Saving and restoring time zones
The TimeZoneInfo class relies on the registry to retrieve predefined time zone data. However, the registry is a dynamic structure. Additionally, the time zone information that the registry contains is used by the operating system primarily to handle time adjustments and conversions for the current year. This has two major implications for applications that rely on accurate time zone data:
A time zone that is required by an application may not be defined in the registry, or it may have been renamed or removed from the registry.
A time zone that is defined in the registry may lack information about the particular adjustment rules that are necessary for historical time zone conversions.
The TimeZoneInfo class addresses these limitations through its support for serialization (saving) and deserialization (restoring) of time zone data.
Time zone serialization and deserialization
Saving and restoring a time zone by serializing and deserializing time zone data involves just two method calls:
You can serialize a TimeZoneInfo object by calling that object's ToSerializedString method. The method takes no parameters and returns a string that contains time zone information.
You can deserialize a TimeZoneInfo object from a serialized string by passing that string to the
static(Sharedin Visual Basic) TimeZoneInfo.FromSerializedString method.
Serialization and deserialization scenarios
The ability to save (or serialize) a TimeZoneInfo object to a string and to restore (or deserialize) it for later use increases both the utility and the flexibility of the TimeZoneInfo class. This section examines some of the situations in which serialization and deserialization are most useful.
Serializing and deserializing time zone data in an application
A serialized time zone can be restored from a string when it is needed. An application might do this if the time zone retrieved from the registry is unable to correctly convert a date and time within a particular date range. For example, time zone data in the Windows XP registry supports a single adjustment rule, while time zones defined in the Windows Vista registry typically provide information about two adjustment rules. This means that historical time conversions may be inaccurate. Serialization and deserialization of time zone data can handle this limitation.
In the following example, a custom TimeZoneInfo class that has no adjustment rules is defined to represent the U.S. Eastern Standard Time zone from 1883 to 1917, before the introduction of daylight saving time in the United States. The custom time zone is serialized in a variable that has global scope. The time zone conversion method, ConvertUtcTime, is passed Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) times to convert. If the date and time occurs in 1917 or earlier, the custom Eastern Standard Time zone is restored from a serialized string and replaces the time zone retrieved from the registry.
using System;
public class TimeZoneSerialization
{
static string serializedEst;
public static void Main()
{
// Retrieve Eastern Standard Time zone from registry
try
{
TimeZoneSerialization tzs = new TimeZoneSerialization();
TimeZoneInfo est = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Eastern Standard Time");
// Create custom Eastern Time Zone for historical (pre-1918) conversions
CreateTimeZone();
// Call conversion function with one current and one pre-1918 date and time
Console.WriteLine(ConvertUtcTime(DateTime.UtcNow, est));
Console.WriteLine(ConvertUtcTime(new DateTime(1900, 11, 15, 9, 32, 00, DateTimeKind.Utc), est));
}
catch (TimeZoneNotFoundException)
{
Console.WriteLine("The Eastern Standard Time zone is not in the registry.");
}
catch (InvalidTimeZoneException)
{
Console.WriteLine("Data on the Eastern Standard Time Zone in the registry is corrupted.");
}
}
private static void CreateTimeZone()
{
// Create a simple Eastern Standard time zone
// without adjustment rules for 1883-1918
TimeZoneInfo earlyEstZone = TimeZoneInfo.CreateCustomTimeZone("Eastern Standard Time",
new TimeSpan(-5, 0, 0),
" (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (United States)",
"Eastern Standard Time");
serializedEst = earlyEstZone.ToSerializedString();
}
private static DateTime ConvertUtcTime(DateTime utcDate, TimeZoneInfo tz)
{
// Use time zone object from registry
if (utcDate.Year > 1917)
{
return TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeFromUtc(utcDate, tz);
}
// Handle dates before introduction of DST
else
{
// Restore serialized time zone object
tz = TimeZoneInfo.FromSerializedString(serializedEst);
return TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeFromUtc(utcDate, tz);
}
}
}
Module TimeZoneSerialization
Dim serializedEst As String
Public Sub Main()
' Retrieve Eastern Standard Time zone from registry
Try
Dim est As TimeZoneInfo = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Eastern Standard Time")
' Create custom Eastern Time Zone for historical (pre-1918) conversions
CreateTimeZone()
' Call conversion function with one current and one pre-1918 date and time
Console.WriteLine(ConvertUtcTime(Date.UtcNow, est))
Console.WriteLine(ConvertUtcTime(New Date(1900, 11, 15, 9, 32, 00, DateTimeKind.Utc), est))
Catch e As TimeZoneNotFoundException
Console.WriteLine("The Eastern Standard Time zone is not in the registry.")
Catch e As InvalidTimeZoneException
Console.WriteLine("Data on the Eastern Standard Time Zone in the registry is corrupted.")
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub CreateTimeZone()
' Create a simple Eastern Standard time zone
' without adjustment rules for 1883-1918
Dim earlyEstZone As TimeZoneInfo = TimeZoneInfo.CreateCustomTimeZone("Eastern Standard Time", _
New TimeSpan(-5, 0, 0), _
" (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (United States)", _
"Eastern Standard Time")
serializedEst = earlyEstZone.ToSerializedString()
End Sub
Private Function ConvertUtcTime(utcDate As Date, tz As TimeZoneInfo) As Date
' Use time zone object from registry
If Year(utcDate) > 1917 Then
Return TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeFromUtc(utcDate, tz)
' Handle dates before introduction of DST
Else
' Restore serialized time zone object
tz = TimeZoneInfo.FromSerializedString(serializedEst)
Return TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeFromUtc(utcDate, tz)
End If
End Function
End Module
Handling time zone exceptions
Because the registry is a dynamic structure, its contents are subject to accidental or deliberate modification. This means that a time zone that should be defined in the registry and that is required for an application to execute successfully may be absent. Without support for time zone serialization and deserialization, you have little choice but to handle the resulting TimeZoneNotFoundException by ending the application. However, by using time zone serialization and deserialization, you can handle an unexpected TimeZoneNotFoundException by restoring the required time zone from a serialized string, and the application will continue to run.
The following example creates and serializes a custom Central Standard Time zone. It then tries to retrieve the Central Standard Time zone from the registry. If the retrieval operation throws either a TimeZoneNotFoundException or an InvalidTimeZoneException, the exception handler deserializes the time zone.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class TimeZoneApplication
{
// Define collection of custom time zones
private Dictionary<string, string> customTimeZones = new Dictionary<string, string>();
private TimeZoneInfo cst;
public TimeZoneApplication()
{
// Create custom Central Standard Time
//
// Declare necessary TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule objects for time zone
TimeZoneInfo customTimeZone;
TimeSpan delta = new TimeSpan(1, 0, 0);
TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule adjustment;
List<TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule> adjustmentList = new List<TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule>();
// Declare transition time variables to hold transition time information
TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd;
// Define end rule (for 1976-2006)
transitionRuleEnd = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0), 10, 5, DayOfWeek.Sunday);
// Define rule (1976-1986)
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0), 04, 05, DayOfWeek.Sunday);
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(new DateTime(1976, 1, 1), new DateTime(1986, 12, 31), delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd);
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment);
// Define rule (1987-2006)
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0), 04, 01, DayOfWeek.Sunday);
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(new DateTime(1987, 1, 1), new DateTime(2006, 12, 31), delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd);
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment);
// Define rule (2007- )
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0), 03, 02, DayOfWeek.Sunday);
transitionRuleEnd = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0), 11, 01, DayOfWeek.Sunday);
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(new DateTime(2007, 01, 01), DateTime.MaxValue.Date, delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd);
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment);
// Create custom U.S. Central Standard Time zone
customTimeZone = TimeZoneInfo.CreateCustomTimeZone("Central Standard Time",
new TimeSpan(-6, 0, 0),
"(GMT-06:00) Central Time (US Only)", "Central Standard Time",
"Central Daylight Time", adjustmentList.ToArray());
// Add time zone to collection
customTimeZones.Add(customTimeZone.Id, customTimeZone.ToSerializedString());
// Create any other required time zones
}
public static void Main()
{
TimeZoneApplication tza = new TimeZoneApplication();
tza.AppEntryPoint();
}
private void AppEntryPoint()
{
try
{
cst = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Central Standard Time");
}
catch (TimeZoneNotFoundException)
{
if (customTimeZones.ContainsKey("Central Standard Time"))
HandleTimeZoneException("Central Standard Time");
}
catch (InvalidTimeZoneException)
{
if (customTimeZones.ContainsKey("Central Standard Time"))
HandleTimeZoneException("Central Standard Time");
}
if (cst == null)
{
Console.WriteLine("Unable to load Central Standard Time zone.");
return;
}
DateTime currentTime = DateTime.Now;
Console.WriteLine("The current {0} time is {1}.",
TimeZoneInfo.Local.IsDaylightSavingTime(currentTime) ?
TimeZoneInfo.Local.StandardName :
TimeZoneInfo.Local.DaylightName,
currentTime.ToString("f"));
Console.WriteLine("The current {0} time is {1}.",
cst.IsDaylightSavingTime(currentTime) ?
cst.StandardName :
cst.DaylightName,
TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTime(currentTime, TimeZoneInfo.Local, cst).ToString("f"));
}
private void HandleTimeZoneException(string timeZoneName)
{
string tzString = customTimeZones[timeZoneName];
cst = TimeZoneInfo.FromSerializedString(tzString);
}
}
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Public Class TimeZoneApplication
' Define collection of custom time zones
Private customTimeZones As New Dictionary(Of String, String)
Private cst As TimeZoneInfo
Public Sub New()
' Define custom Central Standard Time
'
' Declare necessary TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule objects for time zone
Dim customTimeZone As TimeZoneInfo
Dim delta As New TimeSpan(1, 0, 0)
Dim adjustment As TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule
Dim adjustmentList As New List(Of TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule)
' Declare transition time variables to hold transition time information
Dim transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd As TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime
' Define end rule (for 1976-2006)
transitionRuleEnd = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(#02:00:00AM#, 10, 5, DayOfWeek.Sunday)
' Define rule (1976-1986)
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(#2:00:00AM#, 04, 05, DayOfWeek.Sunday)
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(#01/01/1976#, #12/31/1986#, delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd)
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment)
' Define rule (1987-2006)
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(#2:00:00AM#, 04, 01, DayOfWeek.Sunday)
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(#01/01/1987#, #12/31/2006#, delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd)
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment)
' Define rule (2007- )
transitionRuleStart = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(#2:00:00AM#, 03, 02, DayOfWeek.Sunday)
transitionRuleEnd = TimeZoneInfo.TransitionTime.CreateFloatingDateRule(#2:00:00AM#, 11, 01, DayOfWeek.Sunday)
adjustment = TimeZoneInfo.AdjustmentRule.CreateAdjustmentRule(#01/01/2007#, Date.MaxValue.Date, delta, transitionRuleStart, transitionRuleEnd)
adjustmentList.Add(adjustment)
' Create custom time zone
customTimeZone = TimeZoneInfo.CreateCustomTimeZone("Central Standard Time", _
New TimeSpan(-6, 0, 0), _
"(GMT-06:00) Central Time (US Only)", "Central Standard Time", _
"Central Daylight Time", adjustmentList.ToArray())
' Add time zone to collection
customTimeZones.Add(customTimeZone.Id, customTimeZone.ToSerializedString())
' Create any other required time zones
End Sub
Public Shared Sub Main()
Dim tza As New TimeZoneApplication()
tza.AppEntryPoint()
End Sub
Private Sub AppEntryPoint()
Try
cst = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Central Standard Time")
Catch e As TimeZoneNotFoundException
If customTimeZones.ContainsKey("Central Standard Time")
HandleTimeZoneException("Central Standard Time")
End If
Catch e As InvalidTimeZoneException
If customTimeZones.ContainsKey("Central Standard Time")
HandleTimeZoneException("Central Standard Time")
End If
End Try
If cst Is Nothing Then
Console.WriteLine("Unable to load Central Standard Time zone.")
Return
End If
Dim currentTime As Date = Date.Now
Console.WriteLine("The current {0} time is {1}.", _
IIf(TimeZoneInfo.Local.IsDaylightSavingTime(currentTime), _
TimeZoneInfo.Local.StandardName, _
TimeZoneInfo.Local.DaylightName), _
currentTime.ToString("f"))
Console.WriteLine("The current {0} time is {1}.", _
IIf(cst.IsDaylightSavingTime(currentTime), _
cst.StandardName, _
cst.DaylightName), _
TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTime(currentTime, TimeZoneInfo.Local, cst).ToString("f"))
End Sub
Private Sub HandleTimeZoneException(timeZoneName As String)
Dim tzString As String = customTimeZones.Item(timeZoneName)
cst = TimeZoneInfo.FromSerializedString(tzString)
End Sub
End Class
Storing a serialized string and restoring it when needed
The previous examples have stored time zone information to a string variable and restored it when needed. However, the string that contains serialized time zone information can itself be stored in some storage medium, such as an external file, a resource file embedded in the application, or the registry. (Note that information about custom time zones should be stored apart from the system's time zone keys in the registry.)
Storing a serialized time zone string in this manner also separates the time zone creation routine from the application itself. For example, a time zone creation routine can execute and create a data file that contains historical time zone information that an application can use. The data file can be then be installed with the application, and it can be opened and one or more of its time zones can be deserialized when the application requires them.
For an example that uses an embedded resource to store serialized time zone data, see How to: Save time zones to an embedded resource and How to: Restore time zones from an embedded resource.
