C# to JavaScript Conversions

Use the following code snippets to help you switch from writing flows in C# to writing flows in JavaScript.

DateTime

Return today's date in

Return today's date in C#:

DateTime.Now.Date

Return today's date in JS:

dayjs();

Compare a date to the current date in

Compare a date to the current date in C#:

DateTime.Parse(Data["Transaction_Date"].ToString())
  .Date ==DateTime.Now.Date

Compare a date to the current date in JS:

dayjs().isSame(dayjs(
  flow.trigger.data["Transaction_Date"])
);

Safely convert a value to a date, or default to today’s date in

Safely convert a value to a date, or default to today’s date in C#:

// creates new DateTime called dt and sets a default
// to today’s date
var dt = System.DateTime.Now;

bool vIsValidDate = System.DateTime.TryParse(
  Data.payRateEffectiveDate?.ToString(),
  out dt
); 

// If the date parsing fails for any reason,
// set it to a default
if (!vIsValidDate) dt = System.DateTime.Now;

return dt.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd");

Safely convert a value to a date, or default to today’s date in JS:

const dateObj = dayjs(flow.trigger.data
  .payRateEffectiveDate);

if (dateObj.isValid()) {
  return dateObj.format('YYYY-MM-DD');
} 

return dayjs().format('YYYY-MM-DD');

Calculate the next closest Friday after a given date. Replace the example date with your date variable

Calculate the next closest Friday after a given date. Replace the example date with your date variable in C#:

DateTime dt = DateTime.Parse("9/29/2021");

if (dt.DayOfWeek.ToString() != "Friday")
{
  int x = System.DayOfWeek.Friday - dt.DayOfWeek;
  DateTime Friday = dt.AddDays(x);

  return Friday;
}
else
{
  return dt;
}

Calculate the next closest Friday after a given date. Replace the example date with your date variable in JS:

dayjs('9/29/2021').day(5);

Calculate the last day in a month

Calculate the last day in a month in C#:

DateTime dt = DateTime.Parse(Data.postedDate);

return new DateTime(
  dt.Year, 
  dt.Month, 
  DateTime.DaysInMonth(dt.Year, dt.Month)
);

Calculate the last day in a month in JS:

dayjs(flow.trigger.data.postedDate).endOf('month');

Calculate the last day in a week

Calculate the last day in a week in C#:

var culture = System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread
  .CurrentCulture;
var difference = dt.DayOfWeek - culture.DateTimeFormat
  .FirstDayOfWeek;

if(difference < 0) {
  difference += 7;
} 

DateTime start = dt.AddDays(-difference).Date;

return start.AddDays(6).Date;

Calculate the last day in a week in JS:

dayjs(flow.trigger.data.postedDate).endOf('week');

Compare two dates

Compare two dates in C#:

var syncStart = GetConfigValue("syncStartDate");

if (syncStart != null) 
{
  if (DateTime.Parse(syncStart.ToString()) > DateTime
    .Parse(Data.DateCreated.ToString())) 
  {
    return true;
  }
}

Compare two dates in JS:

const syncStart = flow.config.syncStartDate;

if (syncStart) {
  // greater than
  if (dayjs(syncStart) > dayjs(flow.trigger.data
    .DateCreated)) {
    return true;
  }
  
  // isAfter
  if (dayjs(syncStart).isAfter(dayjs(flow.trigger.data
    .DateCreated))) {
    return true;
  }
};

Use Vista standard formatting for batch creation (set to 1st day of current month)

Use Vista standard formatting for batch creation (set to 1st day of current month) in C#:

new DateTime(DateTime.Now.Year, DateTime.Now.Month, 1)
  .ToString("yyyy-MM-dd")

Use Vista standard formatting for batch creation (set to 1st day of current month) in JS:

dayjs().date(1).format('YYYY-MM-DD');

Create a DateTime variable, set it equal to an input value, and output it in Vista format

Create a DateTime variable, set it equal to an input value, and output it in Vista format in C#:

DateTime dt;

dt = DateTime.Parse(
  Data.Items[0].TransactionDate.ToString()
);

return new DateTime(dt.Year, dt.Month, 1)
  .ToString("yyyy-MM-dd")

Create a DateTime variable, set it equal to an input value, and output it in Vista format in JS:

dayjs(flow.trigger.data.Items[0].TransactionDate)
  .format('YYYY-MM-DD');

Strings

string vTest = "App Xchange, is cool";

Determine if a string contains specified text

Determine if a string contains specified text in C#:

vTest.Contains("sti")

Determine if a string contains specified text in JS:

vTest.includes('sti');

Find the first position of a specified value

Note: Both C# and JS return a -1 if not found.

Find the first position of a specified value in C#:

vTest.IndexOf("u")

Find the first position of a specified value in JS:

vTest.indexOf('u');

Convert to upper or lower case

Note: You should convert to lowercase or uppercase prior to string comparison. For example, converting an email address, vendor name, or payment type name to lowercase prior to comparison will make it case-insensitive and protect you against capitalization errors.

Convert to upper or lower case in C#:

vTest.ToUpper() or vTest.ToLower()

Convert to upper or lower case in JS:

vTest.toUpperCase() or vTest.toLowerCase();

Return the length of the string

Return the length of the string in C#:

vTest.Length

Return the length of the string in JS:

vTest.length;

Delete all characters from specified index to end

Delete all characters from specified index to end in C#:

vTest.Remove(5)
// vTest = "App X"

Note: Remove() takes a startIndex and an optional count. If no count is provided, it removes through the end of the string.

This is destructive. It is deleting any characters after the start index. vTest is changed and overwritten, and the next time you access it, it will be the shortened string value.

Delete all characters from specified index to end in JS:

const updatedStr = vTest.slice(0, 5);
const slicedStr = vTest.slice(5)
// vTest = 'App Xchange, is cool';
// updatedStr = 'App X'
// slicedStr = 'change, is cool'

Note: Slice() and Remove() are essentially opposites but can be used to the same effect. With slice you tell it what to keep.

Slice() takes a startIndex and an optional endIndex, but unlike Remove(), it returns the string between the start and the end indexes, whereas Remove() removes.
If no endIndex is provided, slice(), preserves through the end of the string.

This is non-destructive. It returns a new string from the start index to the end index while leaving the original string intact. vTest remains unchanged. You have to assign this to a new variable in order to access it.

Replace all instances of a string with another

Note: Use replace to strip out special characters. It's a useful way to make sure your string is sanitized and does not contain special characters that can cause problems.

Replace all instances of a string with another in C#:

string money = "$3.00"; 
money.Replace("$", string.Empty)

Replace all instances of a string with another in JS:

const money = '$3.00'; 
money.replace('$', ''); => '3.00'

Note: This is non-destructive.

Return part of the string

Return part of the string: in C#:

vTest.Substring(0,5) => "App X"

vTest.Substring(vTest.IndexOf("A"), 2) => "Ap"

// Prevents failure when string is less than the end 
// index value
vTest.Substring(0,Math.Min(3,vTest.Length)) => "App"

Note: Substring is one of the most risky functions to run on a string. If you don't use Math.Min, your code will fail.

To avoid a blind substring call:

string pse = Data.Phase.ToString().Trim();
return pse.Substring(0,System.Math.Min(7, pse.Length));

Safe substrings and knowing max values:

You should know what the max value is and protect against truncation. Alternatively, if using a substring to get the first X characters, you need to protect against the Math.Min being smaller.

Data.description.ToString().Substring(
  0, Math.Min(Data.description.ToString().Length, 60)
) ?? ""

Return part of the string: in JS:

vTest.slice(0, 5) => 'App X'

vTest.slice(vTest.indexOf('A'), 2) => 'Ap'

// Prevents failure when string is less than the end
// index value
vTest.slice(0, Math.min(3, vTest.length)) => 'App'

// or even simpler
vTest.slice(0, 3 || vTest.length) => 'App'

Note: Although JavaScript has its own substring() method, use slice() instead. To learn why, see this article on JavaScript substring() vs slice().

Remove starting and ending white space

Note: Trim should be one of the most common functions used with strings. Be sure to use it to remove any leading or trailing whitespace that can cause issues. Whitespace has been known to cause support tickets and delays in onboarding, and is very tough to track down. Use Trim instead.

Remove starting and ending white space in C#:

vTest.Trim()

Remove starting and ending white space in JS:

vTest.trim()

Evaluate if a string is blank or null

Note: Always check for null or empty prior to using the value. You can then create a hierarchy of data, for example, checking allocation fields first and if blank/null then checking the expense detail fields and if blank/null then defaulting to something. This type of defensive coding will keep flows from failing or remediation tasks from being created for missing data.

in C#:

string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Data.Overhead_Expense
  .ToString())

//Alternatively, you can use IsNullOrEmpty like this:
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(ExpenseDetail.ReportEntryCustom3)) {
  vResult = ExpenseDetail.ReportEntryCustom3;
}

in JS:

if (vTest) {
  // true when vTest is non-empty string, 
  // is also true if only whitespace
}

if (vTest.trim()) {
  // same as above but fails if only whitespace
}

Format data as currency

Format data as currency in C#:

Data.Amount = "4.35615676"

String.Format(
  "{0:0.00}", decimal.Parse(Data.Amount.ToString())
)

Format data as currency in JS:

numeral('4.35615676').format('$0,0[.]00');

Split a string into parts

Split a string into parts in C#:

vTest.Split(",")[0]

vTest.Split(",")[1]

if (vTest.Contains(","))
{
  vReturn = vTest.Split(",")[1];
} 

if (vTest.Contains("YOUR MOM"))
{
  vReturn = vTest.Split("YOUR MOM")[1];
}

Note: String splits are also risky and can be a source of failures. Be sure to always do a Contains prior to a split to check that your string contains the character or string you are splitting on.

Split a string into parts in JS:

vTest.split(',')[0]

vTest.split(',')[1]

if (vTest.includes(',')) {
  vReturn = vTest.split(',')[1];
} 

if (vTest.includes("YOUR MOM")) {
  vReturn = vTest.Split("YOUR MOM")[1];
}

Note: As with previous JS string methods, these are non-destructive to the original string and must be assigned to new variables.

If the string does not contain the character or string you are splitting on, it returns undefined.

Add characters to the beginning or end of a string

Add characters to the beginning or end of a string in C#:

// The number specifies the total desired string length
vTest.PadLeft(20)

vTest.PadLeft(20, "*")

vTest.PadRight(20, "-")

Add characters to the beginning or end of a string in JS:

vTest.padStart(20);

vTest.padStart(20, '*');

vTest.padEnd(20, '-');

Arrays

Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable, instead of declaring separate variables for each value. Flows also rely upon the JArray Class, which represents a JSON array, in the Newtonsoft.Json assembly. See more info at JArray Class.

Arrays are much easier to work with in JavaScript than C#.

Create a hardcoded array

For example, for use with the In operator in a Filter step.

CAUTION: Use extreme care when hardcoding something. Make sure it is future proof and will not need to be changed in the future.

in C#:

new int[] {10,15}

new string[] {"Approved", "Variance Approved"}

in JS:

const intArr = [10, 15];

const stringArr = ['Approved', 'Variance Approved'];

Convert a list output to a JArray

Convert a list output to a JArray in C#:

JArray.FromObject(
  (Object)Step("convert-file-to-json").Output
)

Note: If you see the JArray instance expected error, that means you are missing the (object) cast. Change it to the following:

JArray.FromObject((object)Step("lookup-project-number").Output).Where(r => r["project-number"]?.ToString()

Convert a list output to a JArray in JS:

flow.step('convert-file-to-json').output;

Note: No converting or casting is necessary in JavaScript.

Determine if any element in an array satisfies a requirement

Determine if any element in an array satisfies a requirement in C#:

var hasOwnerAssignee = JArray.FromObject(
    (object)Data.Assignees
  )
  .Where(a => domains.Any(
    d => a["ContactEMail"].ToString().EndsWith(d.ToString()))
  )
  .Any();

Determine if any element in an array satisfies a requirement in JS:

const hasOwnerAssignee = flow.trigger.data.Assignees
  .some((a) => domains.some(
    d => a.ContactEMail.endsWith(d)
  ),
);

Sort an array by a column in descending order and then return the first value (highest value)

Sort an array by a column in descending order and then return the first value (highest value) in C#:

JArray.FromObject((object)Data.Items)
  .OrderByDescending(x=>int.Parse(x["Hubometer_Reading"].ToString()))
  .First()["Hubometer_Reading"]
  .ToString()

Note: Don't do int.Parse. Change it to a TryParse instead. Decimals, dates, and integers all need to be TryParse.

Int32.TryParse(

item.GLCo.ToString(), out Int32 glco);

Sort an array by a column in descending order and then return the first value (highest value) in JS:

flow.trigger.data.Items.sort(
  (a, b) => b['Hubometer_Reading'] - a['Hubometer_Reading']
)[0];

Note: sort() mutates the original array. The default sort order is ascending. The time and space complexity of the sort cannot be guaranteed as it depends on the implementation.

Lodash is another option:

// Lodash
const sorted = _.orderBy(flow.trigger.data.Items, 'Hubometer_Reading', 
  'desc')[0];

Evaluate if a lookup step has any records

Evaluate if a lookup step has any records in C#:

((IEnumerable<dynamic>) Step("lookup-employee").Output)
  .Any()

To access element in lookup:

if (Step("lookup-job-in-spectrum").Output.Count > 0)
{
  return Step("lookup-job-in-spectrum").Output[0]
    .Job_Number.ToString();
}
else 
{
  return (string)null;
}

Note: Make sure your lookup step returns something. Every lookup should have an if exists check before using the output.

Evaluate if a lookup step has any records in JS:

flow.step('lookup-employee').output.length > 0

// Lodash
_.any(flow.step('lookup-employee').output)

To access element in lookup:

if (flow.step('lookup-employee').output.length > 0) {
  return flow.step('lookup-employee').output[0].Job_Number.toString()
} else {
  return null;
}

Make sure all lines of a JArray/array contain a value matching the criteria

Make sure all lines of a JArray/array contain a value matching the criteria in C#:

JArray x = JArray.FromObject(Step("convert-to-json").Output)

return x.All(i => i["Employee_Id"].ToString() != "")

Make sure all lines of a JArray/array contain a value matching the criteria in JS:

flow.step('convert-to-json').output
  .every(i => i["Employee_Id"]);

Cast the dynamic object from a filter step's output to an object so you can turn it into a JArray

Cast the dynamic object from a filter step's output to an object so you can turn it into a JArray in C#:

JArray.FromObject(
  (object)Step(“filter-vista-employee-list-yx5mr”)
    .Output
)

// then we can use JArray functions on it
JArray.FromObject(
  (object)Step("filter-vista-employee-list-yx5mr")
    .Output
  )
  .Select(x => x["SourceSystemId"].ToString())
  .ToArray()

Cast the dynamic object from a filter step's output to an object so you can turn it into a JArray in JS:

flow.step('filter-vista-employee-list-yx5mr').output
  .map(x => x.SourceSystemId);

Note: No casting is necessary in JavaScript.

Add each value in an array to a list or a string

Add each value in an array to a list or a string in C#:

string results = "";

foreach (var flag in Data.flags[0].system_flag_details) 
{
  if (flag["reasons"] != null && flag[“reasons”] != "") 
  {
    results +=  $”{flag[“reasons”]}: “;
  }
}

return results;

Add each value in an array to a list or a string in JS:

let results = '';

flow.trigger.data.flags[0].system_flag_details.forEach(flag => {

  if (flag.reasons) {

    results += `${flag.reasons}: `

  }

})

return results;

Sum all values in a field of an array or list

in C#:

JArray.FromObject(
  (Object)Step(“lookup-class”).Output.DednLiabs)
  .Sum(x=>x.decimal.Parse(x[“NewRate”])
);

in JS:

const values = flow.step('lookup-class').output.DednLiabs

values.reduce(
  (prev, curr) => prev + Number(curr.NewRate), 
  0
);

// Numeraljs
values.reduce(
  (prev, curr) => numeral(prev).add(curr.NewRate).value(), 
  0
);

// Lodash
_.sumBy(values, (e) => Number(e.NewRate));

Note: The reduce() method executes a user-supplied reducer callback function on each element of the array, in order, passing in the return value from the calculation on the preceding element. The final result of running the reducer across all elements of the array is a single value. See the Mozilla developer docs for more information on the reduce() method.

Assign a value based on looking up a value in an array

Assign a value based on looking up a value in an array in C#:

var rate = JArray.FromObject(
  (Step("lookup-class").Output[0].PayRates as JArray)
  .Where(
    e => e["Shift"].ToString() == 
      Step("lookup-employee-in-vista").Output.Shift
        .ToString()
  )
  .ToArray());

Assign a value based on looking up a value in an array in JS:

const payRates = flow.step('lookup-class').output[0]
  .PayRates;
const shiftToMatch = flow.step('lookup-employee-in-vista')
  .output.Shift;

// if there can be multiple matches, use filter()
const rates = payRates.filter(e => e.Shift === shiftToMatch);

// if you only want to match on the first successful hit, 
// use find()
const rate = payRates.find(e => e.Shift === shiftToMatch);

Determine if an object in an array has a field

Determine if an object in an array has a field in C#:

var x = JArray.FromObject((object)Data);

foreach(JObject item in x)
{
  if(item.ContainsKey(“department”)) 
  {
    // do something
  }   
}

Determine if an object in an array has a field in JS:

flow.trigger.data.forEach(item => {
  if (item.department) {
    // do something
  }
})

Sort the input for a Map step to intentionally order lines in an invoice

Sort the input for a Map step to intentionally order lines in an invoice in C#:

JArray sorted = new JArray(lines.OrderByDescending(
  x=>x["Equipment"].ToString()
  )
);

return sorted;

Sort the input for a Map step to intentionally order lines in an invoice in JS:

lines.sort((a, b) => {
  if (b.Equipment > a.Equipment) return 1;
  if (b.Equipment < a.Equipment) return -1;
  return 0;
});

// Lodash
const orderedLines = _.orderBy(lines, 'Equipment', 'desc');

Note: sort() mutates the original array, whereas _.orderBy() returns a new array.

Was this helpful? Give us feedback.

Help for Trimble Products

C# to JavaScript Conversions

DateTime

Strings

Arrays