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**TheSmitchell** · 10-13-2014, 03:07 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Originally posted by Fulltimer View Post

Sarah,

I really appreciated your thorough and thoughful approach to my original thread question(s). I however was unable to implement those solutions due to my lack of understanding one or more missing pieces.

I copied some of your code (into Interactive window) that results in a Javascript alert but the code returns:

Object doesn't support property or method ": toFormat

I believe that your solution may be really close to what I need. Could you please confirm that this code is actual working code or was it presented simply as an example. If you know what I may have done wrong in this exercise, please advise. Thanks!

Tom

This code works. Run it in the console on a published component. Or throw together an .a5w page that includes the AjaxFormLibrary.js file (found in the JavaScript folder of your a5v12 install.) It is dependent on core.js, so you'll need to include both files in your .a5w page:

Code:

<!-- Include Alpha's JavaScript Libraries -->
<script type="text/Javascript" src="Javascript/core.js"></script>
<script type="text/Javascript" src="Javascript/AjaxFormLibrary.js"></script>

Alpha doesn't auto-include their javascript files on a5w pages (they do in Grids & UX; see http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/~alpha...ore.JS+Library.) If it didn't work in the "interactive window", then I can also assume Alpha doesn't include these files in the interactive window. You can find all of the javascript code that ships with Alpha in the JavaScript folder in the installation directory. And you can reference all of them as I did above. Just replace "core" or "AjaxFormLibrary" with the file of your choice. But, remember! Some of these files have dependencies on others. Case and point, the AjaxFormLibrary.js requires core.js to be present or it just won't work (or load...)

Here's a demo for ya:

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
    <head>
        <!-- Include Alpha's JavaScript Libraries -->
        <script type="text/Javascript" src="Javascript/core.js"></script>
        <script type="text/Javascript" src="Javascript/AjaxFormLibrary.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>
        <div id="hello"></div>
        <script>
            var today = new Date();
            var format = "Weekday";
            var weekday = today.toFormat(format);
            $('hello').innerHTML = "Hello! Today is " + weekday + "!";
        </script>
    </body>
</html>

**frankiez** · 11-02-2014, 07:03 AM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

This function seems to work in most browser and mobile devices with consistent results. You can paste this code into your interactive javascript window to see the results. I also added a quick command to obtain the local time zone off set.
To implement this function, execute an Inline Javascript action to populate the date control on your UX before submitting your data.

function GetLocalDateTime()
//Written: 11/1/2014 Frank Zwolinski (copied pieces from quackit.com)
//Purpose: Obtain date and time from local browser
//Returns: mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm am format
{
var currentDate = new Date()
var day = currentDate.getDate()
var month = currentDate.getMonth() + 1
var year = currentDate.getFullYear()
var hours = currentDate.getHours();
var minutes = currentDate.getMinutes();
if (minutes < 10)
minutes = "0" + minutes

var suffix = "AM";
if (hours >= 12) {
suffix = "PM";
hours = hours - 12;
}
if (hours == 0) {
hours = 12;
}
return day + "/" + month + "/" + year + " " + hours + ":" + minutes + " " + suffix
}

alert(GetLocalDateTime());

var d = new Date();
var n = d.getTimezoneOffset();
alert('TimeZone Offset:'+n/60*-1);

**frankiez** · 11-02-2014, 07:43 AM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Here is another javascript function to obtain the time zone abbreviation from the browser. Please note this does not work in the javascript interactive window since the date object returns a different date object string. Working preview, browsers and mobile devices return time zone information more consistently. I can't say this is 100% perfect, but it has worked for me so far. See comments below for specific reasons.
You can store 3 fields: UTCDate, TimeZone and UTCOffset. TimeZone and UTCOffset are from the browser via javascript. It is -5 hrs for EDT on 11/2/2014.
Here is the SQL function to derive local time DATEADD(hh,UTCOffset,UTCDate) as LocalTime. The TimeZone is strictly informational but useful information to see for the user.

function GetTimezoneShort(now) { //now is expected as a Date object
//08/31/2014 Frank Zwolinski
//Purpose: Return the time zone abbreviation from the javascript date object. Returns ??? if not found.
//Date Object returns Sun Nov 02 2014 05:49:19 GMT -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) from desktop.
//Mobile device returns same except time zone is abbreviated (EDT)
//This function assumes the time zone is in parenthese at the end of the date string
//Does not work in Alpha Interactive Javascript window - It returns Sun Nov 2 05:38:33 EST 2014 which cannot be parsed by this function.
//
if(now==null)
return '';
var str = now.toString();
//uncomment alert to view string before parsing.
//alert(str);
// Split on the first ( character
var s = str.split("(");
if (s.length == 2)
{
// remove the ending ')'
var n = s[1].replace(")", "");
// split on words
var parts = n.split(" ");

var abbr = "";
//If string only contains 1 one word, assume abbreviation
if (parts.length == 1)
{
abbr += parts[0].toUpperCase();
}
else
//Get first letter of each word EDT for Eastern Daylight Time
{
for(i = 0; i < parts.length; i++)
{
// for each word - get the first letter
abbr += parts[i].charAt(0).toUpperCase();
}
}
return abbr;
}
return "???"
}

**Fulltimer** · 11-02-2014, 02:49 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Frank,

I find your solutions interesting, however, don't they assume that the user's desktop time is set exactly correct? When I started this thread, that was one of the underlying reasons why a new and better solution was being sought. I would put more trust in the server timestamp than on all the individual users machines which are set randomly at best. If I've misread something, please let me know.

Tom W.

**frankiez** · 11-03-2014, 07:32 AM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Tom,
You are correct. The approach does depend on the client clock settings. I believe it becomes a question of determining an acceptable tolerance for error and the business requirements for date stamping. If you store client browser, server and location data, it may provide enough information to at least determine which clients may have incorrect clock settings (although this is not 100% certain).
Paychex (Payroll company) has a simple employee punch in system that uses the client time stamp along with location information to provide an acceptable level of accuracy for payroll calculations.
If I come across a bullet proof solution, I will let you know.

Time zones became an interest to me due to a client requirement to send a text message 2 hours prior to an employee's start time for jobs all over the US. Based on a location, I needed to calculate the correct offset from the server for each location. it becomes complicated when you consider Indiana has 4 time zones.

**madtowng** · 12-03-2014, 07:00 AM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Hi Tom,

I think I have the basics of what you're looking for.
Please check http://a5.wisux.com/timedata/tzcon.a5w to see if it does
the basics of what you're looking for.
Feel free to poke around, it should be "unbreakable" unless you really try to break it.

I'll admit upfront that I do the calcs completely in xbasic.

I actually stumbled on this thread while trying to find a solution for unwanted javascript time display.

**Fulltimer** · 12-03-2014, 03:05 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Gregg,

I found your submittal very interesting and the thought came to me that such a routine could be made into a subset module that you could offer to other A5 users for a small fee or as a donation to the A5 community. I have solved my problem with a long handed Xbasic approach also. My need was to create a general purpose "settings" function versus one that is interactive as in your example.

Thanks,
Tom

**madtowng** · 12-03-2014, 03:43 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

You're looking at the simple, yes it can be done version.
Assuming you know where the users are always logging in from, it becomes a lot easier.

I have a project from roughly 2 years ago that will do the time zone conversions based on city-state / postal code
that also takes into consideration daylight saving time.

I'm in the process of updating that now, but can't seem to get a control set by e._set.controlname.value to appear as MM/dd/yyyy 0h:0m instead of the much longer
javascript date - (ex: Wed December 3, 2014 1:40 pm Central Standard Time ) or whatever the real format is.

**Jim Coltz** · 12-13-2014, 02:39 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

I've created a custom ACDS_TimeZones() function and put it, along with an HTML help page, into the code archive section. This function is pretty much universal in that it will:

Convert a time from or to UTC.
Convert a time from one time zone to another.
Convert a time from the servers local time zone to any other time zone.
Provides a list of available time zones on the server.

The function works in A5 Version 11+

The function uses .Net classes and methods. Microsoft keeps their time zone stuff updated through windows update.

**Steve Workings** · 12-15-2014, 10:12 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

That's most generous of you Jim. While I'm fairly happy with what I rolled a few years ago, I will be taking a look at this.

For anyone else reading, Jim's work is excellent - he's helped me with some stuff I would never have figured out. This is sure to be a nice feature.

**ssmoore1** · 03-27-2017, 01:33 PM

Re: Has anyone found a good TimeZone solution that works in A5?

Hey Jim,

Thanks for providing the function, works great and does exactly what I need. Saved me tons of work!

If you need a tool to convert between time zones easily then this it.

Cheers,

Scott

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