Feb 20 2008
Daylight Saving Time - Is Your Microsoft CRM Ready??
In 2007, Microsoft published their “CRM 3.0 Time Zone Data Update and Time Zone Wizard,” and since we’re coming up on the next DST (Daylight Saving Time) change, it is our recommendation that you review and download the information to ensure that your organization is prepared for Sunday March 9, 2008. For those of you in Arizona, feel free to take a break and grab a cup of coffee…
The DST Update & Wizard is approximately 27 pages detailing how to apply the changes to CRM, so be prepared! Click here to download.
If you want even more information regarding the DST updates, including Microsoft’s DST Help & Support Center, Click here This is not only a great resource for CRM, but for all of Microsoft’s products.
And for those of you that don’t need glasses just to read the chart below, it’s a nice reference guide to verify if your implementation needs an update.
Microsoft on DST Changes:
How the DST Change Affects Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
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 can be used for general adjustments of calendar-related items based on changes in time zone definitions.
For more information, see KB 925874 and KB 932984.
- Download CRM_DST_Remediation_details_Rev1.x.exe from this page and run it. It will extract a document that explains how to update your entire set of related Microsoft software components, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, and the order in which to perform the updates.
- We STRONGLY recommend that you read the entire document before updating your Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 installation and using the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Update Time Zones Wizard to update affected records.
For those of you that are using Microsoft CRM 4.0, we can only assume that the new version included the patch, but we may have to wait until we get closer to March 9th before we hear any more about it.
For now, I’m happy with the fact that I’ll soon have enough daylight left in the afternoon to squeeze in 9 holes on my way home. Cheers!
JH
Microsoft CRM Consultant
Unitek Microsoft CRM Services
