IBM_XPS_PARAMS (XPS)

By default, the CURRENT and TODAY functions return values from the system clock-calendar, based on the location of the server. Use the IBM_XPS_PARAMS environment variable to specify a non-default time zone, as an offset from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), for values returned by CURRENT and TODAY.

To specify an offset from GMT for the built-in CURRENT and TODAY functions, set IBM_XPS_PARAMS on the client system to the desired value before you start the client application, using the following syntax.

                                           .- +-.
>>-setenv--IBM_XPS_PARAMS--'CLIENT_TZ-- =--+----+--hours--:--minutes--'-><
                                           '- --'
 

hours

is an integer in the range from 0 to 13 inclusive, specifying the absolute number of hours in the offset from GMT.

minutes

is a 2-digit integer in the range from 00 to 59 inclusive, specifying any additional minutes in the offset from GMT.

A minus ( - ) sign before the hours specifies a time zone east of GMT, and a positive ( * ) sign, which is the default, specifies a time zone west of GMT.

This example specifies that CURRENT and TODAY return GMT values:

% setenv IBM_XPS_PARAMS 'CLIENT_TZ = 00:00'

The next example specifies the Atlantic time zone of eastern Canada:

% setenv IBM_XPS_PARAMS 'CLIENT_TZ = +4:00'

The onstat -g ses command can display the current offset from GMT.

The SET ENVIRONMENT CLIENT_TZ statement of SQL can override the IBM_XPS_PARAMS setting, but the default scope of this environment variable is all sessions, rather than only the session in which the SET ENVIRONMENT CLIENT_TZ statement is issued. Reset the GMT offset with the SQL statement for the current session if your application requires a different time zone.