> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mezmo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Timestamp Processor

> Override an event's timestamp with a field and parser of your choice, trying multiple fields and formats until one parses successfully.

## Description

This Processor will allow you to override an event's timestamp with a field and parser of your choice. You can set multiple fields and parsers, and it will utilize the first one that successfully parses.

## Use

By default Mezmo Telemetry Pipelines set an event's `.timestamp`  field to the time that the event was received.  If your events already have a timestamp and you want to utilize that field for timestamp-related pipeline activities, you can use this Processor for that purpose.

## Configuration

| Option           | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Example             |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| Field            | The JSON field to parse.                                                                                                                                                                                                        | `.datetime`         |
| Timestamp Format | The [strftime](https://docs.rs/chrono/latest/chrono/format/strftime/index.html) format your timestamp is stored as.  There are several predefined timestamp formats.  You can also choose *Custom*, and define one of your own. | `%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S` |

## Examples

### Custom Event

If you have an event that stores its timestamp in a field called `.datetime` in a format like: `2022-01-10T05:15:40Z`

#### Before

```json theme={null}
{
  "level": "debug",
  "eventname": "test",
  "datetime": "2022-01-10T05:15:40Z"
}

```

<Note>
  This example affects only the `.message` portion of the event. The underlying event will also have `.metadata` and `.timestamp`. You can use the [Pipeline Tap](/telemetry-pipelines/view-pipeline-data) feature to view these values for your source data.
</Note>

#### Options

| Option           | Value                |
| ---------------- | -------------------- |
| Field            | `.datetime`          |
| Timestamp Format | `%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ` |

#### After

(showing entire event, not just message)

```json theme={null}
\{
  "messgage": \{
   	"level": "debug",
    "eventname": "test",
    "datetime": "2022-01-10T05:15:40Z"
  \},
  "metadata": \{\},
  "timestamp": "2022-01-10T05:15:40.000000000+00:00"  
\}

```