Time Zone function?

[NICKI004]

Is there a function in ALpha that can determine the time zone based on the area code or zip code or even state?

[Davidk]

Re: Time Zone function?

There are some Time Zone functions but doesn't look like what you need.

How about building a table of States and their offset to GMT, then look up a State you want, get the GMT offset and then you can work out a current time in that state based on current system time? Also have a look at
CSTATE()
CSTATE_ABREVLOOKUP()
CSTATES()
REGION_FROM_AREACODE
Don't forget to include the 51st state and sub-states... Canada! :)

[csda1]

Re: Time Zone function?

Hi Nicki,

Is there a function in ALpha that can determine the time zone based on the area code or zip code or even state?

There is no function to do this, as it requires constant updating. The other possibility is to create your own table of time zone and area code/zipcode/state and you could do a lookup to that table.

These tables can be purchased with regular updates from various vendors, but frankly, if the computer wee on the internet, I would go to a web page via Alpha's various web functions and "scrape" the data dynamically.

Here's one web page

Also, to get the current GMT time zone offset, use this Alpha 5 function:
GetTimeZoneOffset()

[ChristJC]

Re: Time Zone function?

Hi Ira

Mmm I wasnt aware of that functionality. I was trying to add that to GMT (we have a 10 hr difference). Would you have any idea where I am going wrong here:

tbl.Date = now(.T.+GetTimeZoneOffset())

I have tried a few combos but to no avail

Cheers

Jason

[csda1]

Re: Time Zone function?

Hi Jason,

tbl.Date = now(.T.+GetTimeZoneOffset())

GetTimeZoneOffset() returns a number with the hours difference to GMT. Why are you adding it to the logical value .T. (True)? That makes no sense to me or to Alpha.

NOW() returns local time, and NOW(.t.) is supposed to return GMT time, although this seems wrong

Using the interactive Window and trying things manually

?.t.+GetTimeZoneOffset()
ERROR: Argument is incorrect data type
?NOW(.t.+GetTimeZoneOffset())
ERROR: Argument is incorrect data type

Continuing

?GetTimeZoneOffset()
= -4
?NOW()
= 09/24/2009 08:10:04 60 am
?NOW(.t.)
= 09/24/2009 12:10:11 71 pm

This last one above seems to get the wrong GMT value. It may be a bug in Alpha, or a bug related to windows. I am not sure off hand.

An alternative way to accomplish this is by using this expression;

?NOW()+(GetTimeZoneOffset()*3600)
= 09/24/2009 04:09:20 21 am

[MikeC]

Re: Time Zone function?

To be totally accurate you would either have to do this on a county basis, not a state basis....or have an exception table/list if not that many. An example is the Upper Penisula of Michigan which half is on Central time and the other is on Eastern dependent upon county.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Time Zone function?

?NOW()
= 09/24/2009 08:10:04 60 am
?NOW(.t.)
= 09/24/2009 12:10:11 71 pm
[/INDENT]This last one above seems to get the wrong GMT value. It may be a bug in Alpha, or a bug related to windows. I am not sure off hand.
[/INDENT]

No..no bugs.
The difference is the time difference it took you to write the second query, and now everyone knows how fast/slow you type! And if you are curious, it took you 7 seconds and 11 msec! I am a slow typist, but that's enough time for me to make a cup of coffee!
Check this:

?now()
= 09/24/2009 10:24:29 75 am

?now(.t.)
= 09/24/2009 03:24:36 53 pm

?now()
= 09/24/2009 10:24:40 48 am

A better way:

?now(.t.)+" GMT, "+Now()
= "09/24/2009 03:29:57 20 pm GMT, 09/24/2009 10:29:57 20 am"

[csda1]

Re: Time Zone function?

No..no bugs.

You are correct. I was looking at the 12:00 PM as being 12:00 AM, and an 8 hour difference made no sense if that were the case (then again it was early in the morning). So there is no bug, and the correct revised code, using either technique should be

?GetTimeZoneOffset()
= -4

?NOW()-(GetTimeZoneOffset()*3600)
= 09/24/2009 04:25:28 37 pm

?Now(.t.)
= 09/24/2009 04:25:29 54 pm

Either one returns the correct GMT time.

[ChristJC]

Re: Time Zone function?

Hi Ira et al

Many thanks for your replies, that works really well

Have a great weekend

Jason