Question

Date stamp mismatch between Airtable tables due to Zapier time zone setting?

  • 30 November 2023
  • 27 replies
  • 79 views

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I have a zap that updates a date stamp in an airtable table (Table 1) once a form is submitted from jotform into another table in airtable (Table 2), the zap then updates the date stamp in Table 1. I have an automation that sends out an email when this date stamp in table 1 is 1 day ago. But there is an issues with that dates - in table 2 the submission date of the form from jotform sometimes different to the date stamp that is generated in table 1. 

What could be the cause of this? The time zones in airtable and Jotform are both London, but a time zone in zapier was not specified. I have now changed this to London - will this solve my issue?


27 replies

Userlevel 7
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Hi @jakerwatson 

Good question.

Check your Zap Runs history to see the DATA IN/OUT for each Zap step to help you troubleshoot: https://zapier.com/app/history/

We would need to see detailed screenshots with:

  • how your Zap steps are configured
  • how your Airtable Date fields are configured
  • a specific example showing the discrepancy
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The two dates are not the same in the screenshot - why is this and how to I ensure the fields_ date is the same as the top one?

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

We would need to see detailed screenshots with:

  • how your Zap steps are configured in the EDIT mode
  • how your Airtable Date fields are configured
  • a specific example showing the discrepancy
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Airtable date fields 
 

I am struggling to get a specific example as screenshot will contain personal data

 

What screenshots do you need of the specific zap? 

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

  • screenshots with how your Zap steps are configured in the EDIT mode
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Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

We need to see screenshots with how each of your Zap steps are configured in the Action section.

 

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The time that you can see in the last image is what is sent to airtable - but it shows as 5 hours prior

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

Try using a system generated timestamp: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496275717261

 

Check the time zone settings for these:

 

Are you viewing the Airtable Base from the same time zone as set in the IVT Date field?

 

 

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Yes I am in London

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My time zone in zapier settings is set to GMT Europe/London

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

Did you try this?

Try using a system generated timestamp: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496275717261

 

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In which section in the action do I add the formula?

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

Add this to the desired field in your Zap action step: {{zap_meta_utc_iso}}

 

Another option is to create an Airtable Automation to set the Date field value.

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This is where I want the date - but it shows correct here? Do I add {{zap_meta_utc_iso}} next to it?

 

How is the airtable automation done? Would you be able to help with that?

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I have done the timestamp and when testing it shows as on airtable 

 

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

Are you seeing the correct timestamp now?

We would need to see updated screenshots with how your Zap step is configured now for context.

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The time is correct but the date is formatting wrong, shouldn’t it read 30/11/2023?

 

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Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

You need to remove the variable from step 1.

 

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What variable?

 

Apologies if it is obvious

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

You have 2 variables mapped in the IVT field.

The first variable indicates it’s from Step 1.

Try removing the first variable that is mapped from Step 1.

 

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Do I not need this as it is generated from the jotform submission? And this is the date that I need to go into airtable

Userlevel 7
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@jakerwatson 

This will generate a time timestamp from Zap at the time the Zap step runs.

 

 

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