Index: scheduler.module
===================================================================
--- scheduler.module	(revision 8639)
+++ scheduler.module	(working copy)
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // $Id: scheduler.module,v 1.50.2.36 2010/05/02 16:36:06 ericschaefer Exp $
 
 define('SCHEDULER_DATE_FORMAT', 'Y-m-d H:i:s');
+define('SCHEDULER_DATE_PAST', FALSE);
 
 /**
  * Implementation of hook_perm().
@@ -63,6 +64,14 @@
     '#maxlength' => 20,
     '#description' => t('The input format for the (un)scheduling time/date. See the date() function for formatting options: http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.date.php (only the following format characters are supported (don\'t use \'G\', \'a\' or \'A\' with Date Popup): djmnyYhHgGisaA)'),
   );
+  $form['scheduler_date_past'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'textfield',
+    '#title' => t('Roles with permission to set \'publish on\' date in the past'),
+    '#default_value' => variable_get('scheduler_date_past', ''),
+    '#size' => 60,
+    '#description' => t('Fill in all user roles that should have permission to set \'publish on\' date in the past. Seperate roles with comma'),
+  );
+
   return system_settings_form($form);
 }
 
@@ -330,6 +339,10 @@
  * Implementation of hook_nodeapi().
  */
 function scheduler_nodeapi(&$node, $op, $a3 = NULL, $a4 = NULL) {
+
+  // Current time
+  $now = time();
+
   // Run $op == load for any user.
   if ($op == 'load') {
     if (isset($node->nid) && $node->nid && variable_get('scheduler_'. $node->type, 0) == 1) {
@@ -367,12 +380,23 @@
 
         $date_format = variable_get('scheduler_date_format', SCHEDULER_DATE_FORMAT);
 
+        // Users with some roles should have permission to set 'publish on' date in the past.
+        // 'Unpublish on' date always must be in the future or empty
+        $permit_date_past = FALSE;
+        $roles = explode(',', variable_get('scheduler_date_past', ''));
+        foreach ($roles as $role) {
+          if (user_access(trim($role))) {
+            $permit_date_past = TRUE;
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+
         if (isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on && !is_numeric($node->publish_on)) {
           $publishtime = _scheduler_strtotime($node->publish_on);
           if ($publishtime === FALSE) {
-            form_set_error('publish_on', t("The 'publish on' value does not match the expected format of %time", array('%time' => format_date(time(), 'custom', $date_format))));
+            form_set_error('publish_on', t("The 'publish on' value does not match the expected format of %time", array('%time' => format_date($now, 'custom', $date_format))));
           }
-          elseif ($publishtime && $publishtime < time()) {
+          elseif ($permit_date_past == FALSE && $publishtime && $publishtime < $now) {
             form_set_error('publish_on', t("The 'publish on' date must be in the future"));
           }
           else {
@@ -383,9 +407,9 @@
         if (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on && !is_numeric($node->unpublish_on)) {
           $unpublishtime = _scheduler_strtotime($node->unpublish_on);
           if ($unpublishtime === FALSE) {
-            form_set_error('unpublish_on', t("The 'unpublish on' value does not match the expected format of %time", array('%time' => format_date(time(), 'custom', $date_format))));
+            form_set_error('unpublish_on', t("The 'unpublish on' value does not match the expected format of %time", array('%time' => format_date($now, 'custom', $date_format))));
           }
-          elseif ($unpublishtime && $unpublishtime < time()) {
+          elseif ($unpublishtime && $unpublishtime < $now) {
             form_set_error('unpublish_on', t("The 'unpublish on' date must be in the future"));
           }
           else {
@@ -397,15 +421,25 @@
           form_set_error('unpublish_on', t("The 'unpublish on' date must be later than the 'publish on' date."));
         }
 
-        // Right before we save the node, we need to check if a "publish on" value has been set.
+        // Right before we save the node, we need to check if a "publish on" value has been.
         // If it has been set, we want to make sure the node is unpublished since it will be published at a later date
-        if (isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != '' && is_numeric($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on > time()) {
-          $node->status = 0;
+        if (isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != '' && is_numeric($node->publish_on)) {
+          // One exception is if "publish on" is in the past but "unpublish_on" is in the future
+          if ($permit_date_past && $node->publish_on < $now) {
+            $node->status = 1;
+            // Remember real created date for your future aims
+            $node->real_created = $node->created;
+            // Change created date
+            $node->created = $node->publish_on;
+          } else {
+            $node->status = 0;
+          }
         }
+        // If "publish on" value has been set in the past
         break;
       case 'insert':
         // only insert into database if we need to (un)publish this node at some date
-        if (isset($node->nid) && $node->nid && (isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL)) {
+        if (isset($node->nid) && $node->nid && ((isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL && $node->publish_on > $now) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL && $node->unpublish_on > $now))) {
           db_query('INSERT INTO {scheduler} (nid, publish_on, unpublish_on) VALUES (%d, %d, %d)', $node->nid, $node->publish_on, $node->unpublish_on);
         }
         break;
@@ -417,7 +451,7 @@
           if ($exists) {
             // only update database if we need to (un)publish this node at some date
             // otherwise the user probably cleared out the (un)publish dates so we should remove the record
-            if (($node->status == 0 && isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL)) {
+            if (($node->status == 0 && isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL && $node->publish_on > $now) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL)) {
               db_query('UPDATE {scheduler} SET publish_on = %d, unpublish_on = %d WHERE nid = %d', $node->publish_on, $node->unpublish_on, $node->nid);
             }
             else {
@@ -425,7 +459,7 @@
             }
           }
           // node doesn't exist, create a record only if the (un)publish fields are blank
-          elseif ((isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL)) {
+          elseif ((isset($node->publish_on) && $node->publish_on != NULL && $node->publish_on > $now) || (isset($node->unpublish_on) && $node->unpublish_on != NULL)) {
             db_query('INSERT INTO {scheduler} (nid, publish_on, unpublish_on) VALUES (%d, %d, %d)', $node->nid, $node->publish_on, $node->unpublish_on);
           }
         }