Drafts publish with their initial creation date. This script shows a hint to update the publication date before you post the work.
// ==UserScript==
// @name AO3: Warn for Old Publication Date on Drafts
// @namespace https://greasyfork.org/en/users/906106-escctrl
// @description Drafts publish with their initial creation date. This script shows a hint to update the publication date before you post the work.
// @author escctrl
// @version 2.0
// @match https://*.archiveofourown.org/works/*/edit
// @grant none
// @require https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.7.0/jquery.min.js
// @license MIT
// ==/UserScript==
/* eslint-disable no-multi-spaces */
/* global jQuery */
(function($) {
'use strict';
// stop if this is not a draft but an already posted work
if ($('input[name="save_button"]').length === 0) return;
// compare the (possibly hidden) selected publication date with current
let day = $('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_3i, #chapter_published_at_3i').prop('value');
let month = $('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_2i, #chapter_published_at_2i').prop('value');
let year = $('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_1i, #chapter_published_at_1i').prop('value');
let selectedDate = new Date(`${month} ${day}, ${year} 00:00`);
let currentDate = new Date();
// if the dates don't match, show a warning to user with a button to conveniently set the publication to today
if (selectedDate.toDateString() !== currentDate.toDateString()) {
$('#work-form, #chapter-form').find('fieldset').last().append(`<p id="warnOldPublishDate" class="caution notice">This draft is using an old publication date.
You might want to <button type="button" id="setNewPublishDate">update it to today's date</button>.</p>`);
}
$('button#setNewPublishDate').on('click', function(e) {
e.preventDefault(); // don't try to submit the form
if ($('#work-form').length > 0 && !$('#backdate-options-show').prop('checked')) $('#backdate-options-show').trigger('click'); // mimick user click -> trigger events to show fields
$('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_3i, #chapter_published_at_3i').prop('value', currentDate.getDate()); // set today's date
$('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_2i, #chapter_published_at_2i').prop('value', currentDate.getMonth()+1); // set today's month (getMonth is zero-based)
$('#work_chapter_attributes_published_at_1i, #chapter_published_at_1i').prop('value', currentDate.getFullYear()); // set today's year (4-digit version)
$('#warnOldPublishDate').hide(); // hide the warning message
$('dt.backdate, dt#managePublicationDate')[0].scrollIntoView(); // scroll to the updated publication date for visual confirmation
});
})(jQuery);