Date and Time Macros
There are several macros in PDF-XChange Standard that are used to create date and time output. They operate in an identical manner from a practical point of view and are often used in conjunction with each other. The date and time macros are detailed below:
%[Date]
The %[Date] macro adds the current date. The following parameters are available:
•d inserts the day of the month and omits the zero in cases of single-digit values.
•dd inserts the day of the month and includes a zero in cases of single-digit values.
•ddd inserts the day of the week as a three-letter abbreviation.
•dddd inserts the day of the week.
•M inserts the month as a numerical value and omits the zero in cases of single-digit values.
•MM inserts the month as a numerical value and and includes a zero in cases of single-digit values.
•MMM inserts the month as a three-letter abbreviation.
•MMMM inserts the month.
•yy inserts the year as two digits and adds a zero in cases of values lower than 10.
•yyyy inserts the year.
The syntax for this macro when parameters are used is %[Date:<Parameter>]
Note that several parameters can be used in sequence in order to insert a customized date. For example, %[Date:dddd, dd MMMM yyyy] inserts the day of the week followed by the day of the month, the month name in full and the year as four digits:
Figure 1. Add/Edit Watermark Dialog Box, Example %[Date] Macro
If parameters are not specified for this macro then output reverts to default, which is the the format d/M/yyyy.
%[Year]
The %[Year] macro adds the current year as a four-digit value.
%[Month]
The %[Month] macro adds the current month as a numerical value from 1-12.
%[Day]
The %[Day] macro adds the current day of the month as a two-digit value.
%[Time]
The %[Time] macro adds the current time. The following parameters are available:
•h inserts the hour and omits the zero in cases of single-digit values.
•hh inserts the hour and includes a zero in cases of single-digit values.
•H inserts the hour, includes a zero in cases of single-digit values and uses a 24 hour-clock.
•m inserts the minutes and omits the zero in cases of single-digit values.
•mm inserts the minutes and includes a zero in cases of single-digit values.
•s inserts the seconds and omits the zero in cases of single-digit values.
•ss inserts the seconds and includes a zero in cases single-digit values.
•t inserts a single character to reference the a.m./p.m. variable: A or P.
•tt inserts two characters to reference the a.m/p.m. variable: AM or PM.
The syntax for this macro when parameters are used is %[Time:<Parameter>]
Note that several parameters can be used in sequence in order to insert a customized time. For example, %[Time:H:mm tt] inserts the current hour and minutes, and inserts two characters to reference the a.m./p.m. variable:
Figure 2. Add/Edit Watermark Dialog Box, Example %[Time] Macro
%[Hour]
The %[Hour] macro adds the hour value from the current time.
%[Minute]
The %[Minute] macro adds the minute value from the current time.
%[Seconds]
The %[Seconds] macro adds the second value from the current time.
Note that these macros can be combined as desired.