Auto insert date and time in form input field?

Question

Using javascript, how can we auto insert the current DATE and TIME into a form input field.

I'm building a "Problems" form to keep track of user submitted complaints about a certain service. I'm collecting as much info as possible. I want to save the staff here from having to manually enter the date and time each time they open the form.

I have this snippet of code:

<input id="date" name="date" value="javascript:document.write(Date()+'.')"/>

but it's not working.

many thanks for any help.

Answer 1

The fastest way to get date formatting thats any good is to use datejs.

The lib is really easy to use and does give you very pretty formatting.

---

as far as your code snippet, dont use document.write if you can help it. try

 document.getElementById("date").value = new Date().toUTCString();

Answer 2

Perhaps try the below. Uses JQuery, which is much cleaner in structure.

Good supporting thread.

Answer 3

See the example, http://jsbin.com/ahehe

Use the JavaScript date formatting utility described here.

<input id="date" name="date" />

<script>
   document.getElementById('date').value = (new Date()).format("m/dd/yy");
</script>

Answer 4

Javascript won't execute within a value attribute. You could do something like this, though:

<input id="date" name="date">

<script type="text/javascript">
  document.getElementById('date').value = Date();
</script>

You'd probably want to format the date as you prefer, because the default output of Date() looks something like: Tue Jun 16 2009 10:47:10 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time). See this SO question for info about formatting a date.

Answer 5

<input id="date" name="date" />
<script type="text/javascript">
document.getElementById("date").value = new Date();
</script>

Answer 6

It's not an answer to your question, but I strongly recommend not to rely on the users input, patience and having JavaScript activated. I therefore would suggest a server side approach to handle all the timestamps. Additionally it might cause problems for your stuff, if the user is mailing you from the future (different time zone).

Answer 7

It sounds like you are going to be storing the value that input field contains after the form is submitted, which means you are using a scripting language. I would use it instead of JavaScript as most scripting languages have better time/date formatting options. In PHP you could do something like this:

<input id="date" name="date" value="<?php echo date("M j, Y - g:i"); ?>"/>

Which would fill the field with "Jun 16, 2009 - 8:58"

Answer 8

Brilliant! Just what I was after as well, so thankyou Scotty!

Answer 9

other choice

document.getElementById("my_date:box").value = ( Stamp.getDate()+"/"+(Stamp.getMonth() + 1)+"/"+(Stamp.getYear()) );