# x (update stamp) processing code

The x processing code is placed in the
correlative of a file-defining item to provide an audit trail for
items that are updated via the Update processor.

| System Processors | Update |
| --- | --- |
| Code Type | File Defining |
| Dictionary Attributes | Correlative |

## Syntax

```
xtype ac{v}
```

## Parameter(s)

| type | Type of stamp to use and can be any of these: |
| --- | --- |
| a | Places the name of the user in the specified attribute when the item is filed. |
| d | Places the current date in the specified attribute when the item is filed. |
| s | Adds the total time (in seconds) the item was in the Update processor into the specified attribute. The value is cumulative. Each time the item is updated, the current usage is added to the previous time. |
| t | Places the current time in the specified attribute when the item is filed. |
| ac | Attribute count into which the stamp is to be placed. |
| v | Specifies that each time the item is filed, the stamp is to be appended as a new value. If the value is not specified, the current stamp overwrites the previous entry. If this option is placed at the end of the expression, all stamps will be affected. For example, a3s5t6v produces the same results as a3vs5vt6v. Note: If it is intended that only the time stamp be MultiValued, the v option cannot be placed at the end of the expression as it will be applies to all stamps. Instead, you can reposition the time stamp in the expression (for example, t6va3s5). |
The audit stamp codes may be combined into more complex
expressions, such as:

```
xa1d2t3v
```
This example stamps attribute 1 with the user, attribute
2 with the date, and attribute 3 with the time, adding subsequent
stamps as MultiValues. If both the user and date stamps are specified
with the v option, the system does not add another
stamp if the user and date are the same. For example, (given a stamp
such as `xa3vd4v`), if a stamp already exists for user
dm on 09/28/94, and the same user updates the item on the same date,
another stamp is not added. This does not apply when specifying stamps
separately. For example:

```
xa3v
xd4v
```

## Example(s)

Places the user-ID in attribute
14.

```
xa14
```
Adds the current system date as the last value in a MultiValue
set in attribute 15.

```
xd15v
```
This complex expression adds the user-ID in attribute
3, the current date in attribute 4, and the current time in attribute
5.

```
xa3d4t5
```

## See also

- [output-conversion](https://d3codex.com/attributedefiningitem/output-conversion/)
- [Processing codes overview](https://d3codex.com/processingcodes/processing-codes-overview/)
- [Processing codes](https://d3codex.com/processingcodes/processing-codes/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/processingcodes/x-update-stamp-processing-code/ - part of the D3Codex reference.