Time won't appear correctly

[kenwvs]

Hi All:

I purchased a script for an online auction site and have it up and running and have noticed a few problems, which have all been solved except for this one.

From what i understand the time shown is obtained from wherever my server is located. (I confirmed this with my provider) I did add a line in the script to have it show my time zone by using this command. putenv("TZ=US/Pacific"); except I used mountain standard time.

This worked and the correct time and date appeared on my main page. The problem occurs when people list an item, or place a bid, or leave feedback. The time is uses for these functions is wrong. It is either -4 or -6 hours. When I remove that line from the template.php page, the time shown for all functions is still -4 hours from the time shown on the screen.

I asked the people I purchased the script from and they say that the time is obtained from the server, not from the script.

Any ideas on what needs to happen to get the time appearing correctly on all functions. Ultimately, I would like to be able to use mountain standard time, but would be happy with Eastern Time, or anytime, as long as they all were the same.

I really don't know how to change much, so if you have suggestions, please keep it simple, as I could be considered Stupid, when it comes to this.

This is the lines "I think" that relate to this problem. If you think there are other lines, please let me know. I have taken these lines from a file called "template.php"

$config=mysql_fetch_array(mysql_query("select * from sbauctions_config "));
///////////////////////////////////////////AUTOLIST CODE////////////////////////////////////////////////
$auction_period=$config["max_period"];
$rs_query=mysql_query("Select *,UNIX_TIMESTAMP(date_submitted) as t,UNIX_TIMESTAMP(DATE_ADD(date_submitted,INTERVAL auction_period DAY)) as t1 from sbauctions_products");

AND

/////////////////////////////////////AUTOLISTED//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

$sbq_frozen_q="select * from sbauctions_products where UNIX_TIMESTAMP(DATE_ADD(date_submitted,INTERVAL auction_period DAY)) <= UNIX_TIMESTAMP(NOW()) and status='open'";
//echo $sbq_frozen_q;
$frozen_q=mysql_query($sbq_frozen_q);
while($frozen=mysql_fetch_array($frozen_q))
{
autoclose($frozen["id"]);

Thanks,

Ken

[Till]

I don't see where any "formatting" on the time would be done. When you retrieve data through SQL, what matters is the "SELECT foo, bar FROM ..."-part. And since you just select everything (= *), there is no formatting applied to any timestamps.

My advice would be to query the one you purchased the script from. Since you spent money for a reason, might as well get them to support you.

This is too vague anyway.

[kenwvs]

My apologies for not posting my results from all the people I spoke with.

The server and the database server are in two different time zones, heck, even two different countries. (Canada and Alaska) and as such the time is being posted according to the function being completed.

Ken

[Till]

The server is in a different timezone than the database server?

What's always good is to save your time and date in GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time), and from GMT you convert to whereever you are at. That makes it the most easiest to deal with customers from different countries and so on.

Just a thought though.

[kenwvs]

I purchased the script premade and really have no clue how to change it..... having said that I am changing server providers next week, and hopefully won't have any problems.

Ken

[Till]

Originally Posted by kenwvs

I purchased the script premade and really have no clue how to change it..... having said that I am changing server providers next week, and hopefully won't have any problems.

Ken

Maybe it would be in your own interest to hire someone. You'd create a job too and you have someone to get it done. Like a student/intern.

[kenwvs]

I have actually hired someone to modify the script, and it is being done as we speak.

Once that is completed I may very well have another project or two.