Insert Date and Time into any application?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kevin Moore
  • Start date Start date
Is there a freeware app that can do this? Ideally, this app would
insert the username as well.

Thanks!!
 
Mike Moseng said:
Is there a freeware app that can do this? Ideally, this app would
insert the username as well.

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Do you mean you want to insert an arbitrary text string, including
username, date, and time? Just those three?

Do you have a preferred method of interaction? Hotkeys? Buttonbar?
Tray icon context menu? Context menu for almost any application?

Most hotkey applications, some clipboard extenders, and even some
application launchers, as well as multipurpose utilities such as
AutoHotKey, PowerPro, or WireKeys will support this in one way or
another -- or even several ways. If you already use an application in
one of the above categories, you may well already have this
capability.

Which OS?

BillR
 
Do you mean you want to insert an arbitrary text string, including
username, date, and time? Just those three?

Do you have a preferred method of interaction? Hotkeys? Buttonbar?
Tray icon context menu? Context menu for almost any application?

Most hotkey applications, some clipboard extenders, and even some
application launchers, as well as multipurpose utilities such as
AutoHotKey, PowerPro, or WireKeys will support this in one way or
another -- or even several ways. If you already use an application in
one of the above categories, you may well already have this
capability.

Which OS?

BillR
Click to expand...

AutoIt, too, is another scripting language. I did up a couple of
date/time scripts that can be compiled so that they are standalone
ones that don't need the program to run.

Username could be added, as well.

It would depend on the format. If you like, I could see what I can
come up with for you. I'd just need to know what the format of
date/time is and the username, and I can see what I can do.

Let me know, if you care to go this route.

Cheers!
 
Do you mean you want to insert an arbitrary text string, including
username, date, and time? Just those three?
Click to expand...

Well, yes.
Do you have a preferred method of interaction? Hotkeys? Buttonbar?
Tray icon context menu? Context menu for almost any application?
Click to expand...

As a matter of fact a hotkey combo would be nice.
Most hotkey applications, some clipboard extenders, and even some
application launchers, as well as multipurpose utilities such as
AutoHotKey, PowerPro, or WireKeys will support this in one way or
another -- or even several ways. If you already use an application in
one of the above categories, you may well already have this
capability.
Click to expand...

Well, I've tried quite a few different type of programs but none seem
to work in all the apps I use, like Outlook, editpad, wordpad, word,
Agent, forms in IE, Avant browser, etc.

Which OS?
Click to expand...

Win2k and XP
BillR
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking... hope you can help. :)
 
AutoIt, too, is another scripting language. I did up a couple of
date/time scripts that can be compiled so that they are standalone
ones that don't need the program to run.

Username could be added, as well.

It would depend on the format. If you like, I could see what I can
come up with for you. I'd just need to know what the format of
date/time is and the username, and I can see what I can do.

Let me know, if you care to go this route.

Cheers!
Click to expand...


I suppose I could write a wsh or vb script to do this, but again I'm
not sure one script would work in all apps, and with my limited
ability, it may take some time. I just thought there might be
something canned and ready to go out there.
 
I suppose I could write a wsh or vb script to do this, but again I'm
not sure one script would work in all apps, and with my limited
ability, it may take some time. I just thought there might be
something canned and ready to go out there.
Click to expand...


Oops. format like dd/mm/yy and hh:mm. And the username is the person
logged into the pc. Is that what you mean?
 
Oops. format like dd/mm/yy and hh:mm. And the username is the person
logged into the pc. Is that what you mean?
Click to expand...

Hmmm, but if I made a standalone, it would pretty much be a done deal.
I know what you mean about needing something flexible and a "canned
deal" sounds good.

Probably the best bet, then, would be to do up a script for you and
have you dl AutoIt and use that (??).

That way, you'd have the script as well as the means to customize.
Sending keys is actually quite easy, and standard dates aren't hard,
too. The date format I use was a little harder to do, but again,
still possible and I belong to the AutoIt forum as well as the yahoo
group.

Anyway, let me know.
 
Mike Moseng said:
Well, yes.
Click to expand...

Just username, date, and time?
Any arbitrary predefined string?
Any arbitrary predefined composed-on-the-fly string?
As a matter of fact a hotkey combo would be nice.


Well, I've tried quite a few different type of programs but none seem
to work in all the apps I use, like Outlook, editpad, wordpad, word,
Agent, forms in IE, Avant browser, etc.
Click to expand...

I think it depends upon the method used to implement the hotkeys, etc.
(the hook). I think the same applies to autotext utilities that
expand abbreviations as you type and automatic spellcheckers. Some
work almost anywhere; others are quite limited. I don't remember
off-hand which applications work where except that when I was looking
for something over a year ago some trialware/demoware did. The
freeware I found didn't meet other requirements but a couple of them
also failed in some applications, IIRC.

WireKeys (at least v2) works for me in the few applications I've
tested, e.g., right here in a Google Group post: 20.08.2004
I used Ctrl+Win+A+D - mnemonic Windows Add Date since ...A+D ==
....D+A; Ctrl required because I use zero delay and am fumble-fingered.
(Multichar hotkeys are trialware only, but Ctrl+Alt+Win+D would work.
Check the WiredPlane forum email on differences between WK v1.9.9, WK
v2.x registered($), and WK v2.x post trial expiration). Date and time
formats are fairly flexible. (Hint, patterns are case sensitive!)

Username is not a predefined "pattern" but environment variables is
imminent (August). You can also use JavaScript (or VBScript in v2.x)
so you might be able to use a function to obtain OS username.
Otherwise you will have to use separate WK profiles for each user
account on Win2k and predefine it. I don't know what will happen if
you try that in WinXP and use Fast User Switching. Alternatively you
might define a script to store the proper username during startup.
Win2k and XP


Thanks for asking... hope you can help. :)
Click to expand...

I'm sorry that I can't be more specific about which applications work
where. You'll just have to experiment. Please let us know what you
find/found works/worked and what didn't. I'm sure this aspect of your
question will arise again. I certainly ran into it (and failed to
document it <sound of hand slapping back of other hand>.)

BillR
 
I'm sorry that I can't be more specific about which applications work
where. You'll just have to experiment. Please let us know what you
find/found works/worked and what didn't. I'm sure this aspect of your
question will arise again. I certainly ran into it (and failed to
document it <sound of hand slapping back of other hand>.)
Click to expand...

HotkeyControl XP
http://www.digital-miner.com/hkcontrol.html

I haven't tried this one nor even looked closely but HotkeyControl XP
claims:

"set hotkeys to do common tasks like ... typing in commonly used text
(macros)"

"all the hotkeys are functional even in games and in other full-screen
DirectX applications"

BillR
 
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