Srini - I have found it necessary to take exactly this approach, incorporating one "snapshot" of the TZ data into our product itself so that it would work properly everywhere. (our web application takes local time from the user's computer, but requires explicit (or implicit) selection of the timezone in effect for each entity to which a timezone applies.)

----- Original Message -----

From: Srinivas Nagaraj

To: Time Zone Mailing List (E-mail)

Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 9:02 AM

Subject: TZ database content

The TZ (zoneinfo) database comes installed with several operating

systems like Linux, Solaris, etc.

I have noticed the content of the TZ database varies between different

versions of the same operating system and also between operating

systems. This could have been because of when a snapshot of the

TZ database was taken.

Ofcourse, one significant difference is the actual name of the time zone.

Depending on the content of the TZ database, the time zone name look

different. Is it because the TZ database has evolved?

I also noticed that the zone.tab file is not distributed on a number of

installations. Was that operating system installation decision?

Now my main question, is it an appropriate application specific common

practice to use an application specific TZ database? That way the

time zone names can be consistent, irrespective of where the application

is installed?

Thank you.

Srini