Setting Up a Formula-Type Calculated Column for Local Midnight Time (12:00:00 AM)

 In global data management, accurately capturing the start of the local day is crucial but challenging with standard functions like UTCNow() or Now(). These functions return the current UTC timestamp, which doesn’t always align with the local date. For instance, if UTCNow() shows "10-10 2:50 AM," this might actually be "10-9 7:50 PM" in Pacific Time, meaning the local date is still "10-9."

Using UTCToday() would incorrectly return "10-10 12:00 AM," failing to represent the local date correctly. This mismatch is due to these functions not accounting for local time zone differences, leading to potential inaccuracies in records that rely on the exact start of the local day.

To address this, setting up a formula-type column that adjusts the UTC time to 12:00 AM local time ensures every record accurately reflects the local date at midnight. This method is essential for ensuring data integrity in applications that require precise daily records, such as transaction logs or activity tracking, where the local date's accuracy is critical.

Step 1: Define the Formula-Type Column

• Navigate to the table within your Dataverse environment where you need the new column.
• Add a new column, selecting 'Datetime' as the type, and specify that it is a formula-type with an expression that calculates values dynamically.

Step 2: Write the Formula for Adjusting to Midnight Time

• Implement a formula that adjusts the current UTC time to reflect Pacific Time at midnight:

DateAdd(

    DateAdd(

        DateAdd(

            DateAdd(

                DateAdd(

                    UTCNow(), -7, TimeUnit.Hours  // Adjust to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

                ),

                -Hour(DateAdd(UTCNow(), -7, TimeUnit.Hours)), TimeUnit.Hours  // Reset hour to midnight

            ),

            -Minute(DateAdd(UTCNow(), -7, TimeUnit.Hours)), TimeUnit.Minutes  // Set minute to 00

        ),

        -Second(DateAdd(UTCNow(), -7, TimeUnit.Hours)), TimeUnit.Seconds  // Set second to 00

    ),

    7, TimeUnit.Hours  // Convert back to UTC

)

Step 3: Implement, Test, and Validate

• After configuring the formula-type column, test it extensively by creating or modifying records to ensure that the datetime values correctly reflect 12:00 AM in the Pacific Time, suitably adjusted to UTC.
• Validate the functionality across different user settings, particularly for users in different time zones, to confirm that the datetime values are consistent and accurate.

Conclusion

Setting up a formula-type column for local midnight time in Microsoft Dataverse is essential for applications requiring precise time zone management. By following these steps, organizations can ensure their data systems reflect accurate, time-zone-appropriate dates and times, facilitating better data management and decision-making across global operations.