# Difference between two DATETIMEs in ESSQL in Canvas (No script fields)

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471
**Category:** Kibana
**Tags:** canvas
**Created:** [April 4, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471 "2019-04-04T18:42:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![ebalmeida](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ebalmeida/32/47103_2.png) [@ebalmeida](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ebalmeida)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471/1 "2019-04-04T18:42:22Z")

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Hello, I need to calculate the time difference between two DATETIMEs, more specifically, between an timestamp and NOW(), preferably in the essql query, in canvas. I found nothing like the TIMEDIFF() sql function, only datetime math based on intervals which don't really cut it here.

Thanks in advance.

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### Author: ![Andrei\_Stefan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/andrei_stefan/32/47533_2.png) [@Andrei\_Stefan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Andrei_Stefan)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2019, 8:54am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471/2 "2019-04-05T08:54:07Z")

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Hi @ebalmeida,

`TIMESTAMPADD` and `TIMESTAMPDIFF` it's on our TODO list: [https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/37927](https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/37927).  
These two are the last ones to implement from that list.

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### Author: ![ebalmeida](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ebalmeida/32/47103_2.png) [@ebalmeida](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ebalmeida)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471/3 "2019-04-05T17:39:11Z")

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Well, guess I'll have to wait then =)  
I did work out the cast to long mechanic though, which is not ideal but will do in a pinch.

Thanks a lot

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### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-two-datetimes-in-essql-in-canvas-no-script-fields/175471/4 "2019-05-03T17:39:12Z")

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