Set specific "_publishedAt" date through CMA API

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1

I’m helping my client migrate from another CMS to DatoCMS.
I have created my own script to fetch data from the “old CMS”, transform it and create it all in DatoCMS via the CMA API.

Question: I need to publish all the new documents, but each with a specific (old) date - how to do that via the API?

The client is using this “published at” date to sort the documents, so its crucial it remains the same as in the “old CMS”.
We cannot accept the “published at” date will just be “today” (day of importing).

2

Hi @jesper,

Unfortunately, you cannot directly change the “published at” date… that is an internal metadata field that cannot be edited.

However, you CAN:

  • Create or update a record with a custom created_at or first_published_at date: Update a record — Record — Content Management API — DatoCMS, if those could fit your needs
  • Or just create a new, separate Date field called original_published_date or whatever you want to call it, and use that to “remember” the imported date. You can then use that field instead of the real “published at” date for sorting, filtering, or publication dates on your frontend. But please note that the Date field stores timestamps in UTC. If you need to retain the original publication time zone(s), use this plugin: Zoned DateTime Picker - Plugins — DatoCMS

Would that work?