Date Range and Auto-Scroll Questions

So I have two questions I’d like to post here.

First, whenever I specify gantt.config.start_date and gantt.config.end_date the chart fails to render with the following error message:

Uncaught TypeError: Cannot call method 'valueOf' of undefined dhtmlxgantt.js:8 gantt.date.add dhtmlxgantt.js:8 gantt._scale_helpers.formatScales dhtmlxgantt.js:6 gantt._scale_helpers.prepareConfigs dhtmlxgantt.js:6 gantt._render_tasks_scales dhtmlxgantt.js:6 gantt.render dhtmlxgantt.js:8 gantt._reinit dhtmlxgantt.js:8 gantt.init dhtmlxgantt.js:8 (anonymous function) modalGanttProjectTasks.aspx?Project=X-HEDC.000.000&IsDlg=1:91 o jquery-1.7.2.min.js:2 p.fireWith jquery-1.7.2.min.js:2 e.extend.ready jquery-1.7.2.min.js:2 c.addEventListener.B

I’m passing both a valid JS date object, and when I write their values to the console they appear valid, but setting them causes the above error. This also happens when I use:

gantt.init("gantt_here", startDate, endDate)

…where both startDate and endDate are JS date objects. If I remove this initialization/option, the chart works as expected.

Second question:
When my chart has tasks whose duration is outside of the render view, adjustment of any task results in a scroll to event that leaves the render at the earliest date position.

Is there a method or configuration option to prevent this behavior? I assume I could write a custom event handler to maintain the current scroll position, but would rather avoid the extra code if possible.

Thank you.

Auto-scroll question may be disregarded. An erroneous call to render was causing it to jump around unnecessarily.