NOW

Use the NOW function to get the current date and time.

Use

NOW( )
Returns the current date and time.

Returns

Date/Time

Examples

Recording a Precise Completion Timestamp

You can use the NOW function in a Variable Update formula to capture the exact moment a specific activity is finished, which is useful for audit logs or custom run history.

• Scenario: You want to update a variable called $ReviewFinishedAt once a manager completes their review step.
• Formula: NOW()
• Update Point: Set this to trigger "After step completes" on the relevant Activity step.
• Logic: When the manager clicks "Complete," the function captures the current date and time from the system and stores it in the variable. This provides a more granular record than the standard "CompletedOn" property if you need to calculate time differences between multiple manual steps.

Ensuring Future-Dated Submissions

The NOW function can be used within an Output Validation formula to prevent users from entering a date and time that has already passed.

• Scenario: On a "Service Request" form, a user must select a "Preferred Inspection Time." To avoid scheduling conflicts, this time must be in the future.
• Formula: ASSERT(this > NOW(), "The preferred inspection time must be a future date and time.")
• Logic:
  • this: Refers to the date/time value the user has selected in the capture widget.
  • >: A comparison operator checking if the selected time is "greater than" (later than) the present.
  • NOW(): Provides the exact current date and time for comparison.
  • Result: If the user tries to select a time from earlier today or a previous day, the ASSERT function returns FALSE and displays the custom error message.