Value type of datetime\diff(), how to use it in string\replace(), convert to string

[Jakub Grufik]

Hello guys, I am currently facing an issue with the value type of datetime\diff().

I have this variable $pocetDnuKonecEtapy = datetime\diff(aktualEtapaKoniec, datetime\today(), 'days') which returns -1.

But when I want to use this in the string\replace() function it does not work.

$upozorneni = string\replace('Do konce etapy: {dny}', '{dny}', $pocetDnuKonecEtapy);

This is still returning 'Do konce etapy: {dny}' even if the variable returns -1.

The problem is that datetime\diff() is not a string, not even a number (I tried it in the Formula Sandbox see code below).

$pocetDnuKonecEtapy = datetime\diff(aktualEtapaKoniec, datetime\today(), 'days') returns -1
$pocetDnuKonecEtapy == -1 returns false
$pocetDnuKonecEtapy == '-1' returns false

So what type is it and how can I use it in the string\replace() please? Is there any way how to convert it to string, please?

Thanks a lot in advance!

[Jakub Grufik]

I tried to make workaround by creating new field varchar (which should be string, right?) and then assigning the value from datetime\diff() into that varchar, which works.
But when I want to use that varchar in string\replace() it is not working again. Am I overlooking something?

[Jakub Grufik]

The hint in formula sandbox is telling me that datetime\diff() is an integer so why it is returning false when I use:

datetime\diff(aktualEtapaKoniec, datetime\today(), 'days') == -1
when I use >= -1 then it returns True which is mindblowing

??

[rabii]

hey Jacob it is not a problem of the diff function but rather the string\replace function which accepts only string. only way to solve this is to add a custom function like (strval()) and then you can use i formula to change the output of the diff function into string to use in string\replace.

[Jakub Grufik]

hey rabii, yep that is what I thought would be necessary because I was not able to find a way to convert to string with already existing functions. Thanks a lot for the point.
As far as I am not php dev it will take me a bit of time to create a such custom function. But I think when I take already existing functions as an example I will be able to do it.

[rabii]

This is how you can create a custom function that converts an int into string:

1 -Create a file custom/Espo/Custom/Core/Formula/Functions/StringGroup/StrvalType.php with the code:

<?php

namespace Espo\Custom\Core\Formula\Functions\StringGroup;

use Espo\Core\Formula\Functions\BaseFunction;
use Espo\Core\Formula\ArgumentList;

class StrvalType extends BaseFunction
{
public function process(ArgumentList $args)
{
$args = $this->evaluate($args);

if (count($args) < 1) {
$this->throwTooFewArguments();
};

$value = $args[0];

return strval($value);
}
}​

2 - Create a file custom/Espo/Custom/Resources/metadata/app/formula.json and add the code:

{
"functionList": [
         "__APPEND__",
        {
          "name": "string\\strval",
           "insertText": "string\\strval(VALUE)"
        }
],

"functionClassNameMap": {
       "string\\strval": "Espo\\Custom\\Core\\Formula\\Functions\\StringGroup\\StrvalType"
}
}​
​

Et voila this is what you need two files and the rebuild your session and you should have the new function on the formula.

Good luck

[Jakub Grufik]

oh my god man rabii , it actually works!!! thanks a loooooooot. I will use your custom function creation as an example for me to learn from! thank you man!

I have one question, please. If I will want to add another custom function, how should the formula.json syntax looks like? Is this correct approach how to extend that json, please?

{
    "functionList": [
            "__APPEND__",
            {
                "name": "string\\strval",
                "insertText": "string\\strval(VALUE)"
            },
            {
                "name": "string\\example",
                "insertText": "string\\example(VALUE)"
            }​
    ],
    "functionClassNameMap": {
           "string\\strval": "Espo\\Custom\\Core\\Formula\\Functions\\StringGroup\\StrvalType",
           "string\\example": "Espo\\Custom\\Core\\Formula\\Functions\\StringGroup\\ExampleType"
    }
}
​

Thanks thousand times for this help man! It means a lot for me and it moves me by a mile in espocrm skillz.

[rabii]

yes this is the correct way to add more functions.

[Jakub Grufik]

rabii working perfectly!!! thank you very much

[Jakub Grufik]

Those colored labels are the reason why I needed to resolve this )

[yuri]

It's possible to use numberFormat to cast an integer to a string https://docs.espocrm.com/administrat.../#numberformat

[rabii]

thanks for sharing this.