Your computer uses the date and time for a number operations. It uses them to set the creation and modification dates for files and to stamp the date and time of e-mails. The clock is displayed in the menu bar and if you click on the time you will be shown that date.

You have many ways to customize the way your clock looks and behaves. Once you open the Date & Time Control Panel you will be presented with this window where you can format both the date and time, set your time zone and daylight savings time. Don't forget to set the AM/PM if using the 12 hour format.

You can also have your time set automatically by a time server on the internet so that you know that your time will always be accurate. First turn on the option by putting a checkmark in the checkbox. Then click on the Server Options button and you can choose from an Apple time server near you or choose another that you find elsewhere. You need to be connected to the internet for this option to update your clock. Therefore, if you have this option set to anything other than "manually" it will attempt to make a connection at the specified time. If you choose "manually" you will have to open the control panel and choose "Set Time Now". So keep this in mind when you make your choices.

You can turn on or off the clock in the menu bar and adjust it's display format by clicking on the "Clock Options" button to get this window. There are a number of options available which update immediately in your menu bar. Here are a few tips...

My menu bar is pretty full so I don't display the day or seconds.
Enabling the flash time separators gives you another way to see if your system is hanging or not.
When setting the Chime option you must use sounds that are system sounds and loaded into your system suitcase.

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