diff --git a/src/midrc_react/gui/pyside6/file_open_dialogs.py b/src/midrc_react/gui/pyside6/file_open_dialogs.py
index 6045415..0102f42 100644
--- a/src/midrc_react/gui/pyside6/file_open_dialogs.py
+++ b/src/midrc_react/gui/pyside6/file_open_dialogs.py
@@ -166,6 +166,10 @@ def __init__(self, parent: Optional[QWidget], file_name: str,
         form_layout.addRow("Name (Plot Titles):", self.name_line_edit)
         form_layout.addRow("Description (Drop-Down Menu):", self.description_line_edit)
         form_layout.addRow("Date Column:", self.date_column_line_edit)
+        # add tooltip for date column
+        self.date_column_line_edit.setToolTip("Specify the column name to use for dates.\n"
+                                                "If the specified column is not found, the first column will be used by default.\n"
+                                                "This will internally rename the column to 'date' for processing.")
         top_layout.addLayout(form_layout)
 
         # Step 2: Plugin dropdown and Process Plugin button