vim - insert timestamp in the current line after some words?

Question

I want insert the timestamp in the current line without ruin the content in that line. I've read this post. Basically it suggests:1). !r date which insert on the next line; 2). !!date which clear current line and insert the timestamp.

Answer 1

All you have to do is mapping F3:

inoremap <special> <F3> <c-r>=strftime('%c')<CR>

With this way whenever you press F3 button it will insert timestamp at current position during insert-mode.

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Explanation:

[i][noremap] [<special>] [<F3>] [<c-r>=strftime('%c')<CR>]
 |   |          |          |      |
 |   |          |          |      |
 |   |          |          |      |---> Whenever you press <F3> button it 
 |   |          |          |      |---> will execute this part
 |   |          |          |      |---> it is like pressing ctrl-r 
 |   |          |          |      |---> then pressing = and typing
 |   |          |          |      |---> strftime('%c') and then 
 |   |          |          |      |---> typing enter (<cr>) for execution
 |   |          |          | 
 |   |          |          |---> The key that you want to map
 |   |          |
 |   |          |----> This argument is for avoiding side effect of 'cpoption'
 |   |
 |   |-----> The  mapping (noremap) is not recursive
 |   |
 |   |-----> It means that it doesn't care about other mappings 
 |   
 |---------> (i) for insert-mode (n) for normal-mode (c) for command-mode ...

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For more see :help map.txt

Answer 2

iab idate <c-r>=strftime("%c")<cr>

No need to use any shortcut, just type "idate" or any other word of your choice (iab stands for insert mode abbreviation)

If you have ultisnips plugin you can create a snippet like this:

snippet date "use tab to insert date" w
`date +%Y-%m-%d\ %H:%M` ${0}
endsnippet