Creating a "Now" function in adhoc / domain that allows you to get the current Timestamp.

Out of the box there is a function in the adhoc calculated field editor that allows you to get the current date.  Unfortunately this is a Date object and not a Timestamp, so you can't get done to the time level.

You can however create a custom field "Now" that returns a Timestamp.

1. Create the custom function in WEB-INFgroovygroovy_columnBaseGroovyColumn.groovy
    def Now() {
        def now = new Date();
        def timestamp = now.toTimestamp();
        return timestamp;
    }

2. Add the function definition to WEB-INFapplicationContext-el-operators.xml  This defines the return data type, any input parameters, and how the function is executed.

        <!-- 'Now' function -->
        <bean parent="functionDef">
            <property name="name" value="Now"/>
            <property name="javaType" value="java.sql.Timestamp"/>
            <property name="aliases">
                <list>
                    <value>now</value>
                </list>
            </property>
            <property name="properties">
                <map>
                    <!-- show in calc field dialog -->
                    <entry key="inAvailableFunctions" value="true"/>
                    <!-- always run in SQL -->
                    <entry key="alwaysInSQL" value="true"/>
                </map>
            </property>
            <property name="inMemory" value="false"/>
        </bean>

3. Add a function description to the property bundle for adhoc in WEB-INFbundlesadhoc_messages.properties

adh.calculated.fields.function.description.Now=Returns Timestamp representing the current time.

This will show up in the description in the ad hoc calculated field editior.

The function can now  be used either in the Calucalted Field editor in the Domain Designer, or in the Ad hoc custom field editor.

Related articles below cover the details mentioned above in greater detail.

Adding custom fields to ad hoc

Creating custom groovy functions