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User ManualNeed configuration, code or deployment details? In the Technical Manual: Time Zones Feature

Time Zones

Time zone menus normally list hundreds of technical names such as America/New_York. The Time Zones feature replaces them with a short list of friendly names you control, such as Eastern Time (US & Canada). Use it so editors and agents pick the right zone quickly, and so every screen uses the same names.

MenuTools > Time Zones; Settings > General (site default)
PermissionManage time zone maps; Manage settings (site default)
FeatureTime Zones; User Time Zone (Orchard Core) for a time zone per person
Can't find it?

What you see depends on your role. If the menu, a button or a setting on this page is missing, ask your administrator to give you the permission listed above or to turn on the feature. Only administrators can turn features on and change site settings.

How the list works​

Each entry on Tools > Time Zones is a time zone map: a friendly name linked to one real time zone. When the feature is on, the time zone menus show only the names on this list, in alphabetical order. That includes:

  • Default Time Zone under Settings > General.
  • A person's own time zone, when User Time Zone is on.
  • The time zone of a contact, and the time zone menus on activity screens.

The list starts with about twenty common zones from around the world, such as Pacific Time (US & Canada), Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Central European Time and India Standard Time. You can edit or delete them.

A zone is missing from a menu?

Add a map for it. A time zone that has no map on the list cannot be picked anywhere.

Add a time zone​

  1. Open Tools > Time Zones and click Add Time Zone Map.
  2. Enter the Name people will see, for example Mexico City Time.
  3. Pick the Time zone it stands for, for example America/Mexico_City.
  4. Click Save.

Each name can be used once, and each time zone can have only one map. The name cannot be changed after you save; to rename a map, delete it and add a new one.

The list shows each map's name, its time zone, when it was last changed and who created it. Use the Search box to find one, Edit to point a map at a different time zone, and Delete to remove it.

Set the site's time zone​

The site's time zone is used to show dates and times to everyone who has not picked their own.

  1. Open Settings > General.
  2. Pick a name from Default Time Zone.
  3. Click Save.

Let each person use their own time zone​

When your administrator turns on the Orchard Core User Time Zone feature, each person can pick their own time zone on their profile, and dates and times are shown to them in that zone. People who do not pick one see the site's time zone. See the Orchard Core Users documentation for the details.