Implementing Time-based Record Creation Restriction in Espo CRM

[sapyantuk]

Greetings,
I have a query for the developers regarding a specific requirement. I intend to implement a functionality that prevents users from creating records prior to a designated time. To illustrate, within a given entity, I aim to establish a rule wherein users are only permitted to create records after 9:30 AM. Prior to this time, users should be restricted from creating any records.
I am seeking guidance on how to accomplish this within Espo CRM. Your assistance in achieving this objective would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

[espcrm]

Sound very doable with the Before Save API and is(new) and time > 9:30am

It will require a little bit of re-do but here is a quick concept I just did:

[lazovic]

Hi sapyantuk,

You can use API Before Save Script. Go to Administration > Entity Manager > [your_entity_name] > Formula > API Before Save Script and insert the following lines:

$time = datetime\format(datetime\now(), 'Europe/Kiev', 'hh:mm A');

if (entity\isNew() && env\userAttribute('type') != 'Admin' && $time < '09:30 AM') {
   recordService\throwConflict("You can't create record right now.");
}

In the first line of this formula script please insert your timezone instead of Europe/Kiev.

[espcrm]

The different in skill level is above! I think doing this will work for you.

Personally but I find it weird to have this type of restriction, it lock data from being input but I can understand the reasoning for it in certain case. The issue with this it restrict permanently, rather than a "Confirmation"

[sapyantuk]

lazovic Thank you. Solved my issue.
i have one more question

I aim to prevent users from creating duplicate records. My objective is to implement a validation process that checks whether a user has already created a record on the same day. The intention behind this is to ensure that a user can only create a single record within a given day. How can I effectively accomplish this?

[sapyantuk]

i am using this code


$time = datetime\format(datetime\now(), 'Asia/Kathmandu', 'hh:mm A');
$currentDate = date('Y-m-d');

if (entity\isNew() && env\userAttribute('type') != 'Admin' && $time < '09:35 AM') {
recordService\throwConflict("You can't check in before 09:35. Please try again after 09:35.");
}

// Check if the user has created a record on the current day
$userRecords = recordService\findByAttributes([
'user_id' => env\userId(),
'created_at' => $currentDate,
]);

if (count($userRecords) > 0) {
recordService\throwConflict("You have already created a record today.");
}



but its not working

[lazovic]

sapyantuk,

This is the incorrect formula script because of wrong syntax:

$userRecords = recordService\findByAttributes([
'user_id' => env\userId(),
'created_at' => $currentDate,
]);

if (count($userRecords) > 0) {
recordService\throwConflict("You have already created a record today.");
}

This is correct formula script to achieve your goal:

$userRecords = record\count('your-entity-type', 'createdById=', env\userAttribute('id'), 'createdAt>', datetime\today()); // change 'your-entity-type' to your entity name like Contact or Lead

if ($userRecords > 0) {
recordService\throwConflict("You have already created a record today.");
}

I recommend that you create formula scripts by following the relevant documentation: https://docs.espocrm.com/administration/formula

[sapyantuk]

lazovic it is blocking user from editing the record also. i want to check condition while creating record only.

[lazovic]

$userRecords = record\count('your-entity-type', 'createdById=', env\userAttribute('id'), 'createdAt>', datetime\today()); // change 'your-entity-type' to your entity name like Contact or Lead

if ($userRecords > 0 && entity\isNew() && env\userAttribute('type') != 'Admin') {
recordService\throwConflict("You have already created a record today.");
}

[yuri]

$time < '09:30 AM' won't work reliably. It's better to represent time as a number (not string) and compare.

E.g. get hours (0-24) * 60 and plus minutes. Do the same for both $time and '09:30'. Then compare two integer numbers.

[yuri]

String comparison of time parts w/o AM/PM (0-24 format) should work too (as PHP that interprets and run formula supports string comparison in such way).

[sapyantuk]

Dear lazovic , I wanted to bring to your attention an issue that Yuri mentioned regarding the time comparison "$time < '09:30 AM'." It appears that this comparison might not be functioning reliably.
I would like to provide you with some context regarding my current location. I am currently in Nepal, specifically in the Asia/Kathmandu time zone. The local time here is 06:05 PM. However, I have encountered a problem when attempting to create an attendance record. This action triggers a server error with code 500, accompanied by the error message "throwConflict('You can't create a record right now.');"
I believe that this issue requires some attention and investigation to ensure that the attendance functionality works smoothly regardless of the time zone differences. Your assistance in resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,

[lazovic]

sapyantuk,

Please try to use this formula script:

$hourNow = datetime\hour(datetime\now(), 'Asia/Kathmandu');
$minutesNow = datetime\minute(datetime\now(), 'Asia/Kathmandu');
$timeNow = ($hourNow * 60) + $minutesNow;

$time = (9 * 60) + 30; // 09:30 AM

if (entity\isNew() && env\userAttribute('type') != 'Admin' && $timeNow < $time) {
recordService\throwConflict("You can't create record right now.");
}

$userRecords = record\count('your-entity-type', 'createdById=', env\userAttribute('id'), 'createdAt>', datetime\today()); // change 'your-entity-type' to your entity name like Contact or Lead

if ($userRecords > 0 && entity\isNew() && env\userAttribute('type') != 'Admin') {
recordService\throwConflict("You have already created a record today.");
}

[sapyantuk]

lazovic Thanks , Solved my issue .