Message-ID: <2085457.1182532586492.JavaMail.joeescobar@joe-escobars-computer.local>
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 06:01:42 -0800 (PST)
From: moodleadmin
Reply-To: Online.MC_PO3.LCC-Mail@lanecc.edu
Subject: DST issues resolved
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So I've found a resolution for the DST issues.  It'll involve changing times in the database, but I can do that behind the scenes without requiring the instructors to do anything.  I'll figure out the best time to apply the fix and do it.

I figure it's probably best NOT to send out email to faculty telling them that they don't need to do anything, unless you guys disagree.  I did say in my message last week that I would do that, but was a little vague, so I don't think it's a breach of contract if I don't send email.  If folks have questions, they can contact me.

If you're interested, here's what the problem was.

After our brush with DST issues last term, I read up in the discussions and generally got the idea that the best approach for setting the server's time zone was to choose one of the named time zones (America/Los_Angeles).  My understanding from one of Martin's message was that the use of that zone should 'just work' when DST rolled around.  But setting a hardwired location seems to cause problems with date/time calculations: when a date is set with a pre-DST offset (e.g., before March 11th), that offset isn't correctly calculated after DST rolls around.  In particular, the user's time zone is taken into account when displaying the schedule (so quiz times showed as correct regardless of DST setting), but not for actually calculating teh availability.  Hence, students couldn't actually open a test at the time the schedule said it would be open.

I'm going to verify that this is what's happening and then post my findings on the Moodle developer forum for purposes of discussion.

David

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David Walton
Moodle System Administrator
Lane Community College
For enrollment, course creation, logging in, or general server issues, email moodleadmin@lanecc.edu
For faculty assistance using Moodle, email online@lanecc.edu
Voice: 463-3367
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