Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

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IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

Hello,
We have been using the search and filtering app "Everything" (version 1.5.0.1423b) for quite some time. It is more than just a file manager; it allows you to do a lot of things.
We would like to add a column between "File Name" and "Date Modified" that displays the time elapsed since (or remaining until) the "Date Modified" timestamp.
For example:
File Name | Time Elapsed | Date Modified
Trip to Sauerland 2025 | Ⓥ 1 yr, 4 mo, 6 d, 22 h, 54 min | 24.05.2025 12:47:57
Ⓥ/Ⓝ = Before/After …

Is this possible?
void
Developer
Posts: 20314
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by void »

Currently, no.
I'll have this working in the next update with DATEDIF.

For now, please try including the following in your search:

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")?datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")&" years ago":(datedif($date-modified:,now(),"m")?datedif($date-modified:,now(),"m")&" months ago":datedif($date-modified:,now(),"d")&" days ago")
IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

Is it possible to hide this large block of code?
void
Developer
Posts: 20314
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by void »

To create a Time Elapsed filter:
  • In Everything, from the Search menu, click Add to filters....
  • Change the Name to:
    Time Elapsed
  • Change the Search to:

    Code: Select all

    add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")?datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")&" years ago":(datedif($date-modified:,now(),"m")?datedif($date-modified:,now(),"m")&" months ago":datedif($date-modified:,now(),"d")&" days ago")
    
  • Click OK.
Filters can be activated from the Search menu, Filter bar (View -> Filter Bar), Filter sidebar (View -> Filters), right clicking the status bar, filter macro or filter keyboard shortcut.
Filters can be organized from Search menu -> Organize filters.
The active filter is shown in the status bar on the right.
IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

Many thanks 👍
This thing is absolutely huge 👏👏👏
void
Developer
Posts: 20314
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by void »

Everything 1.5.0.1424b fixes an issue with DATEDIF:

ym and md formats will now work like Excel.

For example:

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")&" years "&datedif($date-modified:,now(),"ym")&" months "&datedif($date-modified:,now(),"md")&" days ago"
Useful if you want to show years, months, and days ago.
IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

The complete code for "years, months, days, hours, and minutes" is provided below. However, on some days, a minus sign ("-") appears. What could be the cause of this error? (This also occurred in version 1_5_0_1423b (x64) of Everything.)

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Vor" a:=(DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")?DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")&"J ":"")&(DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")?DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")&"M ":"")&((DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))?((DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))&"T "):"")&FORMATDURATION((NOW()-(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m"))+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:))))*864000000000,"hh:mm") add-column:a a-label:"Vor" a:=(DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")?DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")&"J ":"")&(DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")?DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")&"M ":"")&((DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))?((DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE($date-modified:,DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))&"T "):"")&FORMATDURATION((NOW()-(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m"))+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12+DATEDIF(EDATE(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),DATEDIF($date-modified:,NOW(),"y")*12),NOW(),"m")),NOW(),"d")-(TIMEVALUE(NOW())<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:))))*864000000000,"hh:mm")
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tuska
Posts: 1416
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:14 am

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by tuska »

2IGERY

In my opinion, this is NOT an error!

The difference between 15 October 2011 and 15 October 2026 is shown.
That is 15 years minus one day – namely, the last day (= 15 October 2026).
(The last day is NOT included when calculating this difference)!
This method is used, for example, for calculating interest.

Calculation:
FROM: 15 October 2011 (including this day)
TO:     15 October 2026 (excluding this day)

Here is another example:
The difference between 1 October 2026 and 15 October 2026 is 14 days (and NOT 15 days).
The first day is included, and the last day is not.
⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺
I suspect that the CODE posted most recently shows the result you were expecting:

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=datedif($date-modified:,now(),"y")&" years "&datedif($date-modified:,now(),"ym")&" months "&datedif($date-modified:,now(),"md")&" days ago"
The difference between 15 October 2011 and 15 October 2026 is shown == 15 years.
 
Time Elapsed.png
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Last edited by tuska on Thu Oct 15, 2026 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

Could you please also include "hours" and "minutes" in the format "00:00"—just like in my screenshot? I tried, but I couldn't get it to work.
tuska
Posts: 1416
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:14 am

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by tuska »

IGERY wrote: Thu Oct 15, 2026 2:21 pm Could you please also include "hours" and "minutes" in the format "00:00"—just like in my screenshot? I tried, but I couldn't get it to work.
I'm sorry, but I don't know a solution. :?
void
Developer
Posts: 20314
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by void »

Please try:

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"Y")&" years "&DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"YM")&" months "&DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"MD")&" days "&HOUR(NOW()-(DATEVALUE($date-modified:)+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))&" hours "&MINUTE(NOW()-(DATEVALUE($date-modified:)+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:)))&" minutes ago"
and in your shorter
J M T HH:mm
format:

Code: Select all

add-column:a a-label:"Time Elapsed" a:=DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"Y")&"J "&DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"YM")&"M "&DATEDIF(DATEVALUE($date-modified:),TODAY()-IF(MOD(NOW(),1)<TIMEVALUE($date-modified:),1,0),"MD")&"T "&TEXT(HOUR(NOW()-(DATEVALUE($date-modified:)+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:))),"00")&":"&TEXT(MINUTE(NOW()-(DATEVALUE($date-modified:)+TIMEVALUE($date-modified:))),"00")
IGERY
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2026 11:18 pm

Re: Custom column showing the time difference from the "Modification Date"

Post by IGERY »

Both codes work perfectly and as expected 👍 Many thanks 🙏