Daylight Saving Time - It Is Not Over

It Is Not Over

(Note:  This tip was originally distributed to Active Practice clients and Webinar participants as a Heads Up Newsletter.)

Ordinarily your PC clock adjusts automatically for Daylight Saving Time (DST). But starting in 2007, DST begins on the second Sunday in March, the 11th, not the first Sunday in April, the 1st. Without a Microsoft Windows update, your MS Windows computer clock would have been an hour slow beginning on Sunday, March 11, 2007. The default time for new records would be an hour off. If you had an Alarm set to warn you of an upcoming event, it would go off an hour later than you expected. So what if you manually update your PC clock to fix the problem? It is not over.

If you manually changed the time on your computer without updating MS Windows, you are in for a surprise on April 1st. Without the update your computer will set the clock ahead an hour, following the old DST schedule. Your Alarms will go off an hour early and the default time for new records and documents will be an hour late.

Daylight Saving Time Test for your PC

You can check your PC to see if it has been updated for the new Daylight Saving Time. This test is important even after the first DST change on March 11, 2007. The University of Minnesota has a simple Web page that tells you whether your PC was ready for the change on Sunday, March 11, 2007 or not:

http://dst.umn.edu

When you open that page, you will see either "Ready for DST '07" or "DST '07 Patch Needed."

If you need the patch, the Web page contains links to help you find the download or downloads that you need. If your MS Windows 2000 or MS Windows XP software has been updated recently using Windows Update, your PC will probably pass the test. The new DST schedule has different implications for different software programs and devices. This newsletter addresses some of them. It is important to obtain professional advice for time-sensitive network software, applications and devices not discussed here.

Time Matters Software

If you use Time Matters, the risk of problems is pretty small, according to a recent LexisNexis newsletter, so long as your MS Windows software is up-to-date. It is a good idea to check your PC using the University of Minnesota Web page.

If you use a MS Windows CE or Windows Mobile device that you synchronize with Time Matters 7.0 or 8.0, you need to apply the latest Time Matters Service Release. With version 8.0, you can download and apply Service Release 1B from within Time Matters. With version 7.0, you need to get a download from the LexisNexis Service Center.

Though Time Matters Service Releases are designed to be installed by users without professional assistance, we cannot guarantee your results. These instructions are informational and not intended to cover every situation. We will be happy to advise you or assist you with your installation.

To update Time Matters 8.0:

1. Close all programs that have Time Matters links, including Acrobat, FireFox, MS Internet Explorer, MS Windows Explorer, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS PowerPoint, and WordPerfect.
2. Go to: Main Menu | Help | Program Updates | Check for Updates
3. Press Next. If you do not have the latest Service Release, go through the wizard that downloads it and installs it.
4. Be sure that all computers that have Time Matters are updated.

1. Close all programs that have Time Matters links, including Acrobat, MS Internet Explorer, MS Word, MS Excel,MS Outlook, MS PowerPoint, and WordPerfect.
2. Go to: Main Menu | Help | Program Updates | Update from Web
3. Click on: Service Release 2A - Time Matters 7.0, Billing Matters 7.0, Billing Matters Plus 7.0
4. Log in to the Service Center with your Username and Password. If you do not have a Username, click on: Register for New Account
5. Download the Service Release and follow the instructions for installing it.
6. Be sure that all computers that have Time Matters are updated.

If you use Time Matters World Server, it is essential that you download and install upgrades from LexisNexis.

MS Windows CE and Windows Mobile

If you use a Pocket PC, Windows CE device or Windows Mobile device, you need an update for your Microsoft software. Here is a Microsoft page to consult: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/daylightsaving/default.mspx

Updates for particular devices and software are as follows:

Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Saving Time ( Windows Mobile 2003 SW for Smartphone)
Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Saving Time (Windows Mobile 5.0 SW for Smartphone)
Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Saving Time (Windows Mobile 5.0)
Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Saving Time (Desktop Tool)
Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Saving Time (Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC)

New Dates for Daylight Saving Time

Beginning this year, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 changes the daylight-saving schedule. The period begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. This one-month increase is expected to save about 100,000 barrels of oil a day by reducing energy consumption in the evening. In 2007, clocks are set forward one hour on March 11 and back an hour on November 3.

Get More Out of Time Matters

The Active Practice Web site, http://www.activepractice.com, contains tips and articles showing you how to get more out of Time Matters and Billing Matters software. I am available to assist you with customization and training designed specifically for your office. For more information, please call 800.575.0007 or write to me at info@activepractice.com.

We offer Webinars on Time Matters at no charge on the second Friday of each month and send out two Emails beforehand describing the topic and reminding you to register. We understand that Email overload is a problem (one that Time Matters can reduce), so we are careful to send Emails only occasionally to inform you about new developments and products.

Questions? Feel free to call or send an Email.

Wells H. Anderson, J.D.
Active Practice LLC
Direct 952.922.1727 - Toll-free 800.575.0007
http://www.activepractice.com

Certified Independent Consultant - Time Matters & Billing Matters
TechnoLawyer Legal Technology Consultant of the Year - 2000