diff --git a/app/models/version.rb b/app/models/version.rb
index 8b01816a..9d824649 100644
--- a/app/models/version.rb
+++ b/app/models/version.rb
@@ -41,9 +41,13 @@ class Version < ActiveRecord::Base
   def visible?(user=User.current)
     user.allowed_to?(:view_issues, self.project)
   end
-  
+
+  # When a version started.
+  #
+  # Can either be a set date stored in the database or a dynamic one
+  # based on the earlist start_date of the fixed_issues
   def start_date
-    @start_date ||= fixed_issues.minimum('start_date')
+    @start_date ||= (read_attribute(:start_date) || fixed_issues.minimum('start_date'))
   end
   
   def due_date
diff --git a/app/views/projects/settings/_versions.rhtml b/app/views/projects/settings/_versions.rhtml
index f9a4dd10..035af587 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/settings/_versions.rhtml
+++ b/app/views/projects/settings/_versions.rhtml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 <table class="list versions">
 	<thead><tr>
     <th><%= l(:label_version) %></th>
+    <th><%= l(:field_start_date) %></th>
     <th><%= l(:field_effective_date) %></th>
     <th><%= l(:field_description) %></th>
     <th><%= l(:field_status) %></th>
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
 <% for version in @project.shared_versions.sort %>
     <tr class="version <%= cycle 'odd', 'even' %> <%=h version.status %> <%= 'shared' if version.project != @project %>">
     <td class="name"><%= link_to_version version %></td>
+    <td class="date"><%= format_date(version.start_date) %></td>
     <td class="date"><%= format_date(version.effective_date) %></td>
     <td class="description"><%=h version.description %></td>
     <td class="status"><%= l("version_status_#{version.status}") %></td>
diff --git a/app/views/versions/_form.rhtml b/app/views/versions/_form.rhtml
index b829cf2f..c151185b 100644
--- a/app/views/versions/_form.rhtml
+++ b/app/views/versions/_form.rhtml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 <p><%= f.text_field :description, :size => 60 %></p>
 <p><%= f.select :status, Version::VERSION_STATUSES.collect {|s| [l("version_status_#{s}"), s]} %></p>
 <p><%= f.text_field :wiki_page_title, :label => :label_wiki_page, :size => 60, :disabled => @project.wiki.nil? %></p>
+<p><%= f.text_field :start_date, :size => 10 %><%= calendar_for('version_start_date') %></p>
 <p><%= f.text_field :effective_date, :size => 10 %><%= calendar_for('version_effective_date') %></p>
 <p><%= f.select :sharing, @version.allowed_sharings.collect {|v| [format_version_sharing(v), v]} %></p>
 
diff --git a/app/views/versions/_overview.rhtml b/app/views/versions/_overview.rhtml
index 550cf3e7..4211d79f 100644
--- a/app/views/versions/_overview.rhtml
+++ b/app/views/versions/_overview.rhtml
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
-<% if version.completed? %>
-  <p><%= format_date(version.effective_date) %></p>
-<% elsif version.effective_date %>
-  <p><strong><%= due_date_distance_in_words(version.effective_date) %></strong> (<%= format_date(version.effective_date) %>)</p>
+<p>
+  <%= l(:field_start_date) %> <%= h(format_date(version.start_date)) %>
+  <%= l(:field_due_date) %> <%= h(format_date(version.due_date)) %>
+</p>
+
+<% if !version.completed? && version.due_date %>
+  <p><strong><%= due_date_distance_in_words(version.effective_date) %></strong></p>
 <% end %>
 
 <p><%=h version.description %></p>
diff --git a/config/locales/bg.yml b/config/locales/bg.yml
index 47e4803c..6bbcf80f 100644
--- a/config/locales/bg.yml
+++ b/config/locales/bg.yml
@@ -252,7 +252,6 @@ bg:
   field_admin: Администратор
   field_last_login_on: Последно свързване
   field_language: Език
-  field_effective_date: Дата
   field_password: Парола
   field_new_password: Нова парола
   field_password_confirmation: Потвърждение
diff --git a/config/locales/bs.yml b/config/locales/bs.yml
index 68229f24..984c47f3 100644
--- a/config/locales/bs.yml
+++ b/config/locales/bs.yml
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ bs:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Posljednja konekcija
   field_language: Jezik
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Lozinka
   field_new_password: Nova lozinka
   field_password_confirmation: Potvrda
diff --git a/config/locales/ca.yml b/config/locales/ca.yml
index e9dd73ba..5d67d956 100644
--- a/config/locales/ca.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ca.yml
@@ -253,7 +253,6 @@ ca:
   field_admin: Administrador
   field_last_login_on: Última connexió
   field_language: Idioma
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Contrasenya
   field_new_password: Contrasenya nova
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmació
diff --git a/config/locales/cs.yml b/config/locales/cs.yml
index 39bb5a0f..1fde16c7 100644
--- a/config/locales/cs.yml
+++ b/config/locales/cs.yml
@@ -226,7 +226,6 @@ cs:
   field_admin: Administrátor
   field_last_login_on: Poslední přihlášení
   field_language: Jazyk
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Heslo
   field_new_password: Nové heslo
   field_password_confirmation: Potvrzení
diff --git a/config/locales/da.yml b/config/locales/da.yml
index da3110c0..35ea4170 100644
--- a/config/locales/da.yml
+++ b/config/locales/da.yml
@@ -239,7 +239,6 @@ da:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Sidste forbindelse
   field_language: Sprog
-  field_effective_date: Dato
   field_password: Kodeord
   field_new_password: Nyt kodeord
   field_password_confirmation: Bekræft
diff --git a/config/locales/de.yml b/config/locales/de.yml
index bcd40156..e8b232a6 100644
--- a/config/locales/de.yml
+++ b/config/locales/de.yml
@@ -267,7 +267,6 @@ de:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Letzte Anmeldung
   field_language: Sprache
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Kennwort
   field_new_password: Neues Kennwort
   field_password_confirmation: Bestätigung
diff --git a/config/locales/el.yml b/config/locales/el.yml
index 934caa07..f1928f3e 100644
--- a/config/locales/el.yml
+++ b/config/locales/el.yml
@@ -236,7 +236,6 @@ el:
   field_admin: Διαχειριστής
   field_last_login_on: Τελευταία σύνδεση
   field_language: Γλώσσα
-  field_effective_date: Ημερομηνία
   field_password: Κωδικός πρόσβασης
   field_new_password: Νέος κωδικός πρόσβασης
   field_password_confirmation: Επιβεβαίωση
diff --git a/config/locales/en-GB.yml b/config/locales/en-GB.yml
index 418b7979..96c98804 100644
--- a/config/locales/en-GB.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en-GB.yml
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ en-GB:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Last connection
   field_language: Language
-  field_effective_date: Date
+  field_effective_date: Due date
   field_password: Password
   field_new_password: New password
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmation
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index b55f9bb2..81a4d29c 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ en:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Last connection
   field_language: Language
-  field_effective_date: Date
+  field_effective_date: Due date
   field_password: Password
   field_new_password: New password
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmation
diff --git a/config/locales/es.yml b/config/locales/es.yml
index 84cb87b1..18fcda01 100644
--- a/config/locales/es.yml
+++ b/config/locales/es.yml
@@ -269,7 +269,6 @@ es:
   field_done_ratio: % Realizado
   field_downloads: Descargas
   field_due_date: Fecha fin
-  field_effective_date: Fecha
   field_estimated_hours: Tiempo estimado
   field_field_format: Formato
   field_filename: Fichero
diff --git a/config/locales/eu.yml b/config/locales/eu.yml
index c48ec2fc..0292b5d1 100644
--- a/config/locales/eu.yml
+++ b/config/locales/eu.yml
@@ -246,7 +246,6 @@ eu:
   field_admin: Kudeatzailea
   field_last_login_on: Azken konexioa
   field_language: Hizkuntza
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Pasahitza
   field_new_password: Pasahitz berria
   field_password_confirmation: Berrespena
diff --git a/config/locales/fi.yml b/config/locales/fi.yml
index 3705f972..7b9046da 100644
--- a/config/locales/fi.yml
+++ b/config/locales/fi.yml
@@ -247,7 +247,6 @@ fi:
   field_admin: Ylläpitäjä
   field_last_login_on: Viimeinen yhteys
   field_language: Kieli
-  field_effective_date: Päivä
   field_password: Salasana
   field_new_password: Uusi salasana
   field_password_confirmation: Vahvistus
diff --git a/config/locales/fr.yml b/config/locales/fr.yml
index 01c172ab..4ee1cf1a 100644
--- a/config/locales/fr.yml
+++ b/config/locales/fr.yml
@@ -259,7 +259,6 @@ fr:
   field_admin: Administrateur
   field_last_login_on: "Dernière connexion "
   field_language: Langue
-  field_effective_date: Date
   field_password: Mot de passe
   field_new_password: Nouveau mot de passe
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmation
diff --git a/config/locales/gl.yml b/config/locales/gl.yml
index 51163c77..0c381360 100644
--- a/config/locales/gl.yml
+++ b/config/locales/gl.yml
@@ -246,7 +246,6 @@ gl:
   field_done_ratio: % Realizado
   field_downloads: Descargas
   field_due_date: Data fin
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_estimated_hours: Tempo estimado
   field_field_format: Formato
   field_filename: Arquivo
diff --git a/config/locales/he.yml b/config/locales/he.yml
index 01ac9366..62d2e044 100644
--- a/config/locales/he.yml
+++ b/config/locales/he.yml
@@ -255,7 +255,6 @@ he:
   field_admin: ניהול
   field_last_login_on: התחברות אחרונה
   field_language: שפה
-  field_effective_date: תאריך
   field_password: סיסמה
   field_new_password: סיסמה חדשה
   field_password_confirmation: אישור
diff --git a/config/locales/hr.yml b/config/locales/hr.yml
index 702db593..c6affbdb 100644
--- a/config/locales/hr.yml
+++ b/config/locales/hr.yml
@@ -242,7 +242,6 @@ hr:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Zadnja prijava
   field_language: Primarni jezik
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Zaporka
   field_new_password: Nova zaporka
   field_password_confirmation: Potvrda zaporke
diff --git a/config/locales/hu.yml b/config/locales/hu.yml
index 82159ad0..0c752aa4 100644
--- a/config/locales/hu.yml
+++ b/config/locales/hu.yml
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@
   field_admin: Adminisztrátor
   field_last_login_on: Utolsó bejelentkezés
   field_language: Nyelv
-  field_effective_date: Dátum
   field_password: Jelszó
   field_new_password: Új jelszó
   field_password_confirmation: Megerősítés
diff --git a/config/locales/id.yml b/config/locales/id.yml
index 1587f40f..e9b01ba0 100644
--- a/config/locales/id.yml
+++ b/config/locales/id.yml
@@ -240,7 +240,6 @@ id:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Terakhir login
   field_language: Bahasa
-  field_effective_date: Tanggal
   field_password: Kata sandi
   field_new_password: Kata sandi baru
   field_password_confirmation: Konfirmasi
diff --git a/config/locales/it.yml b/config/locales/it.yml
index 456eb830..c4ac1773 100644
--- a/config/locales/it.yml
+++ b/config/locales/it.yml
@@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ it:
   field_admin: Amministratore
   field_last_login_on: Ultima connessione
   field_language: Lingua
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Password
   field_new_password: Nuova password
   field_password_confirmation: Conferma
diff --git a/config/locales/ja.yml b/config/locales/ja.yml
index d55c5167..527aab9c 100644
--- a/config/locales/ja.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ja.yml
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@ ja:
   field_admin: 管理者
   field_last_login_on: 最終接続日
   field_language: 言語
-  field_effective_date: 期日
   field_password: パスワード
   field_new_password: 新しいパスワード
   field_password_confirmation: パスワードの確認
diff --git a/config/locales/ko.yml b/config/locales/ko.yml
index 019f84ac..bd524a2a 100644
--- a/config/locales/ko.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ko.yml
@@ -284,7 +284,6 @@ ko:
   field_admin: 관리자
   field_last_login_on: 마지막 로그인
   field_language: 언어
-  field_effective_date: 일자
   field_password: 비밀번호
   field_new_password: 새 비밀번호
   field_password_confirmation: 비밀번호 확인
diff --git a/config/locales/lt.yml b/config/locales/lt.yml
index 56026ef4..5836f526 100644
--- a/config/locales/lt.yml
+++ b/config/locales/lt.yml
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@ lt:
   field_admin: Administratorius
   field_last_login_on: Paskutinis ryšys
   field_language: Kalba
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Slaptažodis
   field_new_password: Naujas slaptažodis
   field_password_confirmation: Patvirtinimas
diff --git a/config/locales/lv.yml b/config/locales/lv.yml
index 73320eec..e2dfc285 100644
--- a/config/locales/lv.yml
+++ b/config/locales/lv.yml
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ lv:
   field_admin: Administrators
   field_last_login_on: Pēdējo reizi pieslēdzies
   field_language: Valoda
-  field_effective_date: Datums
   field_password: Parole
   field_new_password: Janā parole
   field_password_confirmation: Paroles apstiprinājums
diff --git a/config/locales/mk.yml b/config/locales/mk.yml
index 0cbc914e..caa84c21 100644
--- a/config/locales/mk.yml
+++ b/config/locales/mk.yml
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ mk:
   field_admin: Администратор
   field_last_login_on: Последна најава
   field_language: Јазик
-  field_effective_date: Дата
   field_password: Лозинка
   field_new_password: Нова лозинка
   field_password_confirmation: Потврда
diff --git a/config/locales/mn.yml b/config/locales/mn.yml
index 6bf504c5..8425f093 100644
--- a/config/locales/mn.yml
+++ b/config/locales/mn.yml
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ mn:
   field_admin: Администратор
   field_last_login_on: Сүүлийн холбоо
   field_language: Хэл
-  field_effective_date: Огноо
   field_password: Нууц үг
   field_new_password: Шннэ нууц үг
   field_password_confirmation: Баталгаажуулах
diff --git a/config/locales/nl.yml b/config/locales/nl.yml
index 389ddb2e..6504094f 100644
--- a/config/locales/nl.yml
+++ b/config/locales/nl.yml
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@ nl:
   field_done_ratio: % Gereed
   field_downloads: Downloads
   field_due_date: Verwachte datum gereed
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_estimated_hours: Geschatte tijd
   field_field_format: Formaat
   field_filename: Bestand
diff --git a/config/locales/no.yml b/config/locales/no.yml
index 776dfe97..362b3235 100644
--- a/config/locales/no.yml
+++ b/config/locales/no.yml
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Sist innlogget
   field_language: Språk
-  field_effective_date: Dato
   field_password: Passord
   field_new_password: Nytt passord
   field_password_confirmation: Bekreft passord
diff --git a/config/locales/pl.yml b/config/locales/pl.yml
index 338eec7e..86409bde 100644
--- a/config/locales/pl.yml
+++ b/config/locales/pl.yml
@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ pl:
   field_done_ratio: % Wykonane
   field_downloads: Pobrań
   field_due_date: Data oddania
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_estimated_hours: Szacowany czas
   field_field_format: Format
   field_filename: Plik
diff --git a/config/locales/pt-BR.yml b/config/locales/pt-BR.yml
index 5173b8fd..096f4484 100644
--- a/config/locales/pt-BR.yml
+++ b/config/locales/pt-BR.yml
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ pt-BR:
   field_admin: Administrador
   field_last_login_on: Última conexão
   field_language: Idioma
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Senha
   field_new_password: Nova senha
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmação
diff --git a/config/locales/pt.yml b/config/locales/pt.yml
index d8474277..985d981f 100644
--- a/config/locales/pt.yml
+++ b/config/locales/pt.yml
@@ -234,7 +234,6 @@ pt:
   field_admin: Administrador
   field_last_login_on: Última visita
   field_language: Língua
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Palavra-chave
   field_new_password: Nova palavra-chave
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmação
diff --git a/config/locales/ro.yml b/config/locales/ro.yml
index 5ace8afb..e5cc8a9d 100644
--- a/config/locales/ro.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ro.yml
@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ ro:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Ultima autentificare în
   field_language: Limba
-  field_effective_date: Data
   field_password: Parola
   field_new_password: Parola nouă
   field_password_confirmation: Confirmare
diff --git a/config/locales/ru.yml b/config/locales/ru.yml
index e42b62f4..1d296ed9 100644
--- a/config/locales/ru.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ru.yml
@@ -317,7 +317,6 @@ ru:
   field_downloads: Загрузки
   field_due_date: Дата выполнения
   field_editable: Редактируемый
-  field_effective_date: Дата
   field_estimated_hours: Оцененное время
   field_field_format: Формат
   field_filename: Файл
diff --git a/config/locales/sk.yml b/config/locales/sk.yml
index 55cb83bb..14407b40 100644
--- a/config/locales/sk.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sk.yml
@@ -220,7 +220,6 @@ sk:
   field_admin: Administrátor
   field_last_login_on: Posledné prihlásenie
   field_language: Jazyk
-  field_effective_date: Dátum
   field_password: Heslo
   field_new_password: Nové heslo
   field_password_confirmation: Potvrdenie
diff --git a/config/locales/sl.yml b/config/locales/sl.yml
index 74fa1cae..c04c5b36 100644
--- a/config/locales/sl.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sl.yml
@@ -225,7 +225,6 @@ sl:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Zadnjič povezan(a)
   field_language: Jezik
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Geslo
   field_new_password: Novo geslo
   field_password_confirmation: Potrditev
diff --git a/config/locales/sr-YU.yml b/config/locales/sr-YU.yml
index 59411b1f..6dc0340a 100644
--- a/config/locales/sr-YU.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sr-YU.yml
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ sr-YU:
   field_admin: Administrator
   field_last_login_on: Poslednje povezivanje
   field_language: Jezik
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Lozinka
   field_new_password: Nova lozinka
   field_password_confirmation: Potvrda lozinke
diff --git a/config/locales/sr.yml b/config/locales/sr.yml
index 89b51a2a..3aced1f1 100644
--- a/config/locales/sr.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sr.yml
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ sr:
   field_admin: Администратор
   field_last_login_on: Последње повезивање
   field_language: Језик
-  field_effective_date: Датум
   field_password: Лозинка
   field_new_password: Нова лозинка
   field_password_confirmation: Потврда лозинке
diff --git a/config/locales/sv.yml b/config/locales/sv.yml
index f08f481c..3b462aa9 100644
--- a/config/locales/sv.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sv.yml
@@ -294,7 +294,6 @@ sv:
   field_admin: Administratör
   field_last_login_on: Senaste inloggning
   field_language: Språk
-  field_effective_date: Datum
   field_password: Lösenord
   field_new_password: Nytt lösenord
   field_password_confirmation: Bekräfta lösenord
diff --git a/config/locales/th.yml b/config/locales/th.yml
index b46f7454..b58cd57b 100644
--- a/config/locales/th.yml
+++ b/config/locales/th.yml
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ th:
   field_admin: ผู้บริหารจัดการ
   field_last_login_on: เข้าระบบครั้งสุดท้าย
   field_language: ภาษา
-  field_effective_date: วันที่
   field_password: รหัสผ่าน
   field_new_password: รหัสผ่านใหม่
   field_password_confirmation: ยืนยันรหัสผ่าน
diff --git a/config/locales/tr.yml b/config/locales/tr.yml
index 82d33792..40df90da 100644
--- a/config/locales/tr.yml
+++ b/config/locales/tr.yml
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ tr:
   field_admin: Yönetici
   field_last_login_on: Son Bağlantı
   field_language: Dil
-  field_effective_date: Tarih
   field_password: Parola
   field_new_password: Yeni Parola
   field_password_confirmation: Onay
diff --git a/config/locales/uk.yml b/config/locales/uk.yml
index aec46e55..fa05c456 100644
--- a/config/locales/uk.yml
+++ b/config/locales/uk.yml
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@ uk:
   field_admin: Адміністратор 
   field_last_login_on: Останнє підключення
   field_language: Мова
-  field_effective_date: Дата
   field_password: Пароль
   field_new_password: Новий пароль
   field_password_confirmation: Підтвердження
diff --git a/config/locales/vi.yml b/config/locales/vi.yml
index 009296e6..fd2c9e95 100644
--- a/config/locales/vi.yml
+++ b/config/locales/vi.yml
@@ -279,7 +279,6 @@ vi:
   field_admin: Quản trị
   field_last_login_on: Kết nối cuối
   field_language: Ngôn ngữ
-  field_effective_date: Ngày
   field_password: Mật mã
   field_new_password: Mật mã mới
   field_password_confirmation: Khẳng định lại
diff --git a/config/locales/zh-TW.yml b/config/locales/zh-TW.yml
index ae8dac27..220967de 100644
--- a/config/locales/zh-TW.yml
+++ b/config/locales/zh-TW.yml
@@ -334,7 +334,6 @@
   field_admin: 管理者
   field_last_login_on: 最近連線日期
   field_language: 語系
-  field_effective_date: 日期
   field_password: 目前密碼
   field_new_password: 新密碼
   field_password_confirmation: 確認新密碼
diff --git a/config/locales/zh.yml b/config/locales/zh.yml
index 0f2fda6d..94e51cad 100644
--- a/config/locales/zh.yml
+++ b/config/locales/zh.yml
@@ -257,7 +257,6 @@ zh:
   field_admin: 管理员
   field_last_login_on: 最后登录
   field_language: 语言
-  field_effective_date: 日期
   field_password: 密码
   field_new_password: 新密码
   field_password_confirmation: 确认
diff --git a/db/migrate/20110314014400_add_start_date_to_versions.rb b/db/migrate/20110314014400_add_start_date_to_versions.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8651268
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20110314014400_add_start_date_to_versions.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+class AddStartDateToVersions < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def self.up
+    add_column :versions, :start_date, :date
+  end
+
+  def self.down
+    remove_column :versions, :start_date
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/version_test.rb b/test/unit/version_test.rb
index 4621ad73..20541468 100644
--- a/test/unit/version_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/version_test.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,31 @@ class VersionTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert !v.save
     assert_equal I18n.translate('activerecord.errors.messages.not_a_date'), v.errors.on(:effective_date)
   end
+
+  context "#start_date" do
+    context "with no value saved" do
+      should "be the date of the earlist issue" do
+        project = Project.find(1)
+        v = Version.create!(:project => project, :name => 'Progress')
+        add_issue(v, :estimated_hours => 10, :start_date => '2010-03-01')
+        Issue.generate_for_project!(project, :subject => 'not assigned', :start_date => '2010-01-01')
+
+        assert_equal '2010-03-01', v.start_date.to_s
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "with a value saved" do
+      should "be the value" do
+        project = Project.find(1)
+        v = Version.create!(:project => project, :name => 'Progress', :start_date => '2010-01-05')
+        add_issue(v, :estimated_hours => 10, :start_date => '2010-03-01')
+
+        assert_equal '2010-01-05', v.start_date.to_s
+      end
+    end
+    
+  end
+  
   
   def test_progress_should_be_0_with_no_assigned_issues
     project = Project.find(1)