Date fields
In Postcard Studio, choose Date to add a date field, on its own or inside a sentence. On the right, pick the date type (shipping date, today's date or a fixed date), optionally add a number of days, and choose one of eight formats. PostPal prints the same date for every recipient of a mailing. Date fields are available in Basic and Plus.
Date fields add a date to the text of your design. In Postcard Studio, choose
Date on the left: PostPal places a text field holding the {{date}}
variable, which you configure on the right. To add the date to existing text,
insert it while editing with Insert variable, just like other variables. The
setting applies to the whole text field; for a second, different date, add
another text field.
For every text field with a date you choose:
- Date type: the shipping date (the day of postal handoff planned when the mailing is created), today's date (the day the mailing is created) or a fixed date you pick in the calendar.
- + days: for the shipping date and today's date, optionally 1 to 365 calendar days, for example for a valid-until date.
- Date format: short, short with a two-digit year, long, written out with the weekday, month and year, month only, year only or ISO.
The preview on the right shows the result. For the shipping date it is a sample, because the mailing only exists later.
Every recipient of a mailing gets the same date. That is why date fields are already available in Basic and why you do not send a date through the API. PostPal fixes the shipping date and today's date as soon as the mailing is created. Approval, production, sendout or a regenerated print file do not change them afterwards.
While an API request is not yet part of a mailing, the API preview assumes the next scheduled run creates it, and the preview says that the date is a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
Which date types are there?
The shipping date is the day of postal handoff planned when the mailing is created. Today's date is the day the mailing is created. A fixed date is one you pick yourself; it appears exactly like that on every card.
What is the + days field for?
For the shipping date and today's date you can add 1 to 365 calendar days, for example 30 days after shipping for a valid-until date. A fixed date has no days.
Which formats can I choose?
Short (24.04.2025), short with a two-digit year (24.04.25), long (24. April 2025), written out (Donnerstag, 24. April 2025), month and year (April 2025), month only (April), year only (2025) or ISO (2025-04-24). Month and weekday names are German.
Can I put a date inside a sentence?
Yes. The date works like any other variable: while editing a text field, insert it at the cursor with Insert variable. The setting applies to the whole text field. For a second, different date, add another text field.
Do I need to send a date through the API?
No. PostPal determines the shipping date and today's date itself. A date field of your own in the API request keeps working; replace it in the design with a date field if you want PostPal to determine the date.
Why does the Studio or the API preview show a different date?
The Studio has no mailing yet, so it shows a sample shipping date. While an API request is not yet part of a mailing, the API preview assumes the next scheduled run creates it. Afterwards it shows the mailing's dates.
Does the date change after the mailing is created?
No. Both dates are fixed as soon as the mailing is created. Approval, production, sendout or a regenerated print file do not change them, even if the actual postal handoff moves.