6.2.1 The date/time prompt

When Org-mode prompts for a date/time, the prompt suggests to enter an ISO date. But it will in fact accept any string containing some date and/or time information. You can, for example, use C-y to paste a (possibly multi-line) string copied from an email message. Org-mode will find whatever information is in there and will replace anything not specified with the current date and time. For example:

       3-2-5         --> 2003-02-05
       feb 15        --> currentyear-02-15
       sep 12 9      --> 2009-09-12
       12:45         --> today 12:45
       22 sept 0:34  --> currentyear-09-22 0:34
       12            --> currentyear-currentmonth-12
       Fri           --> nearest Friday (today or later)
       +4            --> 4 days from now (if +N is the only thing given)

The function understands English month and weekday abbreviations. If you want to use unabbreviated names and/or other languages, configure the variables parse-time-months and parse-time-weekdays.

Parallel to the minibuffer prompt, a calendar is popped up¹. When you exit the date prompt, either by clicking on a date in the calendar, or by pressing <RET>, the date selected in the calendar will be combined with the information entered at the prompt. You can control the calendar fully from the minibuffer:

<

Scroll calendar backwards by one month.

>

Scroll calendar forwards by one month.

mouse-1

Select date by clicking on it.

S-<right>

One day forward.

S-<left>

One day back.

S-<down>

One week forward.

S-<up>

One week back.

M-S-<right>

One month forward.

M-S-<left>

One month back.

<RET>

Choose date in calendar (only if nothing was typed into minibuffer).