Date and time · sbar documentation

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.

Configuration

Use the item-level text template to customise or hide the label.

Property	Default	Description
`format`	-	Unicode date/time pattern. A nonempty value overrides both styles; omitted, `null`, or empty values use the styles.
`dateStyle`	`none`	`none`, `short`, `medium`, `long`, or `full`.
`timeStyle`	`short`	`none`, `short`, `medium`, `long`, or `full`.

Localised styles

Set dateStyle and timeStyle independently. 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

Examples below use 13 September 2026 at 16:05:09 with a British English locale.

Pattern	Example output
`EEE d MMM HH:mm`	`Sun 13 Sep 16:05`
`HH:mm`	`16:05`
`h:mm a`	`4:05 pm`
`HH:mm:ss`	`16:05:09`
`yyyy-MM-dd`	`2026-09-13`
`dd/MM/yyyy`	`13/09/2026`
`EEEE, d MMMM`	`Sunday, 13 September`
`MMM d 'at' HH:mm`	`Sep 13 at 16:05`

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"'

Use sbar set to change either style property. 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; save the format in the configuration file to keep it after a reload or restart.

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 shared fields and syntax. Format the date with format, dateStyle, or timeStyle, then insert it with {{value}}.

This provider has no default icon. To use {{symbol}}, configure an item-level symbol, such as "symbol": "clock".

For example, add a prefix to a formatted time:

{
  "id": "clock",
  "type": "datetime",
  "format": "HH:mm",
  "text": "Time {{value}}"
}

Updates

The shared clock updates every second, including for date-only items. 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.

Example

{
  "id": "date",
  "type": "datetime",
  "format": "EEE d MMM HH:mm"
}