Clock/date applet should either ship with a two-line layout or make it clearer to users that it can be set up

[moloch1994]

Almost every time I post a screenshot of my desktop somewhere, I have people asking me "how did you make your time appear above the date?" or a variation of that question.

I'll admit, when I first switched to Mint (Cinnamon), it took me months to realize that this can be done. I felt really stupid when I did, because the process is very simple, but apparently a lot of people seem to be running into this. One time I made a comment about this on an InfinitelyGalactic's video about Mint, and it got hundreds of upvotes, and I had a lot of people thanking me in replies.

Anyway, my point is: it seems people really want a two-line layout for the clock/date applet, but most people are either unaware that it's possible to do that or can't figure out how to do it.

So, my proposition is, as said in the title: it should either be shipped like it by default (not saying in my particular layout), or there should be some kinda pop-up window or something that would explain that this can be done.

[carsten88]

"How did you make your time appear above the date?"

I searched for hours but can not find it.

[billyswong]

There seems no documentation of it, but you can insert %n in the middle of the custom date format string

[carsten88]

I literally JUST figured that out and posted a tutorial.
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=448329

[carsten88]

Maybe a solution would be to add the info where it is needed.

[Crispycjr]

I agree, and with the new influx of users that will likely come from some ecelebrities this would be a smart choice IMO.

Here's mine: %H:%M %n %a, %m/%d

[sonicSMASH]

Mine:
%l:%M %p %n %a %-m/%d/%y

[Crispycjr]

Using one space or two at the end can center the clock over the text, like this: %l:%M %p %n %a %-m/%d/%y
Or on either side, to keep things balanced.

If the Mint team decides to implement this change, I hope they are aware of this.

[sonicSMASH]

lol, I already have that, it just only shows in monospace

[billyswong]

@Crispycjr or just remove any space before and after %n, i.e. %l:%M %p%n%a %-m/%d/%y

[carsten88]

Oh yes thanks, spaces to center them. This is perfect.

[moloch1994]

Using one space or two at the end can center the clock over the text, like this: %l:%M %p %n %a %-m/%d/%y Or on either side, to keep things balanced.

If the Mint team decides to implement this change, I hope they are aware of this.

For this it's better to use text-align: center; in the theme's cinnamon.css file. I do that manually for any theme that I use.

[carsten88]

Ah... just missed 16:20.

%H:%M %n %e-%m-%Y

[klangman]

Maybe we just need a new web site linked to the "Show information on date format syntax" button, one that has a complete list of format specifiers and maybe one that helps you build the string so you can just copy and paste into "Date format" entry boxes.

[fosslover306]

Their is already syntax guide, but a list of complete options would be nice to be included so their is some options besides default and custom.

[moloch1994]

If you click 'reference' on that website, the '%n' command is there in the list. The problem is that most people won't look there, so this needs to be either brought to their attention or pre-configured in that format.