Product Date Available changes to null when editing a product already available

Hi,

I can't find the answer to this anywhere in the forums, and I don't know if it's because there isn't one or because I don't know how to phrase the question.

I run an e-book storefront. If I try to edit a product that's already available, the "Date Available" or products_date_available field reverts to NULL even if I enter in the release date (in the past). This means if I update all my current releases, there is nothing listed on my New Products page.

To fix this, I've had to go into the database itself and re-enter in all the release dates for the products I've edited.

Is there some way to do this in Zen-Cart and not have to actually go into the MySql database to make this change? Is it a glitch with the program? I don't know.

If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

products_date_available is used for not-yet-in-stock handling, and that information is used to populate the "Upcoming Products" centerbox.

The products_date_added is the date on which the product was added to your store, and is the date that's shown to customers at the bottom of your product page (if you've got that display enabled).

Well, the products display in my New Products module in the order in which they were released, not in the order in which I added them to the site. However, if I edit them AFTER they're released, they disappear from the New Products module. Logging into MySql shows the product expected date field has been reset to null.

Basically I'm wondering if there's a way to avoid this so they will still show in the New Products field after I edit them once they're put on sale. It's a pain to go into MySql and edit every single release for the past month or so just because I had to change something on the product's page.

But ... the New Products module works on date-added, not date-available.

Did you change how the new-products module works for some reason?