Something is definitely wrong with TimeLocal()

Forex Trader 2007.03.10 01:27

I have this simple script that simply displays the TimeLocal() directly on the chart:

int start() {
//----
	ObjectDelete("CLOCK");
	ObjectCreate("CLOCK", OBJ_TEXT, 0, Time[5], Bid-5*Point );
	ObjectSetText("CLOCK", "!", 20, "Arial Black", EMPTY);
	ObjectSet("CLOCK", OBJPROP_COLOR, Yellow);

	while (ObjectFind("CLOCK") == 0) {
		Comment("\n",TimeToStr(TimeLocal(), TIME_SECONDS));
		ObjectSetText("CLOCK", TimeToStr(TimeLocal(), TIME_SECONDS), 20, "Arial Black", EMPTY);
		Sleep(250);
	}
	return(0);
}

The clock changes from GMT+0 to Computer's LocalTime depending on the timezone of the computer. Listed are some "Time Zones" and the corresponding clock

GMT+12 AuckLand, Wellington 11:00 (local time)
GMT+11 Magadan, Solomon Is. 23:00 (time of GMT+0)
GMT+10 Vladivostok 9:00 (local time)
GMT+9:30 Darwin 23:00 (time of GMT+0)
GMT +8 Perth 7:00 (local time)
GMT+8 Singapore 23:00 (time of GMT+0)
GMT+8 Ulaan Bataar 7:00 (local time)
GMT+8 Beijing 23:00 (time of GMT+0)
GMT+2 Cairo 1:00 (local time)
GMT+0 London 23:00 (time of GMT+0)
GMT-5 Eastern Time 18:00 (local time)
.
.
.

TimeLocal gives out either GMT+0 or localtime depending on the "TimeZone" selected on the computer.

It is definitely a bug!

Forex Trader 2007.03.12 11:57 #1

Please do not mix local time and system time. Local time depends on time zone always - this is local time

Forex Trader 2007.03.14 06:56 #2

Can you please do the following to confirm the bug?

Step 1: Set your Timezone to US EST.
What is the TimeLocal() from MT4?

Step 2: Without changing time on your computer, change the Timezone to GMT+8 Singapore.
What is the TimeLocal() from MT4?

Step 3: Without changing time on your computer, change the TimeZone to GMT+8 Beijing/HK.
What is the TimeLocal() from MT4?

The answers would be:
1. TimeLocal() = Time of Computer
2. TimeLocal() = Time of Computer
3. TimeLocal() = GMT+0 instead of GMT+8

As I said it is a bug.

Universal Time Local and server time Functions for working with

Forex Trader 2007.03.14 15:21 #3

To confirm this bug:

I have a friend in Florida (GMT-5 aka EST), a friend in Cairo (GMT+2), and I am in HK (GMT+8)

My computer time is currently 21:18:00
In Florida, computer time is 9:18:00
In Cairo, computer time is 15:18:00

The script above shows:
My Computer: 13:18:00
Florida Computer: 9:18:00
Cairo Computer: 15:18:00

So why is it that on my computer it is showing 13:18 instead of 21:18?

But when I change my Timezone (No change to time) to GMT+8 Perth, it now displays 21:18:00 and is now same with all the other 3 people...

TimeLocal() displays GMT+0 when I use Timezone HK, Singapore; but TimeLocal() displays GMT+8 when I choose Timezone Perth... I hope someone can explain this "special phenomenon"....

Local and server time Universal Time Daylight saving time (local)

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 10:42 #4

Sorry, I don't understand. Does time returned from TimeLocal function differ from computer clock?

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 15:28 #5

Sorry, I don't understand. Does time returned from TimeLocal function differ from computer clock?

EXACTLY! TimeLocal() should be same with Computer Time, but on some TimeZones, it is not.

Change your Timezone to GMT+8 Beijing (where I am in) and see the difference. There are other timezones wherein its not same also as listed on my first post.

I have tested this on 4 of my computers (WinXP) and someone in Florida and Cairo have tested this as well.

Local and server time Daylight saving time (local) Time management in the

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 15:45 #6

Stop client terminal
Change TimeZone
Start client terminal
Check compare local time with computer clock

Use my script and please show screenshot

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                                    LocalTime.mq4 |
//|                      Copyright © 2006, MetaQuotes Software Corp. |
//|                                        http://www.metaquotes.net |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright © 2006, MetaQuotes Software Corp."
#property link      "http://www.metaquotes.net"

#import "kernel32.dll"
void GetLocalTime(int& TimeArray[]);
void GetSystemTime(int& TimeArray[]);
int  GetTimeZoneInformation(int& TZInfoArray[]);
#import

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
  {
   int    TimeArray[4];
   int    TZInfoArray[43];
   int    nYear,nMonth,nDay,nHour,nMin,nSec,nMilliSec;
   string sMilliSec;
//----
   GetSystemTime(TimeArray);
//---- parse date and time from array
   nYear=TimeArray[0]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMonth=TimeArray[0]>>16;
   nDay=TimeArray[1]>>16;
   nHour=TimeArray[2]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMin=TimeArray[2]>>16;
   nSec=TimeArray[3]&0x0000FFFF;
//---- format date and time items
   string time_string=FormatDateTime(nYear,nMonth,nDay,nHour,nMin,nSec);
   Print("System time is: ",time_string);
//----
   Print("TimeLocal function returns ",TimeToStr(TimeLocal()));
//----
   GetLocalTime(TimeArray);
//---- parse date and time from array
   nYear=TimeArray[0]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMonth=TimeArray[0]>>16;
   nDay=TimeArray[1]>>16;
   nHour=TimeArray[2]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMin=TimeArray[2]>>16;
   nSec=TimeArray[3]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMilliSec=TimeArray[3]>>16;
//---- format date and time items
   sMilliSec=1000+nMilliSec;
   sMilliSec=StringSubstr(sMilliSec,1);
   time_string=FormatDateTime(nYear,nMonth,nDay,nHour,nMin,nSec);
   Print("Local time is: ",time_string,":",sMilliSec);
//---- shift with daylight savings
   int gmt_shift=0;
   int ret=GetTimeZoneInformation(TZInfoArray);
   if(ret!=0) gmt_shift=TZInfoArray[0];
   Print("Difference between your local time and GMT is: ",gmt_shift," minutes");
   if(ret==2) gmt_shift+=TZInfoArray[42];
   Print("Current difference between your local time and GMT is: ",gmt_shift," minutes");
//---- GMT
   datetime local_time=StrToTime(time_string);
   Print("Greenwich mean time is: ",TimeToStr(local_time+gmt_shift*60,TIME_DATE|TIME_SECONDS));
//---- winter time (nYear remains the current)
   nYear=TimeArray[17]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMonth=TZInfoArray[17]>>16;
   nDay=TZInfoArray[18]>>16;
   nHour=TZInfoArray[19]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMin=TZInfoArray[19]>>16;
   nSec=TZInfoArray[20]&0x0000FFFF;
   time_string=FormatDateTime(nYear,nMonth,nDay,nHour,nMin,nSec);
   Print("Standard time is: ",time_string);
//---- summer time (nYear remains the current)
   nYear=TimeArray[38]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMonth=TZInfoArray[38]>>16;
   nDay=TZInfoArray[39]>>16;
   nHour=TZInfoArray[40]&0x0000FFFF;
   nMin=TZInfoArray[40]>>16;
   nSec=TZInfoArray[41]&0x0000FFFF;
   time_string=FormatDateTime(nYear,nMonth,nDay,nHour,nMin,nSec);
   Print("Daylight savings time is: ",time_string);
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                                                  |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
string FormatDateTime(int nYear,int nMonth,int nDay,int nHour,int nMin,int nSec)
  {
   string sMonth,sDay,sHour,sMin,sSec;
//----
   sMonth=100+nMonth;
   sMonth=StringSubstr(sMonth,1);
   sDay=100+nDay;
   sDay=StringSubstr(sDay,1);
   sHour=100+nHour;
   sHour=StringSubstr(sHour,1);
   sMin=100+nMin;
   sMin=StringSubstr(sMin,1);
   sSec=100+nSec;
   sSec=StringSubstr(sSec,1);
//----
   return(StringConcatenate(nYear,".",sMonth,".",sDay," ",sHour,":",sMin,":",sSec));
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Local and server time Daylight saving time (local) Writing and reading global

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 16:05 #7

As directed:

1. Close MT4
2. Change TimeZone to GMT+8 Beijing, HongKong
3. Open MT4
4. Login, run your script

This is what I see

Check that my Computer's Time is 9:59PM.

Questions about payments in Questions about how to Daylight saving time (local)

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 17:26 #8

More clear. Thank You. We will think how fix it

Forex Trader 2007.03.15 18:25 #9

I cannot reproduce
What the operating system do You use?

Forex Trader 2007.03.16 01:35 #10

All my computers are WinXP Home and Pro; a friend in Cairo use WinXP too; and I dont know if my friend in Florida uses WinXP too - but I guess he is not using Vista yet.

When you try to reproduce, what timezone did you try?
GMT+8 Beijing, HongKong is giving me the problem. Other timezone is giving me error as well to name a few:
GMT-10 Hawaii
GMT-7 Arizona
GMT-6 Central America
GMT-6 Saskatchewan

I have build 202; build 203 is not available yet. I have tried this on all the MT4 brokers I could find: IBFX, NF, MIGFX, PFGFX, FXDD same result: TimeLocal() always displays GMT+0 instead of GMT+8 on my computers.

Time management in the Daylight saving time (local) Functions for working with

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