Be able to specify exact dates as well as relative dates

[ImperialSquid]

Currently, the code in src/helpers/datetime.ts allows for setting deltas relative to some date, but that date can only be today's date ({{date}}) or two beginning of the week options({{bowm}}/{{bows}}).

It would be nice to be able to specifically set some values in the datetime, rather than have to rely on relative changes, eg if I'm making a diary for the month, with daily headers, and want to find the first day of the month, I need to use something like this:

{{datetime set_date_=date delta_days=(math (math (datetime set_date=date format="DD") "*" -1) "+" 1)}}

(Which works by extracting the day of the month, subtracting it and adding 1)

Whereas it would be nice to shortcut that with:

{{datetime set_date=date set_day=1}}

(Essentially, this is just asking for the functionality of set_date and set_time to be exposed to the user more granularly)

I think the specific order these are applied in should be:

• Set date and time
• Set components of date and time (day/month/hours/minutes/seconds)
• Adjust using deltas

This would also allow for cool stuff like:

{{#repeat (datetime set_date=date set_day=1 delta_month=1 delta_day=-1 format="DD")}}

# Day {{math repeat_index "+" 1}}
Today's date: {{datetime set_date=date set_day=(math repeat_index "+" 1)}}

{{/repeat}}

To create a whole month of diary entries automatically (it finds the number of days by setting today's date, setting it to the first of the month, adding a month to get to next month, and then rolling back a day to find the last day of the current month)

[nishantwrp]

Hi @ImperialSquid, there is a set_date and set_time exposed already;

plugin-templates/src/helpers/datetime.ts

Line 6 in 08bdfaa

const SET_DATE = "set_date";

Did you mean something else?

[ImperialSquid]

I'm aware, but as far as I can tell those only work if you want to set the day, month and year all at the same time, but there's no option for setting them individually.

Eg, if I want to set the 7th day of the current month, but leave the month and year unchanged, something like {{ datetime set_date="07/??/???? }} doesn't work.

You have to set all of them, or none of them.

[ImperialSquid]

I have an idea of how to solve this btw (the issue was more just as a matter of recording the gap), I'm just very busy for the next couple of days, but when I'm free on Monday I'll try to implement it and open a PR then 👌

[nishantwrp]

I have an idea of how to solve this btw (the issue was more just as a matter of recording the gap), I'm just very busy for the next couple of days, but when I'm free on Monday I'll try to implement it and open a PR then 👌

Let's brainstorm on this before you work on this. I don't think exposing set_month, etc. is needed. I can think of some better user-friendly options.