Hi Arthur, what timestamp are you interested in?

1. Local PC, current timezone/regional settings? ==> PowerScript
   

   datetime ldt_current
   ldt_current = DateTime(Today(), Now())​

2. Local PC, current UTC timestamp? ==> Use Windows API
   TopWiz Programming's FileSys sample demos how to manage WinAPI's SystemTime.
   

   // EXTERNAL FUNCTION
   PRIVATE SUBROUTINE GetSystemTime(REF winapi_systemtime) library "kernel32.dll" alias for "GetSystemTime"​

3. Database server's local time?
   In this case I use MSSQL for sample code. Oracle, SQL Anywhere, SAP ASE, and others have similar functions
   

   // Note embedded SQL requires FROM clause
   datetime ldt_current
   SELECT [Today_Now] INTO :ldt_current
   FROM (SELECT GetDate() AS [Today_Now]) data​

4. Database server's UTC time?
   In case you trust the DB server better than clock on a random pc
   

   // Note embedded SQL requires FROM clause
   datetime ldt_current
   SELECT [Today_Now] INTO :ldt_current
   FROM (SELECT GetUtcDate() AS [Today_Now]) data​​L 

Local PC's time may be too "fragile" for your app. In that case I suggest query your database server.

HTH /Michael

Hi Arthur,

I'm not sure what you want.

To display current clients date time in this format you may use the string function to convert or a display format for a today() computed field in a datawindow.

e.g. String(today(), "m/d/yyyy h:mm am/pm")

If you use a datawindow with computed field you may keep the field automatically updated if you set the "Timer Interval" property of the datawindow. It specifies the number of milliseconds after the timer updates the computed fields. It is 0 by default.

HTH,

René