project automation for date

[Mike Joyce]

Does anyone know the formula to convert QTR Start (issue type Initiative) to start date to help build Gantt and Plan timelines?

I have something like this, but don't see it working:

When value changes:
  QTR Start
Then edit issue field:
  Start date
  {{issue.qtr_start.plusDays(18)}}

[Mike Joyce]

So I learned that QTR start is not a date field, thus adding days to a non-date field simply doesn't work.   But....
QTR Start  automatically enters first date of the quarter to QS field !   Thus you can take QS  date value and add it to 'Start Date'  allowing for Gantt and Plan roadmaps to render timelines.    Edit issue:
     Start date
            {{issue.qs}}   

[Duc Thang TRAN]

Hello @Mike Joyce 
Is QTR Start a date field? If yes, here is the syntax:
{{issue.QTR Start.plusDays(18)}}

[Mike Joyce]

it is not,  good catch and thank you for tip 

[Mike Joyce]

also...  in using {{issue.qs}}   that works.   Trying  {{issue.qs.plusDays(5)}}  does not unfortunately.   

[Duc Thang TRAN]

@Mike Joyce 

When it makes a log action with this smart value {{issue.qs}},
what is returned? Maybe {{issue.qs.plusDays(5)}} doesn’t work because that is not a date value and can’t be combined with this.
I’m sharing a few things I’m using that may help you, but they need to be adapted to your context.

Convert a text field to date time value 

Create variable  : Datetime with  smart value  {{issue.comments.last.body.substringBetween("Date Time :","Email :")}}

Convert to date time value : 

{{Datetime.ToDate("dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm:ss")}}

[Mike Joyce]

What we tested and found to work was the need to break this into two steps.

1. Edit 'Start date' with  {{issue.qs}}

--  just for good measure fetch 1 sec delay

2. Edit start date with   {{issue.Start date.plusBusinessDays(5)}}

and that worked very well.