Date and Time with Now button¶

How to add and configure a Date and Time with Now button field in the Notebook Editor.

What This Field Does¶

A Date/Time with Now field captures timezone-aware timestamps in ISO 8601 format with UTC timezone preservation. It includes a convenient “Now” button for one-tap capture of the current date and time — but also accepts manually entered dates, including historical ones. This is the recommended default for all timestamp fields, especially in multi-site projects where timezone safety matters.

Adding the Field¶

To add this field, open the ADD A FIELD dialog, navigate to the DATE & TIME tab, and click the Date and Time with Now button card. Then click the ADD FIELD button in the lower right.

Adding a Date/Time with Now — the DATE & TIME tab in the ADD A FIELD dialog

Configuring the Field¶

Click the field’s grey header bar to expand it and see its settings. For an overview of the settings shared by all fields — including Label, Helper Text, Field ID, and the field toolbar — see Field Identity and Field Toolbar.

Give the field a meaningful Label, review the auto-populated Field ID, and add any desired Helper Text.

Date/Time with Now configuration in the {{Notebook}} Editor

Date/Time with Now-Specific Settings¶

Setting	What It Does
Time pre-populated	When enabled, the field is automatically filled with the current date and time when a new record is created. Collectors can still override the value.

Shared Field Options¶

Configure any of the shared field options as needed.

For settings shared across all field types — including Required, Annotation, Uncertainty, Conditions, Copy value to new records, and Display in child records — see Field Options.

Tips¶

Date/Time with Now is the recommended default for all timestamps. One tap captures the current date and time with timezone information, ensuring synchronisation safety across team members in different locations.
Prefer Date/Time with Now for all date-and-time capture, not just current timestamps. Despite “Now” in the name, this field accepts arbitrary dates including historical ones.
The captured timestamp uses the device clock — remind field teams to sync their device clocks before starting work each day.