--- loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2006/04/06 22:30:52	1.136
+++ loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2006/04/24 23:05:35	1.137
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # .helper XML handler to implement the LON-CAPA helper
 #
-# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.136 2006/04/06 22:30:52 foxr Exp $
+# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.137 2006/04/24 23:05:35 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -1576,23 +1576,39 @@ sub render {
     my $date;
 
     my $time=time;
-    $date = localtime($time);
-    $date->min(0);
     my ($anytime,$onclick);
 
-    if (defined($self->{DEFAULT_VALUE})) {
+
+    # first check VARS for a valid new value from the user
+    # then check DEFAULT_VALUE for a valid default time value
+    # otherwise pick now as reasonably good time
+
+    if (defined($helper->{VARS}{$var})
+	&&  $helper->{VARS}{$var} > 0) {
+	$date = localtime($helper->{VARS}{$var});
+    } elsif (defined($self->{DEFAULT_VALUE})) {
         my $valueFunc = eval($self->{DEFAULT_VALUE});
         die('Error in default value code for variable ' . 
             $self->{'variable'} . ', Perl said: ' . $@) if $@;
         $time = &$valueFunc($helper, $self);
 	if (lc($time) eq 'anytime') {
 	    $anytime=1;
-	} else {
+	    $date = localtime(time);
+	    $date->min(0);
+	} elsif (defined($time) && $time ne 0) {
 	    $date = localtime($time);
+	} else {
+	    # leave date undefined so it'll default to now
 	}
-    } else {
+    }
 
+    if (!defined($date) && !$anytime) {
+	$date = localtime(time);
+	$date->min(0);
     }
+
+    &Apache::lonnet::logthis("date mode ");
+
     if ($anytime) {
 	$onclick = "onclick=\"javascript:updateCheck(this.form,'${var}anytime',false)\"";
     }
@@ -1747,6 +1763,16 @@ sub postprocess {
 	$helper->{VARS}->{$var} = $chosenDate;
     }
 
+    if (defined($self->{VALIDATOR})) {
+	my $validator = eval($self->{VALIDATOR});
+	die 'Died during evaluation of evaulation code; Perl said: ' . $@ if $@;
+	my $invalid = &$validator($helper, $state, $self, $self->getValue());
+	if ($invalid) {
+	    $self->{ERROR_MSG} = $invalid;
+	    return 0;
+	}
+    }
+
     if (defined($self->{NEXTSTATE})) {
         $helper->changeState($self->{NEXTSTATE});
     }