[flexcoders] Setting dateField.SelectedDate when component is disabled?

[Mic]

In a modal View state the dateFields are disabled but I need to populate them 
for the current record. I can stick my proc values in when they are enabled, 
but not when disabled. I tried

        dtCmplxStartDate.enabled = true;
        dtCmplxStartDate.selectedDate = tempStrtDt;     
        dtCmplxStartDate.enabled = false;
        dtCmplxEndDate.enabled = true;
        dtCmplxEndDate.selectedDate = tempEndDt;        
        dtCmplxEndDate.enabled = false;

but no go. TIA,

Mic.