Empower the ability to collaborate across various time zones

I am currently managing an asp.net + c# application that tracks the working hours of employees using System.DateTime.now for logging purposes. With users connecting to the application from different countries, a client has requested that their employees working abroad log their hours according to their respective time zones.

Since all dates and times in the database are not in universal time, converting everything to UTC seems impractical. Therefore, I am exploring the idea of allowing the admin to define time zones through an interface, giving users the option to select their preferred time zone.

While I am aware of methods like JavaScript and geolocation to detect user time zones, I have concerns about their accuracy. Hence, I believe letting the admin set up time zones would be a more reliable approach. What is considered the best practice for handling this situation? Thank you.

c#javascriptasp.nettimezone

Answer №1

It seems like a smart move to let an admin establish the time zones for a group of users. Many individuals tend to have incorrect time zones set on their desktop computers, which can add unnecessary complexity. By defining it explicitly, you are ensuring accuracy.

My recommendation would be to utilize UTC in your database. Mixing DateTimes from various time zones in the same database could cause issues down the road!

Answer №2

Storing DateTimes in UTC is a smart move according to my experience. While converting existing data may require effort, it will pay off in the long run especially with multiple users in different time zones (currently two but potentially more as your platform grows). This practice will also simplify handling issues related to daylight savings time conversions, particularly in regions with varying DST schedules like the US and UK (I've faced similar challenges in my own system).

Rather than relying on automatic timezone detection when inputting data into your UI, the first step should be associating users in the database with a specific timezone property, assuming your users don't frequently change their timezones.

If you haven't already, consider linking locations with users or user groups and include timezone information along with their location details. This additional piece of information will help create accurate DateTime objects from user inputs without the complexities of automated timezone detection in code.

To prevent overlooking conversions when introducing a new time zone, centralize all DateTime logic (utilizing extension methods or a helper class based on framework version). Ensure that all conversions and string formatting are streamlined in one place for easy management and reference throughout your codebase.

Best wishes as you implement these practices and remember to write comprehensive unit tests around your conversion processes.

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