Time Zone Management in Autom Mate

In Autom Mate, precise time zone management is crucial to ensuring accurate scheduling and seamless operations across different regions. The Mate Agent, a core component of the platform, enables users to configure time zones for localized automation. This document outlines the steps for setting the time zone for the Mate Agent, along with the intricacies of time zone data handling within Autom Mate.

Setting the Time Zone for Mate Agent

To configure the time zone for the Mate Agent, users must navigate to the Mate Agent section under My Environment. This section provides an overview of all connected agents and their current connection status.

To modify the time zone:

1. Locate the time zone setting on the Mate Agent page.

2. Click on the current time zone value. A pop-up window will appear, allowing users to select the appropriate time zone from a list of options, all displayed in UTC format.

3. After selecting the desired time zone, confirm the change. The system will now synchronize the Mate Agent’s operations based on the selected UTC offset.

Handling Time Zone Data in Autom Mate

The Mate Agent communicates data using the set time zone, ensuring that all automated tasks are executed in accordance with the user’s local time zone. For instance, if the user is in a time zone with a UTC offset of +5, they must set the Mate Agent to UTC +5. This ensures that all automations and logs are correctly timestamped to reflect the user’s local time.

For advanced log timestamps, Autom Mate records the logs using the local system time. For example, if the Mate Agent is configured to UTC +1 and the local computer is in the UTC +3 time zone, the advanced log timestamps will reflect the UTC +3 time zone.

Frontend Time Display and Monitoring

On the frontend, Autom Mate handles timing data in UTC 0, regardless of the user’s location. However, when users access the Monitoring section, they will see the time adjusted according to their computer’s local time zone. For example, if the user's computer is set to UTC +4, the monitoring interface will display times that have been adjusted by this offset.

This distinction ensures that users always view timestamps in a format that aligns with their local settings, even though backend processes are calculated using UTC 0.

Time Zone Differences in Autom Status and Scheduling

While Autom Mate predominantly uses UTC 0 for time calculations, there is a specific exception when it comes to schedule-based automations. In these cases, Autom Mate sends time data in both UTC 0 and in a more detailed format, such as Europe/Istanbul. This dual-format approach ensures that scheduled tasks are not only calculated in UTC 0 but also include the relevant time zone identifier for more accurate scheduling and reporting.

This distinction in how time data is handled between general Autom Statuses and scheduling processes highlights the platform’s flexibility in adapting to varying time zone requirements.

Effective time zone management is essential in ensuring that automation processes run smoothly across different regions. By allowing users to set time zones at the Mate Agent level, Autom Mate provides a robust system for localized automation while maintaining consistency in its internal time calculations. The nuanced handling of time data, particularly in schedule-based automations, reflects Autom Mate’s commitment to precision and adaptability in a global context.