# Datetime Action The Datetime action allows you to create and update timestamp attributes. {% hint style="info" %} Any new timestamp attributes that you create and/or reference with this action type should be [registered](/core-concepts/contexts-and-attributes/attribute-management.md#creating-a-new-dynamic-attribute) as Timestamp attributes. {% endhint %} ### Video {% embed url="" %} ### Fields The action can be configured by three fields: * `attribute_name`: This is a required field, and determines the name of the created timestamp attribute. * `base`: This is an optional field. If it is provided it should be an attribute reference to another timestamp attribute that you want to use, e.g. `{first_seen}`. If it is not provided it will default to the current time at the time of evaluation. * `modifier`: This is an optional field. If it is provided it should be a representation of how you would like to update the base, or current, time, e.g. `+1 week`. See below for a [list of further examples](#modifier-examples). If it is not provided the base timestamp will not be amended.
### Usecases There are three different usecases in which you might want to use this action type: 1. You want to create a timestamp attribute based on the current time, e.g. a `now` attribute. 2. You want to create a timestamp attribute relative to the current time, e.g. a `tomorrow` attribute. 3. You want to create a timestamp attribute based on another timestamp attribute, e.g.a `first_seen_plus_one_week` attribute. ### Modifier examples The following is a non-exhaustive list of example `modifier` values. Under the hood, OpenDialog relies on these [relative formats](https://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.formats.php#datetime.formats.relative). * `+1 day` / `-1 day`: Add or substract a day from the base timestamp. * `+1 week` / `-1 week`: Add or substract a week from the base timestamp. * `+1 month` / `-1 month`: Add or substract a month from the base timestamp. * `+1 year` / `-1 year`: Add or substract a year from the base timestamp. * `Monday`: The next Monday after the base timestamp. * `first monday of next month`: The first Monday of the following month relative to the base timestamp. * `last monday of this month`: The last Monday on the month in the base timestamp. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.opendialog.ai/opendialog-platform/actions/actions-from-library/datetime-action.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.