Time Stamp is a command that, as the name implies, puts the current date and time in the selected field. This command is available on user menus and can be placed in sequences, and has been in Helix practically since the beginning.

Part of the specification for Time Stamp is that, after putting the time in the field, Helix automatically advances the cursor to the next field.

We would like to change this. Our proposed change is simply that when a Time Stamp command is executed, the cursor remains at the end of the inserted text. This would enable users to place time stamps in text fields and then continue typing without having to return to the field and then re-insert the cursor where they were typing.

The biggest problem we see (besides having to retrain your brain to press tab after a Time Stamp) is in sequences that include a Time Stamp command. If the sequence goes on to copy or paste data the lack of a tab in Time Stamp would cause the sequence to copy/paste in the wrong field.

This change is not a required for our OS X conversion work. It is being proposed at this time because:

1. We get repeated requests for this change.
2. There will be other things to relearn in OS X Helix, so this is a good time to make a change like this.

This survey ran May 22 – July 5, 2007.

149 users responded to this survey.

The overwhelming majority of you agree with the notion of removing the trailing tab from the Time Stamp command. Knowing that this change will not cause significant problems, we will move forward knowing that either direction will not cause trouble for you.

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