Adding a Date Merge Tag
Description
Email merge fields insert unique user data, linked to a unique value, into emails; they are discussed in greater detail here. A date can be inserted into a subject line or campaign using the [DATE] merge field. It should be noted that you cannot use the [DATE] merge field as part of a link.
Why It's Important
This dynamic element helps maintain engagement by making emails personalized and timely, while reducing the manual effort required to update date-related content in recurring campaigns. It's particularly valuable for event announcements, limited-time offers, and regularly scheduled communications.
Basic Syntax:
Code
There are two parameters: A number and a format.
The number parameter:
- '0' represents the current date
- The date can be adjusted by adding or subtracting seconds
- Positive numbers = future dates
- Negative numbers = past dates
The format parameter:
This determines how the date is displayed. The date is formatted according to PHP convention. PHP provides a list of all formats online.
Dates using the long form (Monday, June 10) are only available in English.
Examples
If the current date is June 10, 2013:
Future date examples:
[DATE|86400|m.d.y]will display 06.11.13 (since 86,400 seconds equals 24 hours)
Past date examples:
[DATE|-259200|F j,Y]will display June 07, 2013 (since 259,200 seconds equals 3 days)
Common Format Options
| Format | Sample Output | Description |
|---|---|---|
Y-m-d | 2013-06-10 | Year-Month-Day (numeric) |
F j, Y | June 10, 2013 | Full month name, day, year |
M d, Y | Jun 10, 2013 | Short month name, day, year |
m/d/Y | 06/10/2013 | Month/Day/Year |
l, F j | Monday, June 10 | Day of week, month, day |
Time Calculations
- 1 day = 86,400 seconds
- 1 week = 604,800 seconds
- 1 month (30 days) = 2,592,000 seconds
Use Cases
- Newsletter dates: Display current date in email headers
- Event reminders: Reference upcoming event dates
- Deadline notices: Display countdown to important dates
- Seasonal content: Automatically update seasonal references
- Dynamic content: Create time-sensitive messages
Important Notes
- Cannot be used as part of a hyperlink
- Long form dates are in English only
- Uses PHP date formatting conventions
- Calculates from the time the email is sent
Troubleshooting
Date displays incorrectly or not at all
- Check that syntax follows [DATE|seconds|format] exactly
- Verify that pipe characters (|) separate parameters
- Ensure format string uses valid PHP date format codes
- Test with simple formats first (Y-m-d) before complex ones
Wrong timezone displaying
- Note that dates use server timezone, not recipient's timezone
- Consider adding timezone information in your content
- Account for daylight saving time changes
- Test campaigns at different times to verify consistency
Date calculations not working
- Double-check your second calculations (86400 = 1 day)
- Use negative numbers for past dates, positive for future
- Check that you're not exceeding reasonable date ranges
- Test calculations with online epoch converters
Date format displays as code
- Ensure format parameter uses valid PHP date characters
- Check for typos in format string (case-sensitive)
- Avoid spaces within merge tag brackets
- Remember that long form dates only work in English
Related Articles
- Adding Merge Tags to a Campaign - Other merge tags
- Using Merge Tags and Fallbacks - Merge tag basics
- Adding Attributes to Your List - Date attributes
- Using Dynamic Content - Dynamic dates
- Creating Campaigns - Using in campaigns