Compare time in Dialogflow CX conditional response

Question

I try to compare time in conditional response:

if $sys.func.IDENTITY($sys.func.FORMAT_DATE($sys.func.NOW(), "H")) < 8 OR $sys.func.IDENTITY($sys.func.FORMAT_DATE($sys.func.NOW(), "H")) > 20
  We are closed now
else
  We are open
endif

Time is 18:20, and I added $sys.func.IDENTITY($sys.func.FORMAT_DATE($sys.func.NOW(), "H")) to the text output and made sure it says "18", but it keeps saying "We are closed now".

I see that "18" is of string type. I might need to convert the value to integer, but how?

Working hours are between 8am-9pm

How to properly compare?

Answer 1

The right hand side is type casted to the same type as the left hand side before comparing.

Said this, I think that you can use “HH” to make sure you have a leading zero, since there could be a non-numeric “:mm” minute part.

You can use the following code:

if $sys.func.FORMAT_DATE($sys.func.NOW(), "HH") < “08” OR $sys.func.FORMAT_DATE($sys.func.NOW(), "HH") > “20” 
  We are closed now 
else 
  We are open 
endif