Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Name

Date and Time

Synopsis

Change the date/time?

System Preferences → Date & Time → Date & Time

Specify how the date and time will appear in the menu bar?

System Preferences → Date & Time → Menu Bar Clock

Specify the date and time settings for another country while I’m traveling?

To change the date: System Preferences → International → Date panel → select a country from the Region pull-down menu

To change the time: System Preferences → International → Time panel → select a country from the Region pull-down menu

Use a network time server to set my clock’s time?

System Preferences → Date & Time → Network Time → click on the checkbox next to “Use a network time server” → select an NTP Server in the scroll list → click on the Set Time Now button

Note

You must be connected to the Internet to use a network time server. One helpful hint is to first use the network time server to set an accurate time for your system, then uncheck the “Use a network time server” box.

Set my time zone?

System Preferences → Date & Time → Time Zone

Display the current date and time from the command line?

Use the date command:

[macchuck:~] chuck% date
Mon Nov  4 15:34:25 EST 2002

Display the time in military time?

System Preferences → Date & Time → Menu Bar Clock → select the checkbox next to “Use a 24-hour clock”