Query Manipulation Server 25.4
Query Manipulation Server Help

# date_time_now

The `date_time_now` function gets the current date and time in the specified date format.

Date formats

`YY` | Year (2 digits). For example, 99, 00, 01 and so on.
`YYYY` | Year (4 digits). For example, 1999, 2000, 2001 and so on.
`#YY+` | Year (2 or 4 digits). If you provide 2 digits, then it uses the `YY` format. If you provide 4 digits, it uses the `YYYY` format. For example, it interprets `07` as `2007 AD` and `1007` as `1007 AD`.
`#Y` | Year (1 to a maximum of 16 digits) and can be followed by `AD` or `BC`. An apostrophe (`'`) immediately before the year denotes a truncated year. For example, `2008`, `'97` (interpreted as `1997`), `97` (interpreted as `97 AD`), `'08` (interpreted as `2008`), `2008 AD` and `200 BC`. A truncated year with a BC identifier is invalid (`'08 BC`).
`#FULLYEAR` | Year (1 to a maximum of 16 digits). For example `8`, `98`, `108`, `2008`, each of which is taken literally. The year is taken relative to the common EPOCH (0AD).
`#ADBC` | Time Period. For example, `AD`, `CE`, `BC`, `BCE` or any predefined list of EPOCH indicators. Typically, the year specified using the above Year formats is interpreted as un-truncated and relative to the EPOCH. For example, 84 AD is interpreted as 1984 AD and 84 BC is interpreted as 84 BC. The only exception to this is when you use both `#YY+` and `#ADBC`. In this case, the format is interpreted as un-truncated even if the year was set to truncated by `#YY+`. For example, 99 AD is interpreted as the year 99 AD. OpenText recommends you use only `YY`, `YYYY` or `#FULLYEAR` with `#ADBC`.
`LONGMONTH` | A long month, for example, `January`, `February` and so on.
`SHORTMONTH` | A short month, for example, `Jan`, `Feb` and so on.
`MM` | Month (2 digits). For example,`01`, `10`, `12` and so on.
`M+` | Month (1 or 2 digits). For example, `1`,`2`,`3`,`10` and so on.
`DD` | Day (2 digits). For example, `01`, `02`, `03`, `12`, `23` and so on.
`D+` | Day (1 or 2 digits). For example, `1`, `2`, `12`, `13`, `31` and so on.
`LONGDAY` | 2 digits with a postfix. For example, `1st`, `2nd` and so on.
`HH` | Hour (2 digits). For example, `01`, `12`, `13` and so on.
`H+` | Hour (1 or 2 digits).
`NN` | Minute (2 digits).
`N+` | Minute (1 or 2 digits).
`SS` | Second (2 digits).
`S+` | Second (1 or 2 digits).
`ZZZ` | Time Zone, for example, `GMT`, `EST`, `PST`, and so on.
`ZZZZZ` | Time Difference (1 to 9 digits). For example, +04 denotes 4 hours ahead of UTC. Other examples include +4, +04, +0400, +0400 MSD (the string MSD is ignored). A further example is +030, in this case the time differences is interpreted as 30 minutes.
`#PM` | AM or PM indicator (2 characters). For example, 2001/09/09 02:46:40 pm
`#S` | A space

## Syntax

    date_time_now( format, gmt )

## Arguments

Argument | Description
--- | ---
`format` | (string) A date format string that specifies the format of the returned string.
`gmt` | (boolean, default false) Specifies whether to return the current time in GMT rather than local time. NOTE: The time zone values (`ZZZ` and `ZZZZZ`) in the format string always refer to the local time zone. If you set this argument to `true`, OpenText recommends omitting these from the format string.

## Returns

String. The current date and time.

## Examples

    --Return value in local time
    print (date_time_now("YYYY-MM-DD HH:NN:SS ZZZ"))

    --Return value in GMT
    print (date_time_now("YYYY-MM-DD HH:NN:SS", true))

Copyright 2025 Open Text
Version 25.4 | Last updated October 2025

Send documentation feedback

Close

Send documentation feedback

To send feedback using your default email client, open an email window.

Otherwise, send your feedback and the information below to MFI-swpdl.idoldocsfeedback@opentext.com.

We appreciate your feedback!

Product: Knowledge Discovery Query Manipulation Server 25.4

Topic Title: date_time_now