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Duration API in h:mm and not seconds

  • December 23, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 85 views
S
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Hi there. I have created a time tracking app and used Airtable as backend. While it works perfectly for all get API requests I have troubles with post requests.

Users need to fill in a duration that they have worked. While everything else works absolutely fine I can't work out how I can create an API Post request where the user can input the duration using h:mm format and not seconds. I can work around it in Airtable using the formula but it is not practical to have App users type in their work time in seconds.

Is there a way to create a working post request? I am slowly starting to loose hope in Airtable. 

thx in advance

    2 replies

    kuovonne
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    • kuovonne
    • Brainy
    • 6009 replies
    • December 23, 2022

    Are you using the Web API? Have you tried setting the typecast parameter to true? 

    Another option is to have users enter their data in h:mm format in a text field and then use a formula field to convert to numeric format (if necessary).

    S
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    • silaswrn
    • Author
    • New Participant
    • 3 replies
    • March 10, 2023

    Hi. Yes, I think I use Web API. Typecast sadly doesn't make a difference in my case. It is set to true via JSON:

    {
    "typecast": true
    }

    Currently my users input their working hours in a text field in my app. To calculate with their entries I then convert them into duration fields via "VALUE({field name})".

    However in the end I want to present the result of my calculation in the app. Doing so it presents the result in seconds. If I the convert it into a number it always gives me a number with endless decimal places (ex: 4.16666...) which is not practical for my app. Currently I work around it with a formula field that rounds the number (4.16666... -> 4).

    However I would need an exact result. So I would need an option to either only send 2 decimal places via API or a way to convert a duration into a string and then send the string via API.


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