Time zone implementation for Oracle BI reporting

To implement multiple Time zone implementations, one has to modify the instanceconfig.xml to invoke certain OOB features available with OBI implementation.

Things to consider before implementing multiple time zones:

  • Data obtained from the source systems have to be stored in GMT in the OLAP Database.

  • Data can also be offset to a certain time if the source system cannot store the time data in GMT.

The data will displayed to the user according to the time zone specified by the user in the preferences in "My Account".

Depending on the Analytics user's location as set in the preferences, he/she will be able to see the data in that particular time zone that the user has configured. There are also options to display a default time zone  for the entire data set.

A sample code to be inserted into instanceconfig.xml would be as follows:

(instanceconfig.xml) in which the <TimeZone> element has been added.

<TimeZone>

<DefaultDataOffset>0</DefaultDataOffset>

<Logging>(GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US &amp; Canada); Tijuana</Logging>

<DefaultUserPreferred>(GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US &amp; Canada); Tijuana</DefaultUserPreferred>

<DefaultDataDisplay>(GMT-06:00) Central Time (US &amp; Canada)</DefaultDataDisplay>

</TimeZone>

One can also navigate to  folder $\OracleBIData\common\timezone for a default set of timezones available OOB, if needed you are allowedto add any number of time zones to the xml file.