Using Model Builder's inline variable %Date% or %t% in Output name

[VanessaSimps]

hello- I am trying to use the inline variable of either %Date% or %t% in an output name. 

I am not using an iterator in this model, I simply want to be able to automat the output name to have the date included in the name. 

I am getting the following messages (000354 if I use %date% and 000278 if I use %t%) , which could make sense if the model isn't actually recognizing the %. 

• ERROR 000354: The name contains invalid characters
  
• ERROR 000278: Field mapping error: field type invalid for output field created_date and input field created_date
  
  

Do you have to be utilizing an iterator in your model in order to use the date inline variable?

Thanks in advance,

Vanessa

[SiqiLi · Accepted solution]

Hi @VanessaSimps,

Iterators are not required in order to use inline variable.

%date% is not one of our supported system variables, so it doesn't work. 

%t% should work and add time in the format of YYYYMMDDHHMMSS (inline variable documentation). This "ERROR 000278: Field mapping error: field type invalid for output field created_date and input field created_date" seems related to the Feature Class To Feature Class Tool. Could you please try use Export Features tool? 

[VanessaSimps]

Thank you for the response. I must have mixed up seeing %data% and %date% when I was looking through the documentation yesterday! 

I did a quick test using your suggestion. One test using Export Features with the %t%. And then, just for fun I decided to test it again with the FC to FC this time using %t%. I actually got both to work! 

Thank you for the quick response!