Fixing Date Selection Issues with ShadCN Calendar in User Modal

Introduction

Using the ShadCN Calendar component inside a modal in a Next.js application can sometimes lead to issues where clicking on dates, months, or years dismisses the calendar without updating the form state. This guide explains why this happens and how to fix it.

Common Issues

1. Clicking on the calendar dismisses the popover: The calendar’s parent container may have restricted pointer events, making it non-interactive.
2. Selected date doesn’t update the form state: Improper configuration of the onSelect handler in the calendar.
3. Month and year dropdowns are unresponsive: Interaction conflicts between the modal and the calendar.

Solutions

1. Ensure Pointer Events Are Enabled

When using the calendar inside a dialog or modal, the parent container might block pointer events. To fix this, add the pointer-events-auto class to the calendar’s wrapper:

<Calendar
  mode="single"
  captionLayout="dropdown-buttons"
  selected={field.value as Date}
  onSelect={(date) => field.onChange(date as Date)}
  fromYear={1960}
  toYear={2030}
  initialFocus
  className="pointer-events-auto p-3"
/>

This ensures the calendar is interactive even when rendered inside a modal.

2. Use a Dedicated Portal for the Calendar

The calendar’s popover may be rendered outside the modal content due to how portals work. This can conflict with the modal’s behavior. To fix this:

1. Create a dedicated portal container:

   Add the following to your main layout:

   <div id="portal-container"></div>
   

2. Configure the dialog to use this container:

   const [portalContainer, setPortalContainer] = React.useState<HTMLElement | null>(null)
   
   React.useEffect(() => {
     setPortalContainer(document.getElementById('portal-container'))
   }, [])
   
   return (
     <Dialog open={isOpen} onOpenChange={onClose}>
       <DialogPortal container={portalContainer}>
         <DialogContent>{/* Calendar goes here */}</DialogContent>
       </DialogPortal>
     </Dialog>
   )
   

3. Add a Wrapper for Controlled Focus

To prevent the modal from dismissing due to focus loss, wrap the calendar component in a Popover with initialFocus properly set:

<Popover>
  <PopoverTrigger asChild>
    <Button variant="outline">
      {field.value ? format(field.value, 'MMM dd, yyyy') : 'Pick a date'}
    </Button>
  </PopoverTrigger>
  <PopoverContent align="start">
    <Calendar
      mode="single"
      selected={field.value as Date}
      onSelect={(date) => field.onChange(date as Date)}
      fromYear={1960}
      toYear={2030}
      initialFocus
    />
  </PopoverContent>
</Popover>

4. Debugging Tips

• Check Pointer Events: Use your browser’s developer tools to verify that the calendar’s container has pointer-events set to auto.
• Console Logging: Log field.value and onSelect events to confirm that date selection is working correctly.
• Test Outside Dialog: Render the calendar outside the dialog to isolate and verify its functionality.

Best Practices

• Always wrap interactive components in pointer-events-auto containers when used inside modals.
• Use dedicated portal containers for better control of dialog and calendar rendering.
• Test calendar components in isolation before integrating them into complex UIs.

Conclusion

The ShadCN Calendar component is a powerful tool for date selection, but it requires careful handling when used inside modals. By applying the fixes outlined in this guide, you can resolve interaction issues and ensure a seamless user experience.

Have additional questions or solutions? Share them in the comments below!