Setting Custom XML = Yes in resource gantt chart removes start & end dates

Question

I'm having a strange issue with a Resource Gantt chart in Apex 4.0.2.
I built the chart using the Wizard and changed nothing from the defaults. Everything looks/acts fine on the chart when Use Custom XML = No. But I wanted to change a couple things like cell alignment and width, so I set this to Yes and modified the column attributes in the XML code. After doing so, when running the report, the values for Start Date and End Date are not showing. This is happening in both the datagrid and the tooltips, but the timeline is still showing the right information (ie a bar from start to end), so I know it still knows what the correct start and end dates are.
Thinking I accidentally messed something up, I deleted the chart and recreated it (again, from the wizard). This time, I went back and only set Use Custom XML = Yes but did not change anything within the XML code itself. To my surprise, the dates were still missing. If I set it back to No then they reappear.
Has anyone seen this before and/or know a way to fix it?
Thanks,
~ John

Answer 1

Hej John,
APEX itself is using a field substitution "&DATE_FORMAT." to insert the date format into the XML file. This field substituion is used in may location in the default XML. APEX standard action is to substitute it with the value specified in the Gantt Setting "Date Format". This substitution takes place many places in the default XML file.
Enabling custum XLM also means disabling APEX XML handling, the substitution does not take place, the "&DATE_FORMAT." contains in this case a null value.
The default XML file, which can be viewed in apex developer mode, looks like:
Start Date: {%ActualStart}{dateTimeFormat:&DATE_FORMAT.}
The runtime XML, which can be viewed in debug mode, contains something like:
Start Date: {2011.07.21 00:00:00}{dateTimeFormat:}
...a null value is not a valid AnaGantt date format.
Two solutions:
a) insert a correct AnyGannt date formatter in the custom XML like
Start Date: {%ActualStart}{dateTimeFormat%YYYY.%MM.%dd %HH:%mm:%SS}
or
b) create a field DATE_FORMAT on page containg the chart and intialize it with the AnyGantt date formatter like %YYYY.%MM.%dd %HH:%mm:%SS".
When running the page the substitution will take place usually.
Regards,
Benny