Dataset linking API doesn't work for harvested datasets

[jggautier]

When trying to create a link of a dataset that has been harvested, using the API (http://guides.dataverse.org/en/latest/api/native-api.html#link-a-dataset) I get the error that I "can't link a dataset that has not been published." I am able to create links of some harvested datasets (e.g. the datasets in https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/nara), but not others (e.g. the datasets in https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/qdr).

[jggautier]

The problem may have something to do with how the datasets were harvested or how metadata about the harvested datasets were stored or not stored in the database. The NARA datasets were harvested a long time ago and in the database, in the dvobject table, they have publication dates. The QDR datasets were harvested recently and in the database they have no publication dates. It looks like in general recently harvested datasets aren't getting publication dates in the dvobject table.

Is the API determining publication status by checking if in the dvobject table the dataset has a publication date, and failing with harvested datasets that don't?

(@scolapasta had to do something special to create links of harvested datasets in this dataverse in Harvard Dataverse.)