Convert string to date/time field is not working

[Kaja Iske]

I would like to use automation to convert a string in the description into a date/time field. My description contains only the date and time in the following format: yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm. There is nothing before or after it.

For example: 2026-03-09T18:34

I tried to get this string into my date/time field via Edit Issue using the following Smart Value: {{issue.description.toDate(“yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm”)}}

Unfortunately, I don’t get any result. It simply doesn’t transfer anything to the field. However, if I insert a Log Action before it, I do get a result in the log.
Test: {{issue.description.toDate(“yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm”)}}
Test: 2026-03-09T18:34:00.0+0000

Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?

[Nikola Perisic · Accepted solution]

Hello @Kaja Iske 

You are actually pretty close! You should include a small change with your smart value:

{{issue.description.toDate("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm").format("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSZ")}}

[Kaja Iske]

Hi Nikola,

thanks for the hint! In principle, that works, but it then shifts the time back by an hour (19:34).   Is there another solution?

[Nikola Perisic]

@Kaja Iske  What time zone is this?

[Kaja Iske]

@Nikola Perisic  GMT+01:00 (Europe/Vienna)

[Nikola Perisic]

@Kaja Iske 

Then you need to adjust your smart value to:

{{issue.description.toDate("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm").convertToTimeZone("Europe/Vienna").jiraDateTime}}

[Kaja Iske]

@Nikola Perisic Unfortunately, it's still the wrong time :(

[Nikola Perisic]

@Kaja Iske 

{{issue.description.toDate("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm").setTimeZone("Europe/Vienna").jiraDateTime}}

[Kaja Iske]

@Nikola Perisic That's the solution :-)! Thank you so much!

[Jeroen Poismans]

Hi,

So it seems you effectively get a date out of the conversion. Try using this:

{{issue.description.toDate(“yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm”).jiraDateTime}}

or

{{issue.description.toDate(“yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm”).jiraDate}}

Here is the resource where I found this:

https://support.atlassian.com/cloud-automation/docs/jira-smart-values-date-and-time/

[Kaja Iske]

Hi Jeroen,

thanks for your answer. Unfortunately, it only copies the date. By default, it sets the time to 1:00 a.m. 

[Jeroen Poismans]

Not if you pick the jiraDateTime option as mentioned above.