How to Automatically Set sysdate in a JSON Object Using Postman Pre-request Scripts

Discover a simple way to automatically integrate the current date into your JSON objects in Postman. Learn how to utilize pre-request scripts for enhancing your API requests!
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How to Automatically Set sysdate in a JSON Object Using Postman Pre-request Scripts

When working with API requests, especially in a dynamic environment, it is often necessary to use the current date in your JSON objects. This can be particularly important when sending data with deadlines or timestamps. The challenge many developers face is how to automatically set the targetSigningDate in their JSON objects to a real-time value — in this case, sysdate.

Let’s explore how to accomplish this seamlessly using Postman’s pre-request scripts.

The Issue at Hand

You might find that you often need to update the date manually in your JSON object, something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, keeping the date updated frequently can be cumbersome and prone to errors. Instead, you want the targetSigningDate to automatically reflect the current time every time you run your request.

Solution: Utilizing Postman Pre-request Scripts

What is a Pre-request Script?

In Postman, a pre-request script is a piece of JavaScript code that runs before the request is sent. You can leverage this functionality to set dynamic variables that will be included in your request body, headers, or parameters.

Step-by-Step Guide

To automate the date setting in your JSON object, follow these steps:

Open your Postman Collection: Navigate to the request where you want to use the dynamic targetSigningDate.

Go to the Pre-request Script Tab: Click on the "Pre-request Script" tab located below the request URL field.

Set Up the Script: Copy and paste the following code into the Pre-request Script section:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code:

Get Current Date: moment() retrieves the current date and time.

Format to ISO String: toISOString() formats the date to the standard ISO format, apt for JSON strings.

Use the Variable in Your Request: Replace the hardcoded date in your JSON object with the environment variable you just set:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By integrating this pre-request script into your Postman workflow, you can ensure that the targetSigningDate field always reflects the current date and time, eliminating the need for constant manual updates.

With just a few lines of code, you’ve streamlined your process significantly, saving time and reducing the risk of errors in transmitting important dates.

So why not give this method a try on your next API request? Happy coding!