Using Robot/SCHEDULE to Automate Daylight Saving Time Change

Note: Starting with OS/400 V5R3, a new system value, QTIMZON, allows you to change your system time for daylight saving time automatically. If your operating system is at V5R3 or higher, see the Help/FACTS, Using Robot/SCHEDULE with the QTIMZON System Value.

If you live in an area that observes Daylight Saving Time, your iSeries clock needs to be reset just like all the other clocks in your life (remember the mnemonic: Spring forward; Fall back). The CL program shown below should do the job for most of you. Have your programmers review it before using it at your site.

Once you have created the CL program, you can set up a Robot/SCHEDULE command job to call it. Simply have Robot/SCHEDULE change the system clock for you on the appropriate day at the appropriate time. We recommend that you run this program either before or after Saturday night’s processing. If the program recognizes an hour less than 0 or greater than 24, it will automatically delay 1 hour and try the change again.

The CL program restarts Robot/SCHEDULE to pick up the new time. You can modify the program to restart additional products so they pick up the time  change. If you have the following products, add the corresponding commands to the program after the command to end and/or restart Robot/SCHEDULE.