{"id":9779,"date":"2019-06-15T06:11:42","date_gmt":"2019-06-15T00:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=9779"},"modified":"2023-08-02T20:35:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T15:05:47","slug":"insert-date-time-in-any-program-using-keyboard-hotkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/insert-date-time-in-any-program-using-keyboard-hotkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Insert Date\/Time in Any Program Using Keyboard Hotkey"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you’re writing content such as technical content, news articles, etc., you may sometimes want to insert the current date or timestamp in a program or editor you’re using. In Notepad, you can add the timestamp by pressing the F5<\/kbd> key.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Office Word, OneNote allows the Alt<\/kbd> + Shift<\/kbd> + D<\/kbd> and Alt<\/kbd> + Shift<\/kbd> + T<\/kbd> hotkey combinations to insert the current date and current time respectively.<\/p>\n

Similarly, WordPad has the Date and time<\/strong> toolbar button that lets you insert the date or timestamp in your preferred format from the list of 13 choices.<\/p>\n

\"insert<\/p>\n

But, if you’re using a program which doesn’t have a built-in feature to insert current date and time, you may need a third-party macro or automation tool for that purpose. With automation tools, you also have the advantage of using a single hotkey combination to insert the date or timestamp in any program.<\/p>\n

Insert date or time in any program using keyboard hotkey<\/h2>\n

AutoHotkey is a free, open-source scripting language for Windows that allows users to easily create small to complex scripts for all kinds of tasks such as form fillers, auto-clicking, macros, etc.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Download AutoHotkey<\/a> and install it.<\/li>\n
  2. Right-click on the desktop, click New and select AutoHotkey Script<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  3. Rename the script file New AutoHotkey Script.ahk<\/code> to insert_date.ahk<\/code><\/li>\n
  4. Right-click the file and choose Edit Script<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Remove all lines in the script and replace it with the following code:\n
    ^!d::\r\n     FormatTime, CurrentDateTime,, hh:mm tt M\/dd\/yyyy\r\n     SendInput, %CurrentDateTime%\r\nreturn<\/pre>\n
    \"insert<\/li>\n
  6. Save the file insert_date.ahk<\/code> and close the editor.<\/li>\n
  7. Double-click to run the script. It will show up in the notification area.<\/li>\n
  8. Now, switch to the program where you want to insert the date or timestamp.<\/li>\n
  9. Press Ctrl<\/kbd> + Alt<\/kbd> + D<\/kbd> to insert the timestamp at the current cursor position.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Script Customization<\/h3>\n
    You can change the keyboard hotkey in the (1st line of the) script if you need. Here are the modifiers.<\/p>\n