Expression-create new field with value difference from two different dates

Question

Hi I am looking to create a new field from an expression. I have a survey123 form feature layer where I am collecting pump hour readings twice a week and I want to calculate run hours from the current reading  from the previous reading. Does anyone have a script for this? I am struggling to get the difference between a current date reading and a previous date reading. HELP???

Thanks!

Tom

TomKukitz · Answer

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

I get that time diff part, but I need to display the etmhours field attribute. So in essence I am get hours from one date and subtract from another date. It would be curretm - prevetm. Current date would be the last and most current date, subtracted from the second last current date or the previous to current. I hope I didn't totally confuse you now???!!! Any ideas on how to accomplish this? I am trying to avoid writing a 10 page script as well. Things take forever with Arcade, I so miss attribute assistant, so much easier in VB.

Any input much appreciated!

EmilyGeo · Answer

Hi @TomKukitz,

you can calculate the difference between two dates using the DateDiff function in Arcade. You can find more information about it in the reference documentation here.

Basically this function calculates the amount of time between two dates in the units that you choose (minutes, hours, days, months, years, etc). Here is a sample code block:

var startDate = Date($feature.yourstartDateFieldhere);
var endDate = Date($feature.yourendDateFieldhere);
var diff = DateDiff(endDate, startDate, 'enter your desired units here ie hours');
return diff