# Using a variable in a "Date and Time" flow

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799>\
**Category:** Questions & Help\
**Created:** [December 18, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799 "2022-12-18T16:27:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hamster](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hamster/32/16580_2.png) [@Hamster](https://community.homey.app/u/Hamster)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799/1 "2022-12-18T16:27:39Z")

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I have a variable called “TVProgramStartTime”, which holds the time a TV show starts (in a string format hh:mm)

I would like to use that variable to start a flow (to turn on my TV), but when I use the “Date & Time”, I can only select a time manually.

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/9/c/9c203fd953d32fe9a613196e0474530885ed3d7e.png)

How can I use my variable for the time?

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**Author:** ![Marcel\_Ubels](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_ubels/32/18860_2.png) [@Marcel\_Ubels](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Ubels)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799/2 "2022-12-18T16:45:42Z")

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As far as i know this not possible. Variables with time do not work

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**Author:** ![Morgan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/morgan/32/15416_2.png) [@Morgan](https://community.homey.app/u/Morgan)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799/3 "2022-12-18T17:05:59Z")

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If you want easy changeable start time I suggest to try Alarm. An alarm that starts a flow is silent.

 ![Screenshot_20221122_204531_Homey](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/b/f/bf9a317e956cb4d3b2eb383b15f15dd2469f41f5.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hamster](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hamster/32/16580_2.png) [@Hamster](https://community.homey.app/u/Hamster)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-a-variable-in-a-date-and-time-flow/73799/4 "2022-12-18T18:23:47Z")

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Using an Alarm sounds great, but how do I edit an existing Alarm so it will use my “TVProgramStartTime” variable?

Looking at the Alarm options, I can only “Enable” or “Disable” alarms, but I can’t find anything to set an alarm to my variable.

Found the solution in this post:

> [@\[APP\]\[Pro\] Advanced Triggers - Trigger and action cards with eventname for Advanced Flows](https://community.homey.app/t/app-pro-advanced-triggers-trigger-and-action-cards-with-eventname-for-advanced-flows/65651/128):
>
> No, i don’t see that posibility right now in AT. Technicly it could be made, but placing variables in the Trigger, i am not sure that thats a very good idea, performance wise. I might look into it (some day/right now a bit). But first let’s see if i have a better solution for you: The default Homey Alarms. Perhaps it’s best you create 1 or 3 Alarms for this. This gives you some excellent management options through the Homey app. And, the only thing missing is a flow to set the times, but h…