Help converting variable to date

Question

Hello, I am trying to convert in jira automation, a variable into a date. The variable is caught from the issue description field, where a due date is set as plain text. Next I try to manipulate the date with syntax:

When I try to print out the result, it returns as empty. Log only returns the syntax with any explanation.

The idea is to compare the date from the description (variable) with and if else statement, with todays date.

Bill Sheboy · Answer

Would you please post your current, updated rule in a single image?  Posting in a single image will confirm the step order / context.

If the rule is too large for one browser page, you could use a scrolling page browser addon or app to capture the image.

Roger Mcgregor · Answer

Hello,

Here's more screenshots. from summary, modified dates and log.

<--Summary

The dates come from an automated message.

Bill Sheboy · Answer

This confirms the initial parsing to get the date in the variable is incorrect.

Please show an example of, and write to the audit log, the Summary for the trigger issue as that will help confirm how to adjust the parsing.  That will also help when the rule fails in the future as...

This is a risky rule / solution approach.  Putting a date value in the summary in a way that could be interpreted as either dd-MM-yyyy versus MM-dd-yyyy by a person may cause entry or understanding errors.  Is this date entered by a person or created with some automated source?

Next, there is an error in your condition as it tries using jiraDate as a value rather than now.  jiraDate is a format.  (Please see below.)

Finally, to avoid the risk of a typo / error in the date comparisons, I recommend using jiraDate rather than the format() command.  For example

* smart value condition* first value: {{DateVariable.toDate("dd-MM-yyyy").jiraDate}}
* condition: is greater than
* second value: {{now.plusDays(14).jiraDate}}