jQuery-UI datepicker default date

Question

I have a problem with the jQuery-UI datepicker, I have searched and searched but I didn't find the answer. I have the following code:

<script type="text/javascript">
$(function() {               
    $("#birthdate" ).datepicker({
        changeMonth: true,
        changeYear: true,
        yearRange: '1920:2010',
        dateFormat : 'dd-mm-yy',
        defaultDate: '01-01-1985'
    });
});
</script>

I want that when the user click in the #birthdate input that the current date selected to be 01-01-1985, now it's setting the current date.

Answer 1

Try passing in a Date object instead. I can't see why it doesn't work in the format you have entered:

<script type="text/javascript">
$(function() {               
    $("#birthdate" ).datepicker({
        changeMonth: true,
        changeYear: true,
        yearRange: '1920:2010',
        dateFormat : 'dd-mm-yy',
        defaultDate: new Date(1985, 00, 01)
    });
});
</script>

http://api.jqueryui.com/datepicker/#option-defaultDate

Specify either an actual date via a Date object or as a string in the current dateFormat, or a number of days from today (e.g. +7) or a string of values and periods ('y' for years, 'm' for months, 'w' for weeks, 'd' for days, e.g. '+1m +7d'), or null for today.