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How to get the correct file time in C# in .NET Framework 2.0

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9 Jan 2009CPOL 46.7K   29   5
Workaround to get the correct LocalDateTime of files no matter which date settings your computer has.

Image 1

Introduction

.NET Framework 2.0 misreports file date-time information. Through the Time and TimeInfo functions, you may get a wrong time info for files. A workaround is provided here, so are instructions to reproduce the funny behaviour.

Background

Some guy reported this issue to MS, but the topic was dismissed because they were unable to reproduce it (C# LastWriteTime BUG).

To reproduce the problem, you may set the following conditions:

  1. Create a file whose date-time is 11 September 2008, 11:51 PM
  2. Set your system date to 9 January 2009.
  3. Set your system time zone to GMT -2 Mid-Atlantic.
  4. Set your system time to "Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes".

image003.jpg

image002.jpg

Step 3 might not be necessary.

Then, just by doing Console.Write(File.GetLastWriteTime(filename).ToString()));, you will get a wrong date:

9/12/2008 12:51:43AM

If you disable "Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes", the reported date turns to be the correct one: 9/11/2008 11:51:43PM. In both cases, Windows Explorer reports 11:51:43PM.

Using the code

Following is a function to get the correct system date-time information:

C#
static DateTime GetExplorerFileDate(string filename)
{
    DateTime now = DateTime.Now;
    TimeSpan localOffset = now - now.ToUniversalTime();
    return File.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(filename) + localOffset;
}

Points of interest

Using GetExplorerFileDate, you can get the 'real' date of your files, even when the bug is not fixed...

History

  • 2008/01/09 - Initial report.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Argentina Argentina
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Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionThanks for the tip Pin
Dan Randolph31-Oct-14 11:56
Dan Randolph31-Oct-14 11:56 
GeneralIs localoffset needed Pin
vijay_kj7-Feb-10 23:42
vijay_kj7-Feb-10 23:42 
GeneralOverloaded versions [modified] Pin
Alexandru Matei16-Mar-09 0:16
Alexandru Matei16-Mar-09 0:16 
AnswerRe: Overloaded versions Pin
pablodg16-Mar-09 0:49
pablodg16-Mar-09 0:49 
GeneralThank you Pin
Antonino Porcino18-Jan-09 22:26
Antonino Porcino18-Jan-09 22:26 

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