Troubleshooting
Date and Time Handling
This guide explains how Elementum handles date and time values throughout the platform, particularly when integrating with external data sources.
Critical: Elementum’s platform assumes all dates are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Incorrect timezone handling can cause display inconsistencies across your platform.
UTC Standard
Elementum’s platform uses UTC as the foundation of our date/time handling strategy:Database Storage
All timestamps stored in Elementum’s databases are in UTC
API Communications
All API communications use UTC for consistency
UI Display
UI displays convert UTC to the user’s local timezone for presentation
External Data Integration
When importing data from external sources like Snowflake:Requirements for Date/Time Fields
1
Use UTC Format
All date/time values should be in UTC format
2
Avoid Mixed Formats
Data imported with mixed timezone formats will cause display inconsistencies
3
Proper Conversion
Local timezone dates without proper UTC conversion will display incorrectly
Common Issues
Mixed Timezone Problems
Mixed Timezone Problems
The most frequent issue occurs when:
- ❌ Some date fields contain UTC timestamps
- ❌ Other date fields contain local timezone timestamps
- ❌ All are treated as UTC by the platform
- ❌ UI displays show incorrect times for users in different timezones
Best Practices
1. Store All Timestamps in UTC
- Convert any local timestamps to UTC before importing
- Include timezone offset information if available
2. Standardize Date Formats
- Use ISO 8601 format when possible (
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ) - Ensure consistency across all data sources
3. Snowflake Configuration
- Configure all date columns to use UTC timezone
- Convert any local timestamps during ETL processes
- Don’t mix UTC and local timezone values in the same dataset
Troubleshooting
If dates appear incorrect in the Elementum UI, follow these steps:
1
Verify Original Data
Check the original timestamps in your data source (e.g., Snowflake)
2
Check Consistency
Verify that timestamps are consistently in UTC format
3
Convert Data
Convert any non-UTC timestamps to UTC in the data source
4
Re-import
Re-import the data after standardization