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Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and Later and on OpenVMS I64 Systems  



This section contains instructions for setting time zone information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and later and on I64 machines. For instructions on setting time zone information on OpenVMS Alpha prior to Version 7.3 and on OpenVMS VAX, see Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS VAX Systems.
NoteIf you are using the Distributed Time Synchronization Service (DTSS), you must use the procedures supplied with DTSS to set time zone information. See Distributed Time Synchronization Service (DTSS).

Use the procedure SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM to set time zone information.
NoteSYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM has some undocumented uses that are not supported and can lead to inconsistent or incorrect time zone information, For this reason, you should use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM only in the ways that are documented here.

To use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM, you must have the following privileges enabled: OPER, LOG_IO, SYSPRV, SYSNAM and CMEXEC. To ensure that these privileges are enabled, execute the following command:
$ SET PROCESS/PRIVILEGES=(OPER,LOG_IO,SYSPRV,SYSNAM,CMEXEC) 
If these privileges are not enabled, you can encounter errors or incorrect results.

You can use SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM to display current time zone information or to set time zone information.

Displaying Time Zone Information  

After ensuring that the required privileges are enabled (see Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and Later and on OpenVMS I64 Systems), execute the following command:

$ @SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP SHOW
This results in the following (or similar) display:
AUTO_DLIGHT_SAV is set to "1".
OpenVMS will automatically change to/from Daylight Saving Time.
(in timezones that use Daylight Saving Time)
 
    LOCAL TIME ZONE          = EASTERN / US -- STANDARD TIME
    LOCAL SYSTEM TIME        = 20-MAR-2003 13:23:22.21 (EST)
    TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -5:00
    TIME ZONE RULE           = EST5EDT4,M4.1.0/02,M10.4.0/02
    Change EST to EDT on the First Sunday of April (6-Apr-2003) at 02:00
    Change EDT to EST on the Fourth Sunday of October (26-Oct-2003) at 02:00
In time zones that do not use Daylight Saving Time, a statement to that effect will appear in place of the change statements.

If the AUTO_DLIGHT_SAVE system parameter is set to 0, you may receive a display similar to the following:

AUTO_DLIGHT_SAV is set to "0" and DTSS is not in use.
You will have to manually change to/from Daylight Saving Time.
 
You can do this by executing SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP.COM,
or you can use SYS$EXAMPLES:DAYLIGHT_SAVING.COM.
 
    LOCAL TIME ZONE          = ROC -- STANDARD TIME
    LOCAL SYSTEM TIME        = 19-MAR-2003 13:02:03.91 (CST)
    TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = 8:00
    TIME ZONE RULE           = CST-8
This time zone does not use Daylight Saving Time. 
You may also receive messages indicating that some time zone parameters are not correctly set. If so, correct the time zone information and rerun the procedure.

Setting Time Zone Information  

For local time zone support to work correctly, you must set the time zone that accurately describes the location you want to be considered as your default time zone. Usually, this is the time zone in which your system is running. In addition, your system must be correctly configured to use a valid OpenVMS time differential factor (TDF).

After ensuring that the required privileges are enabled (see Setting Time Zone Information on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 and Later and on OpenVMS I64 Systems), execute the following command:

$ @SYS$MANAGER:UTC$TIME_SETUP
Do not include any parameters with this command. When the main time zone menu is displayed, you can select the time zone in either of two ways: (1) by selecting the number in the main time zone menu that best represents the time zone desired (if multiple time zones exist for the selection you make, you will have to select the exact time zone from another menu), or (2) by using a search option that allows you to bypass the time zone menu and search by name.

If you select one of the numbers in the time zone menu, the corresponding time zone is selected. An asterisk (*) next to a number indicates that more than one time zone exists for that selection. If you select such a number, an additional menu displays with choices that allow you to select the appropriate time zone. For example, if you choose the United States (US) time zone from the main menu, a second menu displays the specific time zones within the United States. You then select the menu item that best represents the desired time zone.

The following example shows how you would select the Eastern time zone for the United States by using the menu numbers:

  Configuring the Local Time Zone
 
 
TIME ZONE SPECIFICATION -- MAIN Time Zone Menu            "*" indicates a menu
 
  0* GMT
  1* AFRICA          12) EET             23) JAPAN           34) ROK
  2* AMERICA         13) EGYPT           24) LIBYA           35) SINGAPORE
  3* ANTARCTICA      14) FACTORY         25) MET             36* SYSTEMV
  4* ASIA            15) GB-EIRE         26* MEXICO          37) TURKEY
  5* ATLANTIC        16) GREENWICH       27) NAVAJO          38) UCT
  6* AUSTRALIA       17) HONGKONG        28) NZ-CHAT         39) UNIVERSAL
  7* BRAZIL          18) ICELAND         29) NZ              40* US
  8* CANADA          19* INDIAN          30* PACIFIC         41) UTC
  9) CET             20) IRAN            31) POLAND          42) W-SU
 10* CHILE           21) ISRAEL          32) PRC             43) WET
 11) CUBA            22) JAMAICA         33) ROC             44) ZULU
 
Press "Return" to redisplay, enter "=" to search or "?" for help, or
Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: 40
 
 
US Time Zone Menu                                         "*" indicates a menu
 
  0* RETURN TO MAIN TIME ZONE MENU
  1) ALASKA           4) CENTRAL          7) HAWAII          10) MOUNTAIN
  2) ALEUTIAN         5) EAST-INDIANA     8) INDIANA-STARKE  11) PACIFIC
  3) ARIZONA          6) EASTERN          9) MICHIGAN        12) SAMOA
 
Press "Return" to redisplay, enter "=" to search or "?" for help, or
Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: 6
 
You selected EASTERN / US as your time zone.
Is this correct? (Yes/No) [YES]:
Time Zone Acronyms lists and describes the acronyms that appear in the Main Time Zone Menu.

Table 1   Time Zone Acronyms
Time Zone Acronym Description
CET
Central European Time
EET
Eastern European Time
FACTORY
Specifies no time zone
GB-EIRE
Great Britain/Ireland
GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
MET
Middle European Time
NZ
New Zealand
NZ-CHAT
New Zealand, Chatham Islands
PRC
People's Republic of China
ROC
Republic of China
ROK
Republic of Korea
SYSTEMV
Specific to System V operating system
UCT
Coordinated Universal Time
US
United States
UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
UNIVERSAL
Coordinated Universal Time
W-SU
Middle European Time
WET
Western European Time

To use the search option instead of menu numbers to select the time zone, enter an equal string (=) at the menu prompt instead of a number. The procedure then prompts you for the full or partial name of the time zone you want to select. After you enter that information, the procedure displays all matching time zones, and you can then select the appropriate one.


NoteSearch only for a specific submenu name, such as US or INDIAN, or for a menu entry, such as POLAND (or partial name POL, for example) or EASTERN. Attempts to search for EASTERN / US or REUNION / INDIAN will fail to bring up choices for you.

The following example shows how you would select the Eastern time zone for the United States by using the search option:
  Configuring the Local Time Zone
 
 
TIME ZONE SPECIFICATION -- MAIN Time Zone Menu            "*" indicates a menu
 
  0* GMT
  1* AFRICA          12) EET             23) JAPAN           34) ROK            
  2* AMERICA         13) EGYPT           24) LIBYA           35) SINGAPORE      
  3* ANTARCTICA      14) FACTORY         25) MET             36* SYSTEMV        
  4* ASIA            15) GB-EIRE         26* MEXICO          37) TURKEY         
  5* ATLANTIC        16) GREENWICH       27) NAVAJO          38) UCT            
  6* AUSTRALIA       17) HONGKONG        28) NZ-CHAT         39) UNIVERSAL      
  7* BRAZIL          18) ICELAND         29) NZ              40* US             
  8* CANADA          19* INDIAN          30* PACIFIC         41) UTC            
  9) CET             20) IRAN            31) POLAND          42) W-SU           
 10* CHILE           21) ISRAEL          32) PRC             43) WET            
 11) CUBA            22) JAMAICA         33) ROC             44) ZULU           
 
Press "Return" to redisplay, enter "=" to search or "?" for help, or
Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: =EAST
 
Search for Time Zone by Full or Partial Name
          "*" indicates a menu
 
          1) EAST / BRAZIL
          2) EAST-SASKATCHEWAN / CANADA
          3) EASTERN / CANADA
          4) EASTERISLAND / CHILE
          5) EASTER / PACIFIC
          6) EAST-INDIANA / US
          7) EASTERN / US
 
Press "Return" to redisplay this menu,
enter "=" to search for a new zone,
enter "0" to return to the Main Time Zone Menu,
enter "?" for help, or
Select the number above that best represents the desired time zone: 7
 
You selected EASTERN / US as your time zone.
Is this correct? (Yes/No) [YES]
If you enter No, you are returned to the Main Time Zone Menu.

If you answer Yes or press Return to accept the default, time zone information is set. This includes:

The TDF is the difference between your system time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is an international standard (similar to Greenwich Mean Time) for measuring time of day. The system next displays the TDFs for standard and daylight saving time that correspond to the time zone you have selected, and information about the TDF. For example:

    Default Time Differential Factor for standard time is -5:00.
    Default Time Differential Factor for daylight saving time is -4:00.
 
    The Time Differential Factor (TDF) is the difference between your
    system time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).  UTC is similar
    in most repects to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
 
    The TDF is expressed as hours and minutes, and should be entered
    in the hh:mm format.  TDFs for the Americas will be negative
    (-3:00, -4:00, etc.); TDFs for Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia
    will be positive (1:00, 2:00, etc.).            
Note that the system displays daylight saving time information only for time zones that use daylight saving time. If the time zone you selected uses daylight saving time, you must indicate whether daylight saving time is or is not currently in effect. Answer Y (Yes) or N (No) when you are prompted. For example:
Is Daylight Savings time in effect? Y
You are then prompted to enter the TDF. A default, based on your time zone and daylight saving time information, is provided. In the following example the default is -4:00. HP recommends that you press Return to accept the default.
Enter the Time Differential Factor [-4:00]: 
This results in the following (or similar) display:
    If this is a seasonal time change, it may also be necessary to
    modify the system time.  Generally, seasonal time changes result
    in adding 1:00 hour, or adding -1:00 hour to the system time.
When you are prompted, enter Yes or No.
Do you wish to modify the local system time [N]: Yes
If you answer Yes, the following is displayed:
    Enter the time adjustment value you would like to add to
    the local time.  You can enter hours only (hh) or hours and
    minutes (hh:mm)  The value can be positive (hh:mm or +hh:mm)
    or negative (-hh:mm).          
You are then asked to enter the time adjustment, usually either -1:00 or +1:00.
Enter the time adjustment value: -1:00
Finally, the TDF and the time adjustment (if any) is displayed, and you are asked to confirm that they are correct.
    NEW SYSTEM TIME DIFFERENTIAL FACTOR = -4:00
    ADDING -1:00 TO THE LOCAL TIME.
Is this correct? [Y]:
If you answer Yes, the TDF is set, and the system logical name SYS$TIMEZONE_DIFFERENTIAL is defined.

If you answer No, you are returned to the TDF information display, from which you can reenter your TDF and time adjustment choices.


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