DST Workaround for Entourage on Mac OS X

Last week, we turned our clocks back for Daylight Savings Time (DST). The time change should be reflected automatically on all computers and laptops except for Mac users who are using Entourage 2004 and 2008 as their mail client.

I hadn’t notice this until I compared the time on my laptop to the time when I received an email. Strange to see that I received an email almost an hour before the actual time of the day! I felt like I was seeing into the future!

This happens as Entourage 2004 and 2008 use DST information from related ‘Timezones’ files which are not up to date with current information, even though the time change on the operating system is accurate. Microsoft has not released a fix for this issue but there is a workaround solution.

First, understand that this patch IS NOT SUPPORTED BY MICROSOFT.

With that said, only one of the support files is being replaced, the chances of lasting damage is minimal, but you are advised most strenuously to take a back up of the files that are to be changed.

If you accept this and want to continue, read on…

For Entourage 2004:

1. Download the updated time zones file for Entourage 2004
2. Quit Entourage (Entourage should not be running when you apply this workaround)
3. Make a back up copy of your identity. How to find your identity.
4. Back up the Timezones file in your /Microsoft Office 2004/Office folder
5. Copy the Timezones file you downloaded to /Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Office folder, replacing the old “Timezones” file
6. Re-launch Entourage

For Entourage 2008:

1. Download the updated time zones file for Entourage 2008
2. Quit Entourage (Entourage should not be running when you apply this workaround)
3. Make a back up copy of your identity. How to find your identity.
4. Back up the Timezones.ics file in /Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Office/EntourageCore.framework*/Versions/12/Resources/en.lproj/
5. Copy the Timezones.ics you downloaded to /Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Office/EntourageCore.framework*/Versions/12/Resources/en.lproj/ to replace the old “Timezones.ics” file
6. Re-launch Entourage

*To access the contents of EntourageCore.framework, CTRL-click and select “Show Package Contents”

For more information about DST Workaround, check out the Entourage Help Page.

Update: For 2010-2011 timezone patch, refer to DTS Workaround for Entourage on Mac OS X (2010-11).