---
name: "rink-dates"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "rink"
version: "0.9.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rink-dates"
---

# rink-dates(5)

Rink file format for date patterns

## NAME

rink-dates - Rink file format for date patterns

## SYNPOSIS

Rink allows specifying datetimes using **#date#** syntax in queries. This file defines the patterns that are used to try to match the specified date.

## DESCRIPTION

Blank lines are ignored. Lines starting with # are ignored.

A date pattern is a sequence of keywords which each specify a token to match. part of the sequence can be wrapped with \[\] to make it optional.

The valid keywords are:

**fullyear**

The full 4 digit year, like 2024. Must be exactly 4 digits.

**shortyear**

Shortened 2-digit year, like 24. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**century**

The year with the last 2 digits cut off, like 20. Not the same as the actual century number (which would be 21). Must be exactly 2 digits.

**monthnum**

The current month number, like 03. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**day**

The current day of the month, like 3. Can be any number of digits.

**fullday**

The current day of the month, like 03. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**min**

The current minute of the hour, like 05. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**ordinal**

The current day of the year, like 083. Must be exactly 3 digits.

**isoyear**

The ISO year, like -0001. Must be exactly 4 digits. ISO year unifies CE and BCE such that 1BC is year 0, and 2BCE is year -1.

**year**

The current year, like 2024. Can be any number of digits.

**adbc**

Looks for `ad`, `ce`, `bc`, or `bce` (case insensitive). This allows specifying dates prior to year 1 CE.

**hour12**

The current hour on a 12-hour clock. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**hour24**

The current hour on a 24-hour clock. Must be exactly 2 digits.

**meridiem**

Looks for `am` or `pm` (case insensitive). This allows specifying 12-hour time.

**sec**

The current second of the current minute. Must be exactly 2 digits. Can optionally have a decimal point to specify time smaller than a second.

**offset**

Matches a timezone offset. This can either be the name of a timezone like `US/Pacific` or a fixed offset. The fixed offset can either be in the form +07:00 or +0700.

**monthname**

Matches English month names, case insensitive. Recognizes 3-letter names (like jan, feb, mar) and full names.

**weekday**

Makes English weekday names, case insensitive. Recognizes 3-letter names (like mon, tue, wed) and full names.

**today**

Use the current date, but not the time. Most useful when combined with `relative`.

**now**

Use the current time and date. Most useful when combined with `relative`.

**relative**

Matches a relative unit, like `+1h` to add 1 hour, or `-7week` to subtract 7 weeks. This is calendar aware, instead of working in seconds.

`-`

`Matches a literal - character.`

`:`

`Matches a literal : character.`

`` ` ` ``

`A single space will match any amount of whitespace.`

`&`

`Allows putting two terms directly next to each other without spaces` `in between.`

`' <`*anything*`> '`

`Wrapping text in single quotes will match that text literally.`

## FILES

`Rink searches the following locations:`

`• ``./datepatterns.txt`

`• `*$XDG\_CONFIG\_DIR*`/rink/datepatterns.txt`

*•* `/usr/share/rink/datepatterns.txt`

## SEE ALSO

*[rink(1)](/rink/1.md), [rink(5)](/rink/5.md),* *[rink(7)](/rink/7.md), [rink-defs(5)](/rink-defs/5.md)*