[Sharing] Don’t Be Thrown by Daylight Saving Time By JoSezettea Keeton, Information Builders

An article in the January/February 2010 issue of the WebFOCUS Newsletter, “FOCUS Functions and Julian Dates,” reminded me of a recent customer request. This customer wanted to display a datetime field with time zone and Daylight Saving/Standard Time components. No problem, right?

Well, when a string search of the Using Functions manual produced no results, I looked around some more but had no luck. Was there really no function for this format display? Not that I could find.

So, on to a different search with my favorite engine, Google. What I first needed was more information on Daylight Saving Time (DST and yes, it's saving, without an s). Hours later, I had picked up more than I thought possible about DST. Who knew DST reportedly saves electricity? Who knew DST is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and governed by law (and subject to change)?

Well, I do recall the last change in 2007. Until that year and since 1986, DST began on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. In 2005, the Energy Policy Act was signed into law and these dates changed. Effective in March 2007, DST begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Read More!

Let us know if you have any questions! Enjoy.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Butler
Customer Care and Communications Manager
Information Builders

[FYI]

In Australia, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am (AEST) on the first Sunday in October and ends at 2am (AEST) (which is 3am Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the first Sunday in April.

Daylight Saving Time is not observed in the states Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia.