Creating a time zone

Using the time management function of System i® Navigator, you can create a time zone specific to your needs. You can create either a new time zone, or a new time zone based on an existing time zone.

The method you choose depends on the time zone properties that you want to use. If the properties of the time zone that you want to create are similar to those of an existing one, use the New based on method.

When the IBM® i operating system is installed, the IBM-supplied time zones are overwritten. All IBM-supplied time zone identifiers begin with the character Q and the time zone names are retrieved from the QCPFMSG message file. If you create a time zone (that is, new or based on an existing time zone), the time zone identifier should not begin with the character Q. All time zone identifiers that begin with the character Q are reserved for IBM.

To create a time zone, complete the following steps:

From System i Navigator, expand My Connections > system-name > Configuration and Service > Time Management > Time Zones.
View the Time Zones listed in the Available time zones field.
If an existing time zone is similar to the time zone that you want to create, highlight the time zone and click New based on. Otherwise, click New.
Specify the time zone properties on the General page. In the Alternate name field, you can specify an alternate name that provides additional information for describing the time zone description. This field indicates the Olson value used by Java™. For information about the default Alternate name values of IBM-supplied time zone descriptions, see Time zone.
If the system is using a non-Gregorian calendar, you need to specify the correct Year offset value for the time zone description of the system.
Specify the time zone properties on the Daylight Saving Time page.
Click OK to save and close the time zone properties.

View the online help for more information specific to each field.

Note: Time zones are initially created with use (*USE) authority, even if you are creating a time zone based on an existing time zone. If you want to change the time zone authority, click Edit on the Time Zones dialog, and then click Permissions on the General page to edit the authority of the time zone object.

The time zone is created and appears in the list of Available time zones. To use the new time zone on your system, click Change system value.