[rogbar]

Is there a way to automatically date stamp when an item is created? I often use a QuicKeys macro to enter the current date in parens at the end of an item, but it'd be nice to have a column that could be viewed or hidden to do that.

I suppose I can use the Start Date for column for that, but it'd be nice if it were automatically created. Any way to do that?

[beharkey]

When you select an action, take a look in the inspector window. It should show the date the action was "Added" (created) and when it was "Changed" (if it has been changed).

[whpalmer4]

While you can't see the Added date in a column, you can sort by it and group by it. For me, that covers about 95% of the cases -- usually I either need to know where it was added relative to a bunch of other things (group or sort to the rescue) or occasionally I want to know exactly when, but then usually only for one or two items, so the inspector is fine. Column views only show you the date, not the time.

[rogbar]

Right - thanks for that. What is most helpful to me is to have the created date displayed with the item, because I'm often referring to it. So I'll just stick with the macro that inserts the date at the end of the item.

[whpalmer4]

Out of curiosity, how do you make use of the creation date/time in your workflow that you need to see it that often? Most of the schemes that come to mind only need to use the relative age.

[rogbar]

Most typically, it's to keep track of when I've assigned a task to someone, or when I called or emailed or left a message for someone, or when I've sent away for something.

Part of my review process is to look at these dates and make judgement calls as to when I need to follow up. For some things it's 2 days, for others, it's 2 weeks, or whatever, so grouping isn't as useful to me as simply having the original date next to the item.