microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

CmdPal Dock Clock: show short date inline with time in compact mode

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CmdPal - Dock Needs-Triage Product-Command Palette
Dominant language
C
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Description

Description of the new feature / enhancement

In compact Dock mode the TimeDate dock band currently shows only the current time in the Title and hides the Subtitle (date). Expected behavior: show both local time and a short date together on the same line in the compact dock. Example single-line format: "HH:mm · MMM d" or localized short date, e.g. "14:35 · Jun 18". The change should preserve copy-to-clipboard commands and accessibility (tooltip should still include full time and date).

Scenario when this would be used?

When using a compact dock (minimal height) I often glance to the dock for the time but have to open the notification center or the full palette to check the date. Showing the short date inline with the time would reduce context switches and make the compact dock more useful for quick glances.

Supporting information

Relevant code: src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.TimeDate/TimeDateCommandsProvider.cs — the NowDockBand.UpdateText() currently sets Title = timeString and Subtitle = dateString. A non-invasive implementation would combine time and a short date into Title and clear Subtitle (so compact template continues to hide Subtitle), e.g. Title = $"{timeString} · {dateString}" and Subtitle = string.Empty. Note: DockItemControl.xaml limits TitleText.MaxWidth = 100 so you may want to consider small formatting tweaks (shorter date format, reduce max width, or smaller font) to avoid truncation. I can provide a suggested patch if helpful.

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start in src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.TimeDate/TimeDateCommandsProvider.cs at NowDockBand.UpdateText(), where Title and Subtitle are assigned. Review DockItemControl.xaml and its TitleText.MaxWidth setting before choosing a compact localized date format. Done means compact mode shows time and short date on one line while copy-to-clipboard behavior and the full time/date accessibility tooltip remain intact.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
csharp
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
72/100

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