Setting time zones enables a single installation to
manage schedules for multiple time zones. This is accomplished by
associating an Institution with a time zone. From that point forward,
times are presented in the Focused Institution's time zone, except
calendar items for different institutions.
Note: Honoring time zone settings is only possible within an
Institution Focused database. This means, Institution Focus must
be enable to use time zones.
Time zone types:
- The Institution Time Zone - the time zone assigned to each
institution OR the time zone presented to the user for a Focused
Institution.
- The System Time Zone - the time zone of the database, all server
components, and all middle-tier servers as indicated by the synchronized
Microsoft Windows time zone settings on those servers. As of application
7.2, the default time zone derives from the server upon upgrade
or fresh installation, once set, an authorized user can change it
if desired in System > System Information.
- The Local Time Zone - the time zone where the user is physically
located.
To help understand how these three time zone types might occur
in any given installation of this application, consider that a staffer
might be located in Washington D.C. (Local Time Zone - Eastern)
but filling a vacancy within her California facility (Institution
Time Zone - Pacific). Meanwhile, the application’s servers are located
in Denver (System Time Zone - Mountain). The good news is that the
every-day user need only be concerned with the Institution Time
Zone.
- A person configuring the application will need to enter
shift time-duration strings in the time and time zone desired, for
instance if a shift is 7:00,8, this means it starts at 7:00
in whatever time zone the shift is tied to, not that it is 7:00
in the system time zone.
- For imports that include date-times, System Time Zone is assumed
unless the Institution Time Zone is provided via a new import method.