Date and time template not registering

[UltimateWhovian]

What I’m trying to do

Change what the date and time formats show up as across the app. Specifically for my current usecase, it’s for setting up the daily notes to follow the journalling format I like, which would come with both variables displayed already.

Things I have tried

Going into the templates tab in settings, and adjusting the variables in the format boxes until the example indicator matched my desired format. This worked in the settings menu, but did not follow into the actual program. I at least figured out how to adjust the date specifically in the daily notes settings, but anywhere I tried to put the code for the date and time format outside of what that specifically controls, it just showed as the default for the program. Any thoughts?

[ariehen]

Do you mean how the date is displayed in the “Properties” section at the top of notes after the template is applied? e.g.

If so, how the date & time are displayed is going to depend on your OS’s region format setting(s). Have a look there.

https://obsidian.md/help/properties#Date

[UltimateWhovian]

This is not what I meant, though thank you for advice on that specifically, because I also wouldn’t have figured that out.

I mean if I put “{{date}}” or “{{time}}”, it claims that it will display the way I chose in the template settings, but it doesn’t. It displays the default, as if I hadn’t changed any settings

[ariehen]

Ah, I see. The settings here:

Can you screenshot that settings screen and share the content of your template? Maybe someone can spot something

---

edit: with a template of

{{date}}

{{time}}

I ended up with:

using the above settings.

[UltimateWhovian]

1st: Settings

2nd: Template itself (from core plugins)

3rd: End result

[ariehen]

Can you share that template in a fenced code block, like this:

```
{{time}}
{{date}} 

...other stuff
```

[UltimateWhovian]

{{time}}
{{date}}
___
- 
___

___
- 

...

[ariehen]

With those template settings and template, it’s working on my end.

How are you applying the template? Via the Templates: Insert template command? Something else?

Just trying to think of a reason the template settings aren’t being applied.

I’d also try in the Sandbox vault with a test template and test note to see how it goes.

[Pugio]

Hey I had the exact same issue as @UltimateWhovian your last comment about “how are you applying the template” revealed something interesting to me. I am using the Template for my Daily Notes so within Core Plugins → Daily Notes → Template file location I have my template assigned.

When I create a new Daily Note I assume the Date/Time Format of Templates should be assigned, however it is not. Within the same file if I do Templates: Insert template the template is assigned correctly, with the proper Date/Time Formatting.

I think the error stems from Daily Notes not respecting Templates default values for Date/Time Formatting.

I was able to fix this myself by using format strings.
So instead of plain {{date}} and hoping the Templates Format would apply. I instead add the full formated version like {{date:dddd, DD.MM.YYYY}} to my template.