Date Picker Fill-in

Overview

The Date Picker Fill-in lets you select the exact date you need—past, present, or future—directly from a calendar when you expand a Snippet. Instead of typing dates manually or double-checking calendars, you can insert the correct date in a single click. This saves time, ensures consistent formatting, and reduces errors. It’s especially useful for adding dates of birth, submission deadlines, delivery schedules, or upcoming appointments. To automatically insert today’s date upon expansion, use the date macro instead.

For the best experience and to use the Date Picker Fill-in everywhere you type, make sure you’re using the latest version of the TextExpander Mac or Windows app (version 8.4 or later).

Adding the Date Picker Fill-in to a Snippet

1. Create a new Snippet or open an existing one.
2. Place your cursor in the Snippet editor where you want the date to appear.
3. In the Snippet Editing Bar, click the Fill-ins button.
4. From the dropdown menu, select “Date Picker”.
5. Enter a name for your Date Picker Fill-in.
6. Choose a preset date format from the dropdown list or select “Custom” to define your own. 
7. Click “OK” to insert the Date Picker into your Snippet.

Preset date formats

When setting up your Date Picker Fill-in, you can choose from several preset date formats. Some formats are locale-aware, meaning they adapt to match regional preferences, while others are static and display the same way regardless of location.

Locale-aware formats (adjust based on your region):

• Jan 31, 2025
• January 31, 2025
• Friday, January 31, 2025
• 1/31/2025
• 01/31/2025
  • adjusts to 31.01.2025 in German locale

Static formats (display consistently everywhere):

• Jan 31
• 1/31/25
• 2025-01-31
• 31 January 2025
• 31/01/2025

Note: If your team spans multiple regions or locales, locale-aware formats may display differently for different users. For consistent formatting across your organization, we recommend using static preset formats or creating custom date formats that meet your team’s needs.

Creating a custom date format

If you don’t see the date format you need in the preset list, you can create your own using the “Custom Format” option. Custom formats use tokens—like YYYY for year, MM for month, and DD for day—to define exactly how a date will appear.

For example:

• MM/DD/YYYY → 12/02/2025
• MMMM D, YYYY → December 2, 2025
• YYYY-MM-DD → 2025-12-02

You can also use localized format tokens (L, LL, l, ll) that automatically adapt to match your language and region settings.

Learn more about creating custom date formats, including a complete list of tokens and localized format examples here.

Expanding a Snippet with the Date Picker Fill-in

When you expand a Snippet that includes a Date Picker Fill-in, a temporary fill-in window will appear.

1. Click the Date button in the fill-in window to open the calendar picker.
2. Choose your date using the month and day dropdowns, or navigate with the arrows to move between months.
3. Click “OK” to insert the date and complete the Snippet expansion.

Date Picker vs. Date Macros

Date Picker Fill-in
The Date Picker Fill-in opens a calendar so you can choose a specific date at the time your Snippet expands. It’s useful when you need to insert a date that isn’t today, such as a past submission, an upcoming due date, or the date of an event.

Date Macros
Date macros automatically insert the current date. They’re best when the date should always update based on the day you expand the Snippet, such as including today’s date in notes or inserting it on a form. Learn more about date macros here.

Which one should you use?

• Use Date Picker Fill-in when you want to select a past or future date.
• Use Date Macros when you want to always insert today’s date.

Additional details

• The Date Picker Fill-in is available on version 8.4+ of the TextExpander Mac and Windows apps. If you don’t see it, make sure you’re on the latest version. Here’s how to check for updates and update your app:
  • In the TextExpander desktop app, click Preferences in the left sidebar
  • Choose Update from the menu options
  • Click Check for Updates
  • If an update is available, click Install Update
  • After installation, click Install and Relaunch
• If you’re part of a TextExpander Organization and receive an error message when updating or expanding a Snippet with the Date Picker Fill-in, ensure everyone at your organization is on the latest version of the TextExpander Mac or Windows app. Learn more about why you may be experiencing an error message and how to troubleshoot here.