DST Requires Urgent Action
Why an update is necessary
Steps you need to take
Tools for updating DST
Outlook Users
Frequently asked questions
Outlook users (Step 4)
Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Office Outlook
Microsoft has released a program that can update calendar items in Microsoft Office Outlook to accommodate the changes in DST during the extended DST period. This program is called the Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Office Outlook.
The Time Zone Data Update Tool is available for download at the Microsoft Download Center.
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, the newest version of Outlook, can automatically update a person's calendar to conform to the new daylight saving time rules. However, the Time Zone Data Update Tool contains additional improvements that are not available in Office Outlook 2007.
For earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook - Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002, and Office Outlook 2003 - the Time Zone Data Update Tool is necessary to update calendar items that occur during the extended DST period defined above.
The following table describes the situations where users should download and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool:
Outlook 2007 |
Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002, and Office Outlook 2003 |
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| Users are not required to download and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool in most instances, but it is recommended because it includes the most recent improvements.
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All users should download and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool. Alternatively, in environments running Microsoft Exchange, a special version of this tool may be used by IT administrators to update multiple Exchange mailboxes at one time. |
The Time Zone Data Update Tool enables you to update the meetings you have organized to accommodate the change in DST rules. In addition to updating the meetings on the organizer's calendar, the tool automatically sends updates to all other attendees. This is necessary so everyone has the correct meeting start and end time.
You must download the Time Zone Data Update Tool from the Microsoft Download Center and then run the tool.
To install this download:
- Before running this tool, make sure that you have installed the Windows patch that contains the most up-to-date time zone definitions or you are running Windows Vista with the most up-to-date time zone definitions.
- Download the file by clicking the Download button (above) and saving the file to your hard disk.
- Double-click the tzmove.exe program file on your hard disk to start the Setup program.
- 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Instructions for use:
- After you are done installing the tool, it will automatically launch for you.
- Verify your default Data File is selected and Update to reflect changes to Windows time zones is selected, and continue through the rest of the tool.
- If you need to run the tool again, then launch tzmove.exe (located in the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Office Outlook Time Zone Data Update Tool\ folder.)
Note that if you have created non-recurring appointments on your Calendar since you updated your Windows time zones, you should click the Details button once the tool has reported that its scan is complete and uncheck any such appointments before continuing. Additionally, after running the tool, make sure to go to your calendar and review your calendar items to ensure that they appear at the correct times.
Different scenarios in Outlook
Appointments and meetings can be created under the previous DST rules (DST 2006) or after DST rules have been updated in Windows (DST 2007). Likewise, these same appointments can be viewed on computers that continue to operate under DST 2006 rules, or have been updated to reflect DST 2007.
When you view items on computers that have DST rules that are different than the one on which the item was created (for example, an appointment created with 2006 DST rules and viewed with 2007 DST rules), then the item will be shifted by an hour.
There are four different scenarios:
Scenario 1: Appointments and meetings created under DST 2006 rules and viewed with DST 2006 rules
| Summary |
The Windows time zone update is not installed and the Time Zone Data Update Tool has not been used. This is a common case for anyone who does not use Microsoft Update and has not taken any action to address DST changes.
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| Description |
Appointments and meetings are created that fall in the extended DST period on computers prior to updating them to reflect the new DST rules. And, these calendar items are viewed in Outlook on computers that do not have the Windows DST update applied. |
| Results |
Calendar items display at the correct time, but the system time on the computer will be off by one hour during the extended DST period. |
| What to do |
Update Windows with the new daylight saving time rules. This update will be available on Microsoft Update. Following the update, Scenario 2 will be common. |
Scenario 2: Appointments and meetings created under DST 2006 rules and viewed using new DST 2007 rules
| Summary |
Updated time zone rules have been applied to Windows, but the Time Zone Data Update Tool has not been run to address appointments previously created.
This scenario can also occur if new calendar items are created on mobile devices or other computers that haven't been updated for DST, but the items are subsequently viewed on a computer that has been updated. |
| Description |
Appointments and meetings that fall within the extended DST period were previously created on devices under DST 2006 rules but they are then viewed on devices that have been updated to reflect DST 2007 rules. |
| Results |
Appointments and meetings where you are the organizer are an hour off during the extended DST period. Meetings where you are an attendee might or might not show up at the correct local time. |
| What to do |
Run the Time Zone Data Update Tool to update appointments and meetings where you are the organizer to reflect the new DST rules. Meeting updates are automatically sent to the other attendees.
Refrain from creating new meetings during the extended DST period from computers and mobile devices until they have been updated for the new DST rules.
For meetings during the extended DST period in which you are an attendee and which have not been updated by the meeting organizer, directly contact the organizer to confirm the correct time. |
Scenario 3: Appointments and meetings created or updated using new DST 2007 rules and viewed on a non-updated device still using DST 2006 rules
| Summary |
Other users have updated their computers to reflect new DST rules, and have sent you meeting invitations that occur during the extended DST period. However, you have not updated Windows on your computer for the new DST rules.
Alternatively, you have updated your computer to reflect the new DST rules, and have run the Time Zone Data Update Tool, but are now viewing the calendar on another computer or mobile device that has not been updated. |
| Description |
Appointments and meetings were created on a computer that was updated to use new DST 2007 rules, but someone is viewing the calendar items on a computer that continues to run under DST 2006 rules. |
| Results |
Appointments and meetings for which you are the organizer are an hour off during the extended DST period. Meetings where you are an attendee might or might not show up at the correct local time, depending on whether the organizer has run the tool or not. |
| What to do |
Update computers and mobile devices with the Windows DST update. |
Scenario 4: Appointments and meetings created or updated to reflect new DST 2007 rules and viewed on computers updated to use new DST 2007 rules
| Summary |
Summary Windows is updated for the new DST 2007 rules and the Time Zone Data Update Tool has been run to address previously created appointments.
The computer and mobile devices which are used to view and create appointments are updated with the new DST 2007 rules.
Appointments and meetings where the user is an attendee have been updated by meeting organizers who have updated their systems to reflect new DST rules. |
| Description |
Appointments and meetings were created using DST 2006 rules and were later updated using the Time Zone Data Update Tool, or were created after Windows was updated to reflect the new DST rules and then viewed on computers that are updated for DST 2007 rules. |
| Results |
Appointments display correct times during all time periods. |
| What to do |
No action required |
As the above scenarios illustrate, there are cases where appointments and meetings might still reflect incorrect times even after Windows is updated for the new time zone rules and the Outlook Time Zone Update tool is run. In particular, make sure you watch for the following scenarios:
Appointments where the user is an attendee which was sent by an organizer who has not yet updated their operating system and run the Time Zone Data Update Tool. User is viewing their appointments on other computers and mobile devices that have not been updated with new DST rules.
Note Calendar items in Delegate Access situations or in any additional Exchange mailbox in your Outlook profile are not updated by the Time Zone Data Update Tool. Only your own calendar items are modified.
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