Describe the bug
OpenBoard uses UTC time instead of the system's local time on Windows. This causes document filenames (which include the creation date and time) to be incorrect. For users in UTC+8 timezone (e.g., Asia/Taipei), the timestamps in document filenames are 8 hours behind the actual local time, making it difficult to locate documents by their creation date later.
The built-in clock widget ("Horloge") also displays UTC time instead of local time, confirming this is a system-wide time handling issue within OpenBoard.
To Reproduce
- Set up a Windows system with a non-UTC timezone (e.g.,
Taipei Standard Time, UTC+08:00). Ensure no TZ environment variable is set.
- Launch OpenBoard.
- Create a new document.
- Observe the document filename — the date and time shown are in UTC, not local time.
- Optionally, add the clock widget ("Horloge") to the board to further confirm: it also displays UTC time instead of local time.
Expected behavior
Document filenames should use the system's local time (e.g., UTC+08:00 for Taipei Standard Time). The clock widget should also display local time.
Actual behavior
Document filenames use UTC time. For example, a document created at 2026-02-24 10:00 local time (UTC+08:00) gets a filename showing 2026-02-24 02:00 (UTC). The clock widget also shows UTC time, 8 hours behind the actual local time.
Screenshots
N/A
Additional resources
Root cause analysis:
This appears to be related to Qt WebKit's ICU timezone handling. OpenBoard bundles ICU libraries (icudt74.dll, icuin74.dll, icuuc74.dll), and the ICU layer does not correctly map the Windows timezone name (Taipei Standard Time) to the IANA timezone (Asia/Taipei). As a result, JavaScript's new Date() and likely other internal time functions fall back to UTC.
Workaround: Setting the TZ=Asia/Taipei environment variable before launching OpenBoard forces the correct timezone and resolves the issue.
Context
- reproducibility :
systematic
- OpenBoard version :
- OS :
- bug happens with :
Windows 10
- Installation source :
OpenBoard github download page
Additional context
- OS(es) detailed version (for the ones you reproduced the bug on)
- Windows :
Windows 10 Pro 10.0.19045
- System timezone:
Taipei Standard Time (UTC+08:00), no TZ environment variable set
Describe the bug
OpenBoard uses UTC time instead of the system's local time on Windows. This causes document filenames (which include the creation date and time) to be incorrect. For users in UTC+8 timezone (e.g., Asia/Taipei), the timestamps in document filenames are 8 hours behind the actual local time, making it difficult to locate documents by their creation date later.
The built-in clock widget ("Horloge") also displays UTC time instead of local time, confirming this is a system-wide time handling issue within OpenBoard.
To Reproduce
Taipei Standard Time, UTC+08:00). Ensure noTZenvironment variable is set.Expected behavior
Document filenames should use the system's local time (e.g., UTC+08:00 for Taipei Standard Time). The clock widget should also display local time.
Actual behavior
Document filenames use UTC time. For example, a document created at 2026-02-24 10:00 local time (UTC+08:00) gets a filename showing 2026-02-24 02:00 (UTC). The clock widget also shows UTC time, 8 hours behind the actual local time.
Screenshots
N/A
Additional resources
Root cause analysis:
This appears to be related to Qt WebKit's ICU timezone handling. OpenBoard bundles ICU libraries (
icudt74.dll,icuin74.dll,icuuc74.dll), and the ICU layer does not correctly map the Windows timezone name (Taipei Standard Time) to the IANA timezone (Asia/Taipei). As a result, JavaScript'snew Date()and likely other internal time functions fall back to UTC.Workaround: Setting the
TZ=Asia/Taipeienvironment variable before launching OpenBoard forces the correct timezone and resolves the issue.Context
systematic1.7.5Windows 10OpenBoard github download pageAdditional context
Windows 10 Pro 10.0.19045Taipei Standard Time (UTC+08:00), noTZenvironment variable set