Microsoft Outlook for Windows
and the New Daylight Saving Time Law

 

(This page covers Outlook 2000, Outlook XP, Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007.)

Synopsis:
According to Microsoft, the potential exists for the new DST rules to cause problems with Outlook Calendar appointments during the extended DST periods.  This potential exists even after Windows itself has been patched for DST.

As a result, Microsoft has issued a utility that Computer Services has used to update campus mailboxes at the server level.  The primary function of this utility is to update pre-existing calendar appointments that fall within the extended DST periods.  No action is needed from users during this step.

However, Microsoft has advised, as a precaution, that users put the date and time of appointments in the Subject line of meeting invitations in their Outlook calendars.  This way, if an appointment does not get updated properly, the correct date and time will still be visible to all participants.  Microsoft advises that users take this precaution for all new and pre-existing appointments that fall during the extended DST periods, i.e. from March 22 to April 1, 2007 and from October 28 to November 4, 2007.

Microsoft has also recommended that users regard all appointments scheduled to occur during the extended DST periods as "suspect."  When in doubt, verify the correct time with convener.
 

Procedure:
Include the date and time in the Subject  line of all appointments created in Microsoft Outlook that occur during the extended DST periods in 2007.  Also, treat all appointments occurring in the extended DST periods as "suspect."

 

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