use in formula | UTC zone | DST offset? |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Date Line West | Pacific/Midway | UTC-11 | |
| Midway Island | Pacific/Midway | UTC-11 | |
| American Samoa | Pacific/Pago_Pago | UTC-11 | |
| Hawaii | Pacific/Honolulu | UTC-10 | |
| Alaska | America/Juneau | UTC-9 | ✅ |
| Pacific Time (US & Canada) | America/Los_Angeles | UTC-8 | ✅ |
| Tijuana | America/Tijuana | UTC-8 | ✅ |
| Mountain Time (US & Canada) | America/Denver | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Arizona | America/Phoenix | UTC-7 | |
| Chihuahua | America/Chihuahua | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Mazatlan | America/Mazatlan | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Central Time (US & Canada) | America/Chicago | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Saskatchewan | America/Regina | UTC-6 | |
| Guadalajara | America/Mexico_City | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Mexico City | America/Mexico_City | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Monterrey | America/Monterrey | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Central America | America/Guatemala | UTC-6 | |
| Eastern Time (US & Canada) | America/New_York | UTC-5 | ✅ |
| Indiana (East) | America/Indiana/Indianapolis | UTC-5 | ✅ |
| Bogota | America/Bogota | UTC-5 | |
| Lima | America/Lima | UTC-5 | |
| Quito | America/Lima | UTC-5 | |
| Atlantic Time (Canada) | America/Halifax | UTC-4 | ✅ |
| Caracas | America/Caracas | UTC-4 | |
| La Paz | America/La_Paz | UTC-4 | |
| Santiago | America/Santiago | UTC-4 | ✅ |
| Georgetown | America/Guyana | UTC-4 | |
| Newfoundland | America/St_Johns | UTC-3:30 | ✅ |
| Brasilia | America/Sao_Paulo | UTC-3 | |
| Buenos Aires | America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires | UTC-3 | |
| Montevideo | America/Montevideo | UTC-3 | |
| Greenland | America/Godthab | UTC-3 | ✅ |
| Mid-Atlantic | Atlantic/South_Georgia | UTC-2 | |
| Azores | Atlantic/Azores | UTC-1 | ✅ |
| Cape Verde Is. | Atlantic/Cape_Verde | UTC-1 | |
| Dublin | Europe/Dublin | UTC-1 | ✅ |
| Lisbon | Europe/Lisbon | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| Edinburgh | Europe/London | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| London | Europe/London | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| Monrovia | Africa/Monrovia | UTC+0 | |
| UTC | Etc/UTC | UTC+0 | |
| Casablanca | Africa/Casablanca | UTC+1 | |
| Belgrade | Europe/Belgrade | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Bratislava | Europe/Bratislava | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Budapest | Europe/Budapest | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Ljubljana | Europe/Ljubljana | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Prague | Europe/Prague | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Sarajevo | Europe/Sarajevo | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Skopje | Europe/Skopje | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Warsaw | Europe/Warsaw | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Zagreb | Europe/Zagreb | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Brussels | Europe/Brussels | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Copenhagen | Europe/Copenhagen | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Madrid | Europe/Madrid | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Paris | Europe/Paris | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Amsterdam | Europe/Amsterdam | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Berlin | Europe/Berlin | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Bern | Europe/Zurich | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Zurich | Europe/Zurich | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Rome | Europe/Rome | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Stockholm | Europe/Stockholm | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Vienna | Europe/Vienna | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| West Central Africa | Africa/Algiers | UTC+1 | |
| Bucharest | Europe/Bucharest | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Cairo | Africa/Cairo | UTC+2 | |
| Helsinki | Europe/Helsinki | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Kyiv | Europe/Kiev | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Riga | Europe/Riga | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Sofia | Europe/Sofia | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Tallinn | Europe/Tallinn | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Vilnius | Europe/Vilnius | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Athens | Europe/Athens | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Jerusalem | Asia/Jerusalem | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Harare | Africa/Harare | UTC+2 | |
| Pretoria | Africa/Johannesburg | UTC+2 | |
| Kaliningrad | Europe/Kaliningrad | UTC+2 | |
| Istanbul | Europe/Istanbul | UTC+3 | |
| Minsk | Europe/Minsk | UTC+3 | |
| Moscow | Europe/Moscow | UTC+3 | |
| St. Petersburg | Europe/Moscow | UTC+3 | |
| Kuwait | Asia/Kuwait | UTC+3 | |
| Riyadh | Asia/Riyadh | UTC+3 | |
| Nairobi | Africa/Nairobi | UTC+3 | |
| Baghdad | Asia/Baghdad | UTC+3 | |
| Tehran | Asia/Tehran | UTC+3:30 | ✅ |
| Volgograd | Europe/Volgograd | UTC+4 | |
| Samara | Europe/Samara | UTC+4 | |
| Abu Dhabi | Asia/Muscat | UTC+4 | |
| Muscat | Asia/Muscat | UTC+4 | |
| Baku | Asia/Baku | UTC+4 | |
| Tbilisi | Asia/Tbilisi | UTC+4 | |
| Yerevan | Asia/Yerevan | UTC+4 | |
| Kabul | Asia/Kabul | UTC+4:30 | ✅ |
| Ekaterinburg | Asia/Yekaterinburg | UTC+5 | |
| Islamabad | Asia/Karachi | UTC+5 | |
| Karachi | Asia/Karachi | UTC+5 | |
| Tashkent | Asia/Tashkent | UTC+5 | |
| Sri Jayawardenepura | Asia/Colombo | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Chennai | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Kolkata | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| New Delhi | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Kathmandu | Asia/Kathmandu | UTC+5:45 | ✅ |
| Astana | Asia/Dhaka | UTC+6 | |
| Dhaka | Asia/Dhaka | UTC+6 | |
| Almaty | Asia/Almaty | UTC+6 | |
| Urumqi | Asia/Urumqi | UTC+6 | |
| Rangoon | Asia/Rangoon | UTC+6:30 | ✅ |
| Novosibirsk | Asia/Novosibirsk | UTC+7 | |
| Bangkok | Asia/Bangkok | UTC+7 | |
| Hanoi | Asia/Bangkok | UTC+7 | |
| Jakarta | Asia/Jakarta | UTC+7 | |
| Krasnoyarsk | Asia/Krasnoyarsk | UTC+7 | |
| Beijing | Asia/Shanghai | UTC+8 | |
| Chongqing | Asia/Chongqing | UTC+8 | |
| Hong Kong | Asia/Hong_Kong | UTC+8 | |
| Kuala Lumpur | Asia/Kuala_Lumpur | UTC+8 | |
| Singapore | Asia/Singapore | UTC+8 | |
| Taipei | Asia/Taipei | UTC+8 | |
| Perth | Australia/Perth | UTC+8 | |
| Irkutsk | Asia/Irkutsk | UTC+8 | |
| Ulaanbaatar | Asia/Ulaanbaatar | UTC+8 | |
| Seoul | Asia/Seoul | UTC+9 | |
| Osaka | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Sapporo | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Yakutsk | Asia/Yakutsk | UTC+9 | |
| Darwin | Australia/Darwin | UTC+9:30 | |
| Adelaide | Australia/Adelaide | UTC+9:30 | ✅ |
| Canberra | Australia/Melbourne | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Melbourne | Australia/Melbourne | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Sydney | Australia/Sydney | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Brisbane | Australia/Brisbane | UTC+10 | |
| Hobart | Australia/Hobart | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Vladivostok | Asia/Vladivostok | UTC+10 | |
| Guam | Pacific/Guam | UTC+10 | |
| Port Moresby | Pacific/Port_Moresby | UTC+10 | |
| Magadan | Asia/Magadan | UTC+11 | |
| Srednekolymsk | Asia/Srednekolymsk | UTC+11 | |
| Solomon Is. | Pacific/Guadalcanal | UTC+11 | |
| New Caledonia | Pacific/Noumea | UTC+11 | |
| Fiji | Pacific/Fiji | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Kamchatka | Asia/Kamchatka | UTC+12 | |
| Marshall Is. | Pacific/Majuro | UTC+12 | |
| Auckland | Pacific/Auckland | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Wellington | Pacific/Auckland | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Nuku'alofa | Pacific/Tongatapu | UTC+13 | |
| Tokelau Is. | Pacific/Fakaofo | UTC+13 | |
| Samoa | Pacific/Apia | UTC+13 | |
| Chatham Is. | Pacific/Chatham | UTC+13:45 | ✅ |
# Converting datetime to date
To convert a date data type into a datetime data, or vice versa, use the to_date or to_time formulas.
# to_date
This formula converts the input data into a date. Returns the date formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.
# Syntax
String.first(format: format)
- String - An input datetime or a string that describes a date or datetime.
- format - (optional) The date format of the input written as a string. If not specified, Workato will parse the input string automatically.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "23-01-2020 10:30 pm".to_date(format: "DD-MM-YYYY") | "2020-01-23" |
| "01-23-2020 10:30 pm".to_date(format: "MM-DD-YYYY") | "2020-01-23" |
| "2020/01/23".to_date(format: "YYYY/MM/DD") | "2020-01-23" |
# How it works
Converts the input data into a date datatype.
Input data best practice
It is recommended to specify the input data format. If the format is not specified, Workato will automatically parse the input string.
The input string must resemble a date for this formula to work.
# See also
# to_time
Converts a string to an ISO timestamp. The response will use the UTC timezone (+00:00).
# Syntax
String.to_time
- String - An input string that describes a date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "2020-04-02T12:30:30.462659-07:00".to_time | "2020-04-02T19:30:30.462659+00:00" |
| "2020-04-02".to_time | "2020-04-02T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# How it works
Converts the input string into a datetime datatype. The output datetime will be converted to the UTC timezone (+00:00).
Autofill time
If the input data does not include the time, the output will default to 00:00:00.000000 +00:00.
# See also
- strftime: Returns datetime is a custom format.
- to_date: This formula converts the input data into a date. Returns the date formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.
# Conditionals
# blank?
This formula checks the input string and returns true if it is an empty string or if it is null.
# Syntax
Input.blank?
- Input - An input datapill. It can be a string, number, date, or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "Any Value".blank? | false |
| 123.blank? | false |
| 0.blank? | false |
| "".blank? | true |
# How it works
If the input is null or an empty string, the formula will return false. For any other data, it returns true.
# See also
- presence: Returns the data if it exists, returns nil if it does not.
- present?: Returns true if there is a valid input.
# present?
This formula will check the input and if there is a value present, it will return true. If the input is nil, an empty string or an empty list, the formula will return false.
# Syntax
Input.present?
- Input - An input datapill. It can be a string, number, date, or list datatype.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "Any Value".present? | true |
| 123.present? | true |
| 0.present? | true |
| "2017-04-02T12:30:00.000000-07:00".present? | true |
| nil.present? | false |
| "".present? | false |
| [].present? | false |
# How it works
If the input is null, an empty string or an empty list, the formula will return false. For any other data, it returns true.
Evaluating a list with nil values
- Only an empty list will return false.
[].present? returns false.
- A list with nil and empty string will return true.
[nil,""].present? returns true.
# See also
- presence: Returns the data if it exists, returns nil if it does not.
- blank?: Returns nil if the data does not exist or if the string consist of only white spaces.
# presence
Returns the data if it exists, returns nil if it does not.
# Syntax
Input.presence
- Input - An input datapill. It can be a string, number, date, or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| nil.presence | nil |
| "".presence | nil |
| "Any Value".presence | "Any Value" |
| 45.0.presence | 45.0 |
| 0.presence | 0 |
# How it works
If the input is null or an empty string, the formula will return nil. For any other data, it returns the original input data.
# See also
- blank?: Returns nil if the data does not exist or if the string consist of only white spaces.
- present?: Returns true if there is a valid input.