I'm not a PC applications type, so I'm not sure how the applications use
it, but the home-grown PC applications (and web client applications using
one of: VB, Java, or JavaScript) REQUIRE a line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT of all
the PCs that looks very much like what one sees in the MPE/iX (POSIX) and
UNIX worlds.  The line looks like:

    SET TZ=EST5EDT

The applications refuse to run if the above line is not present.  The guy
who developed the code is no longer here, I don't have access to the
source, and I've only dabbled in Java and JavaScript, so if someone knows
how to get the UTC date and time from the PC in Java or JavaScript, I'd
appreciate being enlightened.

The database stores UTC (GMT) times, and the client applications and web
pages all display the local time, not UTC.  I seem to remember there being
some weird time quirk when using Internet Explorer, but I can't remember
which version.  Netscape Navigator and Communicator worked okay though.

Terminal users used to use their HP 3000's local time, I don't know if that
is still the case.

John

At 5/20/99 04:06 PM , Joe Geiser wrote:
>Actually, there is a way to do this in a client-server app, but as Stan
>said, it requires extra work in the application...
>
>In Image/SQL, create a stored procedure which executes the insert or update.
>The column which contains the DATETIME field would be completed by the
>stored procedure.
>
>An offset is stored in a table or dataset, either User driven or Location
>Driven.  When the application is started on the PC - get this record.  The
>offset is stored as an Integer (signed numeric in Image/SQL).  This can be
>applied using standard time functions in the application where needed - but
>again, it's the stored procedure which writes the data to the dataset or
>table.
>
>We've done it this way on a couple of projects, where timezones were a
>problem.  It works out nicely.  The data comes down with a "standard time",
>and the offset is applied to it, to create a "display time".
>
>HTH,
>Joe
>
>====================================================
>Joe Geiser, President and Senior Partner
>CSI Business Solutions, LLC
>Phone: +1(215) 945.8100   Fax: +1(215) 943.8408
>Toll Free (US/Canada): (877) 945.8100
>====================================================


--------------------------------------------------------------
John Korb                            email: [log in to unmask]
Innovative Software Solutions, Inc.

The thoughts, comments, and opinions expressed herein are mine
and do not reflect those of my employer(s), or anyone else.