# Entry time stamps

This feature can be toggled and configured under Options -> Preferences -> General.

JabRef can automatically set a field to contain the date an entry was added to the database.

## Formatting

The formatting of the time stamp is determined by a string containing designator words that indicate the position of the various parts of the date.

These are some of the available designator letters (examples are given in parentheses for Wednesday 14th of September 2005 at 5.45 PM):

- yy: year (05)
- yyyy: year (2005)
- MM: month (09)
- dd: day in month (14)
- HH: hour in day (17)
- mm: minute in hour (45)

These designators can be combined along with punctuation and whitespace. A couple of examples:

- yyyy.MM.dd gives 2005.09.14
- yy.MM.dd gives 05.09.14
- yyyy.MM.dd HH:mm gives 2005.09.14 17:45