How to insert the date and time with a keyboard shortcut in macOS Catalina?

[Svein]

How to insert the date and time with a keyboard shortcut in macOS Catalina?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

....insert it where? Into what app?

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome to the forum.

And I agree with Ashwin, where and what app are you looking for this function?

 

[Svein]

Welcome to the forum.

And I agree with Ashwin, where and what app are you looking for this function?

I any program where you write text.

 

[MacInWin]

This is Apple's article on keyboard shortcuts. Nothing there about time/date, but at the bottom are links to create your own. I don't know if a time/date shortcut can be created. Would it not update with the clock, if it could be done?

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input device.

support.apple.com

 

[IWT]

@Svein,

If you are prepared to spend some money, there are several apps which insert text, dates and all sorts of snippets created by you.

The one I use is TextExpander:

Welcome to TextExpander.com

TextExpander is the most popular text replacement and shortcut app. Generate custom word, sentence, and paragraph text with keyboard shortcuts.

textexpander.com

Firstly, I must assert that I have absolutely no connection with the Developer.

I use this product, which I pay for, because it fulfils my needs. In fact, on our forums, I use it extensively to insert commonly used words like: System Preferences, Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), macOS Mojave, Time Machine and so on. All it takes is an abbreviation created by you and up the text appears. Typing (ddate) without the brackets inserts today's date in any and all circumstances.

Obviously, only inserting a date would hardly justify the expense involved; but you might like to give the free trial a go. Or at least review the app? Once again, I have no association with this product. Just an idea.

Ian

 

[chscag]

How to insert the date and time with a keyboard shortcut in macOS Catalina?

Again, Welcome to our forums.

Follow the instructions here to insert date and time:

Inserting Date & Time on Mac OS

 

[Svein]

Again, Welcome to our forums.

Follow the instructions here to insert date and time:

Inserting Date & Time on Mac OS

Thanks
Svein

 

[Svein]

@Svein,

If you are prepared to spend some money, there are several apps which insert text, dates and all sorts of snippets created by you.

The one I use is TextExpander:

Welcome to TextExpander.com

TextExpander is the most popular text replacement and shortcut app. Generate custom word, sentence, and paragraph text with keyboard shortcuts.

textexpander.com

Firstly, I must assert that I have absolutely no connection with the Developer.

I use this product, which I pay for, because it fulfils my needs. In fact, on our forums, I use it extensively to insert commonly used words like: System Preferences, Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), macOS Mojave, Time Machine and so on. All it takes is an abbreviation created by you and up the text appears. Typing (ddate) without the brackets inserts today's date in any and all circumstances.

Obviously, only inserting a date would hardly justify the expense involved; but you might like to give the free trial a go. Or at least review the app? Once again, I have no association with this product. Just an idea.

Ian

I found a program called Typinator which inserted date and time with a keyboard shortcut.

Svein

 

[pm-r]

Maybe give this suggestion a try, and it's not really that old, and assuming that macOS Catalina will allow you to implement it. It might be prevented from working if it's assumed it might be a security risk!!! Apple's like that lately...
Anyway, have a look here:

System-wide Insert Date & Time - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Don't forget that if you get it to work, where the date was entered using such a method, when the file is next opened on a different date, there is a good chance that the new date will be shown in place of where the original date was entered. If so, don't use it with a legal Dated document!!!

I think there is a way to prevent that from happening, but you would probably have to do some googling to find it.


- Patrick
=======

 

[Svein]

Maybe give this suggestion a try, and it's not really that old, and assuming that macOS Catalina will allow you to implement it. It might be prevented from working if it's assumed it might be a security risk!!! Apple's like that lately...
Anyway, have a look here:

System-wide Insert Date & Time - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Don't forget that if you get it to work, where the date was entered using such a method, when the file is next opened on a different date, there is a good chance that the new date will be shown in place of where the original date was entered. If so, don't use it with a legal Dated document!!!

I think there is a way to prevent that from happening, but you would probably have to do some googling to find it.


- Patrick
=======

Thanks, this did work perfectly.
Is there a way to leave out the time!

Svein

 

[pm-r]

Thanks, this did work perfectly.
Is there a way to leave out the time!

Maybe some scripters will come forward with some help or suggestions.

But I came across an alternative that might be of use to you:

Adding the Current Date in Excel Using Shortcut Keys
You can quickly add the current date to any cell in an Excel worksheet using a keyboard shortcut.

The key combination for adding the date in Excel is:

Ctrl + ; (semi-colon key)

To add the current date to a worksheet using just the keyboard:

Select the cell where you want the date to appear.
Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
Press and release the semi-colon key ( ; ) on the keyboard without releasing the Ctrl key.
Release the Ctrl key.
The current date appears in the worksheet in the selected cell.

The default format for the date entered is the short date format as shown in the image above. Use another keyboard shortcut to change the format to the day-month-year format.

To have the date update every time the worksheet is opened, use the TODAY function.

Formatting Dates in Excel With Shortcut Keys
This Excel tip shows you how to quickly format dates using the day-month-year format (such as 01-Jan-14) in an Excel worksheet using shortcut keys on the keyboard. ... ...

Use These Shortcut Keys to Add the Current Date/Time in Excel

Learn how to add and format the current date and time in Excel using keyboard shortcuts -- no recalculations needed! Updated to include Excel 2019.

www.lifewire.com

- Patrick
=======

 

[twizzard]

How to insert the date and time with a keyboard shortcut in macOS Catalina?

I use Alfred (free) with the Power Pack (not free) for this and a lot more. It is one of the most used apps I have.I can insert the dat3 and time any way I want.