diff --git a/core/views/scans.py b/core/views/scans.py
index e3964e1..ddaf9ae 100644
--- a/core/views/scans.py
+++ b/core/views/scans.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def datewallet(w, earliest):
         # no date found
         w.date = None
     else:
-        w.date = first
+        w.date = first.isoformat()
     
 def caveifywallet(w):
     '''Gets the cave from the list of survex files,
diff --git a/core/views/uploads.py b/core/views/uploads.py
index b61eb0e..765e834 100644
--- a/core/views/uploads.py
+++ b/core/views/uploads.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from troggle.parsers.scans import contentsjson
 from troggle.core.models.troggle import DataIssue
 from troggle.core.models.troggle import Expedition, Person, PersonExpedition
 from troggle.core.models.caves import LogbookEntry, QM, Cave, PersonTrip
-from troggle.core.models.survex import DrawingFile, Wallet, SurvexBlock
+from troggle.core.models.survex import DrawingFile, Wallet, SurvexBlock, SurvexFile
 from troggle.core.views.scans import oldwallet, walletindex
 from troggle.core.views.caves import getCave
 
@@ -240,8 +240,10 @@ def scanupload(request, path=None):
     actual_saved = []
     
     def read_json():
+        '''Read JSON from the wallet metadata file in the repo
+        or fills with blank data if that files can't be read'''
         if contents_path.is_file(): 
-            create = False # yes wallet exists becaue JSON exists, even if no files in the surveyscans folder, or even if that folder does not exist
+            create = False # yes wallet exists because JSON exists, even if no files in the surveyscans folder, or even if that folder does not exist
             with open(contents_path) as json_file:
                 try:
                     waldata = json.load(json_file)
@@ -471,9 +473,9 @@ def scanupload(request, path=None):
     svxfiles = []
     checked = {}
     context = {}
-    if waldata:
+    if waldata: # should always be true as populated by blank data if json file doesn't exist
         if not waldata["people"]:
-            waldata["people"]=["NOBODY", "someone"]
+            waldata["people"]=["NOBODY"]
         if not type(waldata["people"])==list: 
             if waldata["people"][0] == '"':
                 waldata["people"] = waldata["people"][1:-1]
@@ -486,6 +488,30 @@ def scanupload(request, path=None):
         if waldata["name"]:
             psg =  waldata["name"]
 
+        if not waldata["date"]: # json file does not exist, blank data
+            # refactor into a separate function..
+            print(f'No date set')
+            refs=[]
+            dates = []
+            for svxf in waldata["survex file"]:
+                svx = Path(svxf)
+                if svx.suffix.lower() != ".svx":
+                    svx = svx.with_suffix(".svx")
+                #print(f'{svx=}')
+                f = Path(settings.SURVEX_DATA) / svx
+                if f.is_file():
+                    path = svx.parent / svx.stem
+                    print(f' - {path=}')
+                    svxfile = SurvexFile.objects.get(path=path)
+                    blocks = SurvexBlock.objects.filter(survexfile= svxfile)
+                    for b in blocks:
+                        print(f' - - {b=} {b.scanswallet=} {b.date=}')
+                        refs.append(b.scanswallet)
+                        dates.append(b.date)
+                    waldata["date"] = min(dates).isoformat()
+                    for w in refs:
+                        if w.walletname != wallet:
+                            print(f'! Not the same wallet {wallet} in *ref {w.walletname=}')
         
         #Survex and survex complaints
         complaints, caveobject = get_complaints([], waldata, svxfiles, files, wallet, wurl)