Setting Default Dates in Power Apps: Using Today(), Date(), Year(), and DateAdd()

Setting default values in date elements in Power Apps is essential for creating a dynamic and user-friendly interface. This feature is useful in scenarios where you want to pre-fill date fields based on certain conditions or calculations, such as setting the default to today’s date, setting a future or past date, or even dynamically calculating dates based on user inputs. This article will cover some of the main functions in Power Apps that enable these capabilities, such as Today(), Date(), Year(), and DateAdd().

Key Functions for Setting Default Dates in Power Apps

Today()

The Today() function returns the current date. It’s commonly used to set a default value for a date field to the current date, which is helpful for forms or records created on a specific day.

Example

Usage Scenario: When a user opens a form to create a new entry, setting the default date field to Today() provides context and saves time, especially in applications that require tracking daily transactions or reports.

Date(Year, Month, Day)

The Date() function allows for specifying a date by year, month, and day. This is useful when you need a specific fixed date as a default.

Example

Usage Scenario: You might use this in cases where a specific historical or start date is necessary, such as the launch date of a project.

Year()

The Year() function extracts the year from a given date, which is helpful in calculating or setting dates relative to the current year.

Example

Usage Scenario: You could use this to set dates for year-end tasks or goals, automatically adapting the year based on when the form is accessed.

DateAdd(StartDate, NumberOfUnits, Unit)

The DateAdd() function adds a specified number of units (days, months, years) to a start date. It’s valuable for dynamically calculating future or past dates.

Example

Usage Scenario: This function is great for setting a due date or follow-up date based on the current date, which could help in scheduling tasks, meetings, or deadlines.

Examples of Default Date Settings Using Multiple Functions.

Setting Default to the First Day of the Current Year

You might want to set a date picker’s default value to January 1 of the current year, which could be helpful in financial or annual reporting applications.

Setting a Date Picker to Show a Date 7 Days in the Future

If you’re scheduling a follow-up activity, you may want the default date to be one week from today.

Setting Default Value Based on User Input

1. Suppose your app collects a "Start Date," and you want another date picker, “End Date,” to default to 90 days after the start date.
2. This approach can be useful for setting expiry dates, project timelines, or other date-bound processes.
   

Setting Default to the Last Day of the Current Month

1. Setting a date to the last day of the current month can be useful in reporting or payroll applications.
   
2. This code first moves to the first day of the next month and then subtracts one day to reach the end of the current month.