Microsoft CRM 3.0 Daylight Savings Time Update

Overview

Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will be extended in the United States. DST will start on March 11, 2007, which is three weeks earlier than usual, and it will end on November 4, 2007, which is one week later than usual. This results in a new DST period that is four weeks longer than in previous years. Unless certain updates are applied to your computer, the time zone settings for your computer's system clock may be incorrect during this four-week period. In particular, you must make sure that both your Windows operating system and your calendar programs are updated. For more information, check the Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center.

How the DST Change Affects Microsoft Dynamics CRM

After the operating system has been updated with new time zone definitions, the updates and wizard synchronize Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 time zone definitions with Microsoft Windows and adjust records associated with dates/times in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0.

Most records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, including custom records, include date/time stamps based on current DST rules. For example, activities that are scheduled during the delta period will appear one hour earlier than they should. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 calculates the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) value when an activity is created. So if a user creates an appointment while Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 is configured for the old DST rules and the appointment is scheduled during the new DST weeks, the appointment will appear one hour earlier than it should.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Update Time Zones Wizard helps adjust such records appropriately. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 updates and wizard are being released in advance of the United States Daylight Saving Time rules change in 2007, but they can also be used for general adjustments of calendar-related items based on changes in time zone definitions.

Get the DST update and wizard here.

Daylight Saving Time Changes and Microsoft CRM

Starting in 2007, the start date and the end date for daylight-saving time (DST) in the United States will transition to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

DST in the United States will start three weeks earlier than it has started in the past. DST in the United States will start at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March. DST will end one week later than it has ended in the past. DST will end at 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will require a hotfix to comply with the new start and end dates for DST in the United States. The hotfix will be made available here.

For more information about support for DST changes in Microsoft Windows operating systems, visit this website.