How to Display Exported Time in PDF or Image Exports in Bold BI

Bold BI allows you to display the export timestamp inside PDF or image exports by using a calculated expression and binding it to a Text widget. When the dashboard is exported, the timestamp is included in the output.

How does this work?

The timestamp is generated using an expression in the data source. This expression fetches the current time (IST in this example) and formats it in a user‑friendly way.

Then, this value is displayed in a Text widget through label parameters like {{:ColumnName}}.

If Auto‑Refresh is enabled, the timestamp stays updated, ensuring exported files always show the correct export time.

Expression Used to Generate the Timestamp (IST)

CONCAT(
    'Exported on: ',
    TO_CHAR(
        (NOW() AT TIME ZONE 'Asia/Kolkata'),
        'FMMonth DD, YYYY - HH12:MI:SS AM'
    ),
    ' IST'
)

What are the steps to implement this in Bold BI?

Step 1 — Add the Expression to the Data Source

1. Open the data source.
2. You can find the expression icon as shown in the image. Click on the icon to add a calculated field.
   
   
3. Add a calculated field using the expression above.
   
   
4. Save the data source.

Step 2 — Add the Timestamp to the Dashboard

1. Open the Dashboard Designer.
2. Drag and drop a Text widget.
   
   
3. Inside the widget, use the label parameter syntax:

{{:Column_Name}}

Replace Column_Name with your expression field name.
Example:

{{:Exported Time}}

Step 3 — Publish the Dashboard

Once published, you will see the timestamp appear on the dashboard.

Will the timestamp appear in exported PDF or image files?

Yes. When you export the dashboard as a PDF or image, the same timestamp shown on the dashboard will appear in the exported output.

Do I need to enable Auto‑Refresh?

This step is recommended. Auto‑Refresh keeps the timestamp updated so that every export captures the correct, most recent time.

References

• Bold BI Official Website
• Bold BI Embedding
• Bold BI Support