8.1 Timestamps, deadlines and scheduling

A time stamp is a specification of a date (possibly with time or a range of times) in a special format, either `<2003-09-16 Tue>' or `<2003-09-16 Tue 09:39>' or `<2003-09-16 Tue 12:00-12:30>'¹. A time stamp can appear anywhere in the headline or body of an Org tree entry. Its presence causes entries to be shown on specific dates in the agenda (see Weekly/daily agenda). We distinguish:

Plain time stamp; Event; Appointment

A simple time stamp just assigns a date/time to an item. This is just like writing down an appointment or event in a paper agenda. In the timeline and agenda displays, the headline of an entry associated with a plain time stamp will be shown exactly on that date.

          * Meet Peter at the movies <2006-11-01 Wed 19:15>
          * Discussion on climate change <2006-11-02 Thu 20:00-22:00>
     

Time stamp with repeater interval

A time stamp may contain a repeater interval, indicating that it applies not only on the given date, but again and again after a certain interval of N days (d), weeks (w), months(m), or years(y). The following will show up in the agenda every Wednesday:

          * Pick up Sam at school <2007-05-16 Wed 12:30 +1w>
     

Diary-style sexp entries

For more complex date specifications, Org mode supports using the special sexp diary entries implemented in the Emacs calendar/diary package. For example

          * The nerd meeting on every 2nd Thursday of the month
            <%%(diary-float t 4 2)>
     

Time/Date range

Two time stamps connected by `--' denote a range. The headline will be shown on the first and last day of the range, and on any dates that are displayed and fall in the range. Here is an example:

          ** Meeting in Amsterdam
             <2004-08-23 Mon>--<2004-08-26 Thu>
     

Inactive time stamp

Just like a plain time stamp, but with square brackets instead of angular ones. These time stamps are inactive in the sense that they do not trigger an entry to show up in the agenda.

          * Gillian comes late for the fifth time [2006-11-01 Wed]