themattwilliams/date_printer

Automate typing today's date with underscores (_YYYY_MM_DD) in any application using a Python script. Ideal for naming files and notes efficiently.

Date Printer Script

This Python script facilitates the automatic typing of today's date prefixed with an underscore and formatted as YYYY_MM_DD (e.g., _2024_02_06). It's designed to seamlessly integrate into workflows requiring dates to be appended to file names, note titles, or any other naming conventions that benefit from a standardized date format. Utilizing pyautogui, the script simulates keyboard input, typing the date string into any active application with a minimal delay, making it ideal for quick file renaming or note-taking.

Features

• Prefixed Date Formatting: Automatically outputs the date in _YYYY_MM_DD format, ideal for appending to existing file names or titles.
• Minimal Delay: Set to 0.01 seconds to quickly switch to the target application and type the date.
• Ease of Use: Can be run using a Windows shortcut with a custom key combination for fast access.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x installed on your system.
• pyautogui library installed.

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/themattwilliams/date_printer.git
   

2. Install pyautogui:

   pip install pyautogui
   

Convert Script to Executable

To convert the date_printer.py script into an executable file for easier distribution and usage, follow these steps:

1. Install PyInstaller:

   python.exe -m pip install pyinstaller
   

2. Navigate to Your Script's Directory: Ensure you're in the directory containing your date_printer.py script.

3. Create the Executable: Use Python to call PyInstaller, specifying the --onefile and --noconsole options to create a single executable without a console window:

   python.exe -m PyInstaller --onefile --noconsole .\date_printer.py
   

   This command generates the executable in the dist directory within your script's folder.

Usage

After converting date_printer.py to an executable, you can run it directly without needing to open Python or a terminal. Simply double-click the executable or assign it to a shortcut with a custom key combination for quick access.

Customization

The script includes a predefined delay of 0.01 seconds before typing the date, designed for almost instantaneous action. This delay can be adjusted by editing the time.sleep(0.01) line in date_printer.py, though for most use cases, the default setting should suffice.

Contributing

Contributions to improve the script or its documentation are warmly welcomed! Feel free to submit pull requests or open issues to suggest enhancements.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.