Time Helper Skill

This skill provides time and timezone conversion capabilities using Claude's built-in time-tools functionality. It's designed to be a simple, clear interface for all time-related queries.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when users ask for:

• Current time in specific locations/timezones
• Time conversion between different timezones
• Timezone information and comparisons
• Any time-related queries involving different regions
• Help with time calculations or scheduling

Skill Purpose

Provide accurate time information and timezone conversions by:

• Getting current time for any IANA timezone
• Converting time between different timezones
• Providing timezone information and offsets
• Handling Daylight Saving Time automatically
• Supporting all IANA timezone names

Implementation Process

Step 1: Use Built-in Time Tools

Invoke the time-tools skill that's already available:

• Call the time-tools skill for current time queries
• Call the time-tools skill for timezone conversions
• Parse and format the response for user

Step 2: Handle Common Queries

Process standard time-related requests:

• "What time is it now?" → Use system timezone
• "What time is it in [city]?" → Use specific timezone
• "Convert [time] from [city] to [city]" → Use conversion
• "What's the time difference between [city] and [city]?" → Compare timezones

Step 3: Format Responses

Present time information clearly:

• Show local time and date
• Include timezone abbreviation
• Mention UTC offset
• Note if DST is active
• Provide context for time differences

Available Tools

time-tools skill

The built-in tool for all time operations:

• get_current_time - Get current time in any timezone
• convert_time - Convert time between timezones
• Handles IANA timezone validation
• Manages DST calculations automatically

Reference Materials

Common Timezones

• references/iana_timezones.md - List of common IANA timezone names
• Use for validating user timezone inputs
• Provides timezone abbreviations and UTC offsets

Windows 10 Setup

• references/windows_10_setup.md - Windows-specific setup if needed
• Timezone configuration on Windows
• System timezone detection

Usage Examples

Query: "What time is it now?"

1. Execute time-tools skill with system timezone
2. Format response: "It's 3:45 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 (EST)"
3. Include date, timezone abbreviation, and day of week

Query: "What time is it in Tokyo?"

1. Execute time-tools skill with "Asia/Tokyo"
2. Format response: "It's 5:45 AM on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (JST)"
3. Note it's already tomorrow in Tokyo

Query: "Convert 4 PM New York time to London time"

1. Execute time-tools skill with "America/New_York", "16:00", "Europe/London"
2. Format response: "4:00 PM in New York is 9:00 PM in London"
3. Include time difference: "London is 5 hours ahead"

Query: "What time zones are available?"

1. Reference iana_timezones.md for common timezone names
2. Provide organized list by region
3. Include examples: "America/New_York, Europe/London, Asia/Tokyo"

Error Handling

• Validate timezone names before execution
• Handle invalid time format inputs
• Provide helpful error messages
• Suggest common timezone alternatives
• Clarify ambiguous location names

Quality Requirements

• Always validate timezone inputs
• Use clear, readable time formats
• Include relevant context (date, timezone, DST)
• Handle edge cases gracefully
• Provide helpful suggestions for invalid inputs

Common Timezone Names

Popular Cities

• New York: America/New_York
• Los Angeles: America/Los_Angeles
• London: Europe/London
• Paris: Europe/Paris
• Tokyo: Asia/Tokyo
• Sydney: Australia/Sydney
• Dubai: Asia/Dubai
• Singapore: Asia/Singapore

Timezone Abbreviations

• EST/EDT - Eastern Time
• PST/PDT - Pacific Time
• GMT/BST - Greenwich Mean/British Summer
• CET/CEST - Central European Time
• JST - Japan Standard Time
• AEST/AEDT - Australian Eastern Time

Tips for Better Responses

1. Be specific with timezone names - Use IANA format (America/New_York, not just EST)
2. Provide context - Include date, day of week, and timezone info
3. Handle time differences - Mention when it's tomorrow/yesterday in other timezones
4. Clarify ambiguity - If user says "Paris", assume France unless specified
5. Be helpful with errors - Suggest correct timezone names for invalid inputs