I have
a request regarding zone names. It would be very helpful for me if there
is a separate file with
Country Name,
Zone short name (like ET),
Zone
Long Name(Eastern Time),
Zone
Summer short Name(EDT),
Zone
Summer Long Name (Eastern DayLight Time),
Zone
standard short Name(EST),
Zone
standard Long Name(Eastern Standard Time)
GMT
Offset (Standard)
Currently used indicator (this will indicate if the timezone is just for
historical purposes)
Even
though Zone names are not standard, our tz list can agree upon some
standard names and use the same abbreviations. I am sure there are
others also who are interested in such a file. I will gladly
volunteer some of my time to prepare the initial file, if the list agrees that
this is an useful feature, and any future changes to tzdata will be reflected in
this file also. Each timezone abbreviation used in the tzdata must be the
same as Zone Short Name of the reference file.
P.S.
The above file format makes it easy for me to load the file straight onto my
application database. Suggestions are welcome. I also understand
that this may not be the part of the original intention (can someone also please
explain what the aim of tz database is), but all the same it will be very
useful for folks who need the data in database format and write their own
functions to interpret it.
Thanks,
-Syed
(v.398-4015)
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