Genii Weblog

Messing with daylight savings time start/end dates

Fri 22 Jul 2005, 09:52 AM



by Ben Langhinrichs
I remember many years ago, daylight savings time changed its start and end dates and it caused a fair amount of nuisance at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, where I worked at the time, because our computer systems "knew" when it was supposed to change, and changed it then.  Later, the systems didn't change it on the new date, as they didn't know they were supposed to.  It was annoying.  I just read that US lawmakers want to change the dates again.  I am curious about whether this is something that computers can adjust to easily no, or is it going to be a hassle again.  Where are the dates coded into the system, and will they be updated by automatic updates in the case of Windows, for example?  Also, do the start and end dates for daylight savings time vary in different time zones?  What a mess.

Copyright © 2005 Genii Software Ltd.

What has been said:


342.1. Nathan T. Freeman (07/22/2005 07:24 AM)

Completely. There's absolutely no need for it. I wish they'd just do away with it.


342.2. Richard Schwartz (07/22/2005 07:59 AM)

See here...

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;886775

Whether they've got a way to force it in Windows Update (or via their time-synch protocol), I don't know.

For Notes/Domino, see here:

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus/library/ls-timelyinfo/

-rich


342.3. Ben Dubuc (2005-07-22 10:16)

This is also going to be hell in Canada: will we have Eastern US time and Eastern Canada time???

Nothing against americans, but to me, this is just a stupid reaction to the american energy crisis. Like this will solve the problem....