Timezone Adjustment Hack

This is kinda hard to explain, but this hack basically detects when a user doesn't have their timezone set correctly (when their set time doesn't match their computer time). It gives the user a JavaScript prompt asking whether they would like to update their timezone. If they click "OK", it pops open a small window for a couple of seconds, updates the user's timezone offset accordingly in the database, and closes the window.

This is a beta!! I've played with it a little, and it appears to work *most of the time*. I'm releasing it in the hopes that someone can help me fix any errors that come up. (I expect errors to come up.)

It is important to note that the idea was inspired by FireFly's HiveMail, but the JavaScript is written completely by me. I previously asked about it (underestimating my own abilities, I guess) and was told that I had to get permission from Chen. I emailed him but haven't received a response, so I went ahead and wrote this. If any mods have a problem with this, just delete the thread and the hack.

This hack does not work for users in Newfoundland, since their offset is -3:30.

IF YOU DOWNLOADED THIS BEFORE 5:45 PM PDT ON 03/24/03, change all instances of "hi_timezoneoffset" to "hi_timezone" (disregard the quotes in both cases). Then, re-apply step 1.

IF YOU DOWNLOADED BEFORE 6:10 PM PDT ON 03/24/03, remove from your hi_timezone template the following:

	} else if (difference<0) {
		sdifference="-"+difference;

IF YOU DOWNLOADED BEFORE 7:35 PM PDT ON 3/28/03,
open global.php and replace:

  eval("\$timezonecheck = \"".gettemplate('hi_timezone')."\";");

with:

  $nowhours=vbdate("H",time());
  eval("\$timezonecheck = \"".gettemplate('hi_timezone')."\";");

Instructions are attached. Don't forget to upload updatezone.php as well! Enjoy!

[N!ck]

Also, I did find some more things that needed updating, and I fixed them. Thanks for the heads-up there.

[N!ck]

Yesterday at 11:54 PM N!ck said this in Post #30
Smoothie, try this. Edit your hi_timezone template. Find:

if (shours!=$nowhours) {
	var difference = shours-$nowhours;

And replace it with:

if (shours!=$nowhours) {
	var difference = shours-$nowhours;
        if (difference>12) {
          difference=difference-24;
        }

And let me know if that works. Thanks for your help.

Smoothie, I did this change on my own forums as well (first reproduced the problem, then applied it), and it seems to work 100% fine now. I'm going to go ahead and post this in full releases.