How do you work with the DateAdd function to add hours?

Question

I'm new to AMPScript. I'm working with a Journey with SF Data Entry Source, specifically trying to send emails after someone registers for an event (which is logged in CRM).

I want to add six hours to the time logged in CRM, coming into SFMC via a data extension column called Event_Attendee_Enrollment__c:Event__r:Start_Time__c.

%%[ 
VAR @StartDate, @NewDate
<br>
SET @StartDate = AttributeValue(‘Event_Attendee_Enrollment__c:Event__r:Start_Time__c’)
<br>
SET @NewDate = DateAdd(@StartDate, 6, “H”)
<br>

]%% 

<br>
%%=Format(@NewDate, “HH:mm”)=%%

But I am getting this error:

The subscriber preview failed to generate. Review the details, correct all issues, and try again. An expected comma is not found in the varible declaration.

Script: VAR @StartDate @NewDate
ListID: 147 Index: 13286

Where am I going wrong?

Answer 1

A few things... You've got some curly quotes in there -- that's not going to work.

The var is unnecessary as others have already mentioned.

I'd recommend checking to make sure you're date is not empty before attempting to apply the dateadd() and format() functions. The raiseError function will let you skip a send to specific subscriber if the data requirements are not met.

Lastly, the format pattern is incorrect. I'd recommend %%=format(@NewDate,"hh:mm","Date")=%%. The MM in your example will return the month, not the minutes.

%%[ 

SET @StartDate = AttributeValue("Event_Attendee_Enrollment__c:Event__r:Start_Time__c")

if not empty(@StartDate) then
  set @NewDate = DateAdd(@StartDate, 6, "H")
else
  raiseError("invalid StartDate",1)
endif

]%% 
%%=format(@NewDate,"hh:mm","Date")=%%