Thread

Attempting to output entries by ‘entry_date’, but listed entries differ from output. Using dynamic parameters - even when dates are hard coded - still consistently incorrect.

Referencing:
http://ellislab.com/expressionengine/user-guide/modules/channel/dynamic_parameters.html

{exp:channel:entries
channel="orders"
status="closed"
year="2012"
month="07"
day="04"
dynamic_parameters="year|month|day"
disable="category_fields|member_data|pagination|trackbacks"
}

* Output: See attachment.
* Using July 4, 2012 as example. See attachment.

Returning previous days also. Is this a time stamping issue?

Hello P. Colin Manikoth,

I am sorry to hear you are running into this problem.

Can you tell me what version of ExpressionEngine you are currently running? This may be a bug, but I need to know your version.

Thank you,

EE 2.5.2

Could you let us see the times for the entries on the 3rd that are appearing in the Channel Entries tag output? What timezone is set for your account? Is that different than the system timezone or the timezone set for the author of these entries?

* Appears to be a time zone difference issue between Local Entry time vs. GMT Entry times. See attachment.

* Local time Pacific GMT-8

* Yes, entries are for an e-commerce addon

Do you know what the timezone is for the author of the entries? EE stores the month, day, and year columns in the database based on the date as translated from the entry_date column into the author’s timezone, so it helps to know that setting.

Do you know what the timezone is for the author of the entries?

Should be Pacific GMT-8. Entries are created as orders are processed. Is the only workaround to change our local time zone also?

I’m not sure just yet. What add-on are you using for ecommerce? I need to get to the bottom of how your installation of EE is creating these entries. It’s apparently not taking into consideration the system/author timezone, and that’s the root of the problem.

Using CartThrob. The entries are being recorded in PST time correctly. Does EE only output entries in GMT time?

Many things factor into how ExpressionEngine determines an entries date.

ExpressionEngine itself:
The server needs to have the timezone properly set at the system level and in php.ini
In the Control Panel, Admin-> Localization Settings: The “Server Time Zone” should match the server’s own settings and DST should be enabled if in effect. “Server Offset (in minutes)” can be left alone in almost every case.

Then, a member’s own localization settings are applied. If you are logged into the Control Panel or the front-end, or logged into the Control Panel and viewing the front-end then the entry date reflects your members localization settings under My Account-> Localization Settings.

In this instance, say your server is in the US West Coast (UTC -8) and you are in the US East Cost (UTC -5). If you are logged into the Control Panel or the front-end of a member site, entry dates will be affected by your local time, off by 3 hours.

For instance, you make an entry in UTC -5 and it is 8PM. The entry is published, you see it on the front of the site and all is well. You log out of the Control Panel, or a random visitor sees the site - the server is in UTC -8 and it is only 5PM there, the entry appears to not be published.

If you are logged out, entry dates will reflect the system’s time, off by 3 hours in the other direction - so to speak. Any visitors to the site are presented with the system’s timezone.

Member settings can be forced to honor ExpressionEngine system settings, but if users can set their own, they should reflect the users local timezone and DST customs.

You can force members to use the system’s time by going to Members-> Preferences: Allow members to set their own localization preferences? set to “No”.

I hope that helps clarify and gives you some ideas how to manage localization in ExpressionEngine.

Can you check that ExpressionEngine’s timezone is set properly for the server it is on? Now, if you, the server and ExpressionEngine are all in UTC -8, then we might want to get a closer look.

~

* Web Server (DreamHost) confirmed VPS set to: PDT (GMT - 0700)

* EE Localization set to: UTC-8 or Pacific Standard Time.

* User (author) Localization: Also, UTC-8. No offset. Only one user writing to these entries, so there should be no conflict. Luckily, all users are in UTC-8.

* “Allow members to set their own localization preferences?” Set to No. All on UTC-8.

Results are the same as problem originally stated. Please see original attachements. Or PM for login info. Thanks. 

Yep, I think it’ll be quicker to troubleshoot if I can have a first-hand look at what’s going on here. Be on the lookout for an email from me.

Just checking in to make sure you got my email. Let me know if you need me to send it again!

Yes, I got your email. I’m setting up a staging site for you. Same content, but off the live server.

Thanks for following up.