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Time provider

Date and time

Current date and time with localised styles or custom patterns.

Output

Current time using the system short time style by default. Choose localised date and time styles or a custom pattern to change the output.

Example

{
  "id": "date",
  "type": "datetime",
  "format": "yyyy-MM-dd"
}

Configuration

Use the item-level text template to customise or hide the label. The provider options below control its data, symbols, colours, and visibility.

PropertyDefaultDescription
format-Unicode date/time pattern. A nonempty value overrides both styles; omitted, null, or empty values use the styles.
dateStylenonenone, short, medium, long, or full.
timeStyleshortnone, short, medium, long, or full.

Localised styles

Set dateStyle and timeStyle independently to none, short, medium, long, or full. Use timeStyle: "none" for a date-only display. The exact order, punctuation, and names depend on the system locale.

{ "id": "date", "type": "datetime", "dateStyle": "full", "timeStyle": "none" }

To show both date and time in one item:

{ "id": "datetime", "type": "datetime", "dateStyle": "medium", "timeStyle": "short" }

For separate styling or placement, use two datetime items with distinct IDs: one with timeStyle: "none" for the date and one with dateStyle: "none" for the time. Setting both styles to none produces an empty default label unless a nonempty format overrides them. A text template can still add literal text.

Custom patterns

PatternOutput shape
HH:mm24-hour time with hours and minutes.
h:mm a12-hour time with hours, minutes, and an AM/PM marker.
HH:mm:ss24-hour time including seconds.
yyyy-MM-ddNumeric year-month-day.
dd/MM/yyyyNumeric day/month/year.
EEEE, d MMMMFull weekday and month names.
MMM d 'at' HH:mmAbbreviated month, day, literal “at”, and 24-hour time.

Patterns use the system locale and time zone. Quote literal words with single quotes. Use yyyy for the calendar year; YYYY is the week-based year and can differ around New Year.

Runtime changes

sbar set date format '"EEEE, d MMMM"'

Both style properties can also be changed with sbar set. Clear a custom pattern before using styles:

sbar set date format null
sbar set date dateStyle '"full"'
sbar set date timeStyle '"none"'

Replace date with the item’s ID. Runtime changes are temporary; edit the configuration file to persist the format.

Shared item options cover styling, symbols, actions, priority, and enabled state.

Text templates

The item-level text setting supports id, value, symbol. See text templates for syntax and field meanings. Format the date with format, dateStyle, or timeStyle, then insert it with {{value}}.

Updates

The shared clock updates every second. See refresh policies for snapshot and trigger behaviour.

Current limits

There is no per-item locale or time zone setting; both follow the system. Every nonempty format is interpreted as a custom pattern; localised style names belong in dateStyle and timeStyle. The shared clock updates once a second, even for date-only items.

sbar documentation Built with Hugo · Reference reviewed 12 Sep 2026