I’m building a Make.com (Integromat) scenario via the public API and hitting a
specific bug. I need a documented answer, not speculation.
CONTEXT:
- I’m calling POST /api/v2/scenarios (scenarios_create) with a blueprint JSON.
- One of the modules is airtable:ActionUpdateRecords (version 3).
- The mapper for that module contains a Date field that I want to populate
with today’s date via Make’s formatDate function.
WHAT I’M SENDING:
In the mapper’s record object, I set the date field to this string value:
“fldTTsvs9PNGCp8ye”: “{{formatDate(now; “YYYY-MM-DD”)}}”
WHAT HAPPENS AT RUNTIME:
The input bundle for that module shows the field value as the LITERAL string:
formatDate(now;YYYY-MM-DD)
i.e. the formula is not evaluated — it’s stored and sent as plain text.
Airtable’s typecast rejects it (silently drops the field).
KEY OBSERVATION:
The exact same formula syntax — “{{formatDate(now; “YYYY-MM-DD”)}}” —
works perfectly in another scenario in the same workspace. The difference:
that other scenario was originally built in the Make UI, then I read its
blueprint via the API. So the formula was originally compiled by the UI’s
expression editor and the API merely preserves it.
MY HYPOTHESIS:
The Make API does not compile expression-template strings (anything wrapped
in {{ }}) into Make’s internal IML representation when scenarios are created
via scenarios_create. The UI editor compiles them; the API does not.
QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED:
- Is this a known limitation of the Make API? Link to docs or community
thread if so.
- Is there an IML-native way to write a formatDate expression in a
blueprint JSON that the API will accept? (e.g. some other JSON
structure, not a templated string?)
- Does scenarios_update behave differently from scenarios_create for
expression compilation? I’ve tried both and got the same result, but
want confirmation this is by design.
- If the API genuinely cannot compile expressions, what’s the recommended
workaround for programmatic scenario construction that includes
formulas?
Please cite Make documentation, community forum threads, or developer
docs in your answer. If you don’t have direct evidence and would be
guessing, say so explicitly so I know to ask elsewhere.
Welcome to the Make community!
We’d love to help, however, we require more information that demonstrates the problem to help us reproduce the scenario and any issues and errors. To allow others to assist you, please provide the following:
A. All Relevant Screenshots
We need to see what you’re working with to give you the best advice. Screenshots are important because Make is a visual editor — a picture provides us with more context.
It would help us identify the issue by having screenshots of:
- the full scenario, and the zoomed in parts of the scenario that you are referring to (if your scenario is huge),
- a full scenario run/execution from the history (showing output “speech” bubbles),
- relevant module fields (showing how you’ve used any built-in functions, and how you’ve mapped the variables),
- relevant filters between modules (showing which operators and any built-in functions you’ve used, and how you’ve mapped the variables),
- relevant module input/output bubbles,
- if applicable, any error messages,
- and if applicable, any external services (spreadsheet headers/ sample data/ regex101.com/ etc. to show the item/ record exists, and is set up correctly).
Expand Instructions ◀
Please directly upload screenshots into the post editor. Using the forum’s image hosting allows for zooming in when clicked, and avoids third-party cookies or tracking.
Taking Screenshots
- Microsoft Windows: Take screenshots using the “Windows Snipping Tool”, by pressing either PrtSc or WinShiftS keys on your keyboard.
- MacOS: Take screenshots by pressing CommandShift4 keys on your keyboard.
Uploading Images
- Drag image files directly into the rich-text editor, or
- Click on the upload button in the editor toolbar to select files:
B. Scenario Blueprint
Providing your scenario will allow others to quickly recreate and see how you have set up the mappings in each module, and also allows us take screenshots or provide module exports of any solutions we have for you in return. This would benefit you in implementing our suggestions as you can view screenshots of the changes or paste corrected modules back into your scenario.
Expand Instructions ◀
A. Export Blueprint
In the scenario editor, click the three dots at the top-right, then select “Export blueprint”.
B. Create Public Share Link
In the scenario editor, click on the Share button:
Read more about the scenario sharing feature in the Help Centre.
C. Properly-formatted Output Bundles from a Scenario Run
Please provide the Output bundle of each of the relevant modules from the Scenario History, or by re-running the scenario.
Expand Instructions ◀
Click on the white speech bubbles on the top-right of each module and select “Download output (or input) bundles”.
A. Upload a Text File
Save each bundle contents in a plain text editor as a moduleNumber-output.txt file. Open the file to check if it has not added additional formatting or encoded the plain text.
-
You can upload files and images to this forum by clicking on the upload button:
Uploading an attachment here will look like this:
module1-input.txt (1.2 KB), module1-output.txt (3.4 KB)
B. Insert a Formatted Code Block
If you are unable to upload files on this forum, alternatively you can paste the bundles AND format them correctly with the “Preformatted Text” (code) button in the rich-text editor. Otherwise the forum software will change the content, making them invalid!
Formatting IS Important!
Here are some ways to provide text content in a way that it won’t be modified by the forum.
-
Method 1: Type code fence manually —
Manually type three backticks ``` in a separate line before and after the content, like this,
```
text goes here
```
-
Method 2: Highlight the pasted content, then click the preformatted text/code button —
-
Method 3: Upload your file elsewhere and share the public link —
This method is only advised for large files exceeding the forum upload limit.
Providing the Output bundle will allow others to replicate what is going on, especially if there are complex data structures (like nested arrays and collections) and data from external services. This helps us with answering your question with valid examples, like mapping raw variable names (instead of the label/display name).
Sharing these details will make it easier for others to assist you, so that you can get better answers, faster.
— @samliew
P.S.: investing some effort into the tutorials in the Make Academy will save you lots of time and frustration using Make!
Hey there,
does this happen with all formulas or only the formatDate one? And where are you getting the blueprint from? Another Maker or an AI? Cause every time I’ve used Claude to create something I had to go after it and fix all the formulas cause it keeps messing them up.