--- loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2010/11/08 23:27:58	1.253.2.5
+++ loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2010/11/29 04:40:12	1.253.2.6
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common html routines
 #
-# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.253.2.5 2010/11/08 23:27:58 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.253.2.6 2010/11/29 04:40:12 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ The method used to restrict user input w
 ##############################################
 sub date_setter {
     my ($formname,$dname,$currentvalue,$special,$includeempty,$state,
-        $no_hh_mm_ss,$defhour,$defmin,$defsec,$nolink) = @_;
+        $no_hh_mm_ss,$defhour,$defmin,$defsec,$nolink,$hide_timezone) = @_;
     my $now = time;
     my $wasdefined=1;
     if (! defined($state) || $state ne 'disabled') {
@@ -563,7 +563,10 @@ ENDJS
         $cal_link = qq{<a href="javascript:$dname\_opencalendar()">};
     }
     #
-    my $tzone = ' '.$tzname.' ';
+    my $tzone;
+    unless ($hide_timezone) {
+        $tzone = ' '.$tzname.' ';
+    }
     if ($no_hh_mm_ss) {
         $result .= &mt('[_1] [_2] [_3] ',
                        $monthselector,$dayselector,$yearselector).
@@ -643,7 +646,7 @@ Returns: Unix time represented in the fo
 ##############################################
 ##############################################
 sub get_date_from_form {
-    my ($dname) = @_;
+    my ($dname,$timezone) = @_;
     my ($sec,$min,$hour,$day,$month,$year);
     #
     if (defined($env{'form.'.$dname.'_second'})) {
@@ -693,7 +696,11 @@ sub get_date_from_form {
     if (($year<1970) || ($year>2037)) { return undef; }
     if (defined($sec) && defined($min)   && defined($hour) &&
         defined($day) && defined($month) && defined($year)) {
-        my $timezone = &Apache::lonlocal::gettimezone();
+        if (defined($timezone)) {
+            if (&Apache::lonlocal::gettimezone($timezone) eq 'local') {
+                $timezone = &Apache::lonlocal::gettimezone();
+            }
+        }
         my $dt = DateTime->new( year   => $year,
                                 month  => $month,
                                 day    => $day,