Timestamp - A utility to change a files "Modified" time.

Introduction

Working with a team of programmers in different time zones can be fun, but it can also cause major problems when files from different time zones get mixed and matched. The latest update to a new version of a file may have a date earlier than someone elses old version, meaning it won't be recompiled, or, a new file may have a date later than others meaning DevStudio repeatedly wants to recompile everything.

The solution to this is:

Get everyone to set their computer to the same time. This may work for some, but can be extremely inconvenient to others, or
Re-stamp the time on your files before sending them off to your colleagues.

I chose the latter, which meant I had to come up with a way to restamp file times. Enter TimeStamp.

This is as basic a "Touch" program as you'll find. Just enter in the offset in days, hours and minutes (positive will push file times into the future, negative into the past), select your files, then hit "Go". Simple.

Each file selected (either a single file or a complete directory tree) has it's "Last Modified" time set to the current time plus the offset that you choose.

The program remembers the last offset you've set, the last 10 files and directories you've stamped, and it's last screen location.

Thanks to:

Chris Losinger - Drop Edit
Vladimir Kvashin, Girish Bharadwaj and Lars Klose - Directory picker class
Davide Calibro - Flat buttons

History

15 July 2009 - Added ability to set file times relative to the original file's time. Also compiles in VC9.

License

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

About the Author

Chris Maunder

Founder
The Code Project

Canada

Member

Follow on Twitter
Google+

Google

Chris is the Co-founder, Administrator, Architect, Chief Editor and Shameless Hack who wrote and runs The Code Project. He's been programming since 1988 while pretending to be, in various guises, an astrophysicist, mathematician, physicist, hydrologist, geomorphologist, defence intelligence researcher and then, when all that got a bit rough on the nerves, a web developer. He is a Microsoft Visual C++ MVP both globally and for Canada locally.

His programming experience includes C/C++, C#, SQL, MFC, ASP, ASP.NET, and far, far too much FORTRAN. He has worked on PocketPCs, AIX mainframes, Sun workstations, and a CRAY YMP C90 behemoth but finds notebooks take up less desk space.

He dodges, he weaves, and he never gets enough sleep. He is kind to small animals.

Chris was born and bred in Australia but splits his time between Toronto and Melbourne, depending on the weather. For relaxation he is into road cycling, snowboarding, rock climbing, and storm chasing.

Article Top

Poor

Excellent

Add a reason or comment to your vote: x
Votes of 3 or less require a comment

Comments and Discussions

You must Sign In to use this message board. (secure sign-in)

Search this forum
	Profile popups Noise Layout Per page

This is exactly the tool...

LastZolex

1:02 11 Mar '10

... I was just about to code myself. How good that I had a thorough look here first! Thank you! It saved my day when trying to re-date dozens and dozens of video files from my digicam (no exif like in the digipics, where there exist many of these tools). Great job! -LZ
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink	5.00/5 (1 vote)

Just sayin' thanks

paul curthoys

13:19 28 Dec '09

This utility has been a gigantic help as I sort through mounds of photos from two different camera with janky timestamps. Much appreciated.
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Missing afxpriv.h

BrianCharles

8:45 20 Jul '09

Nice article. I collected the source and attempted to compile, and there were a couple of errors. Seems "USES_CONVERSION" and T2COLE were not found. After adding the following line to stdafx.h all is well. #include <afxpriv.h> Thanks Brian
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

offset the timestamp using original value ...

Gert3d

2:34 15 Jul '09

Hi Chris, Would it be a great effort for you to produce another little utility that takes the original data/time value from a file and rewrites an offset to it, just like it is done with your Timestamp utility (that uses the current time). It would be quite useful to correct timestamps to sets of files. Thanks a lot, Gert
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ...

Chris Maunder

3:32 15 Jul '09

Try it now cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ...

Gert3d

4:02 15 Jul '09

Thanks Chris for such a quick reply and action. Unfortunately the utility does not run because "the application has failed to start because the configuration is incorrect" I downloaded the zip file from the page, I notice that it indeed had changed. Can you guess what's wrong? Will the timestamp of the (sub)directories also be adjusted? Thanks, Gert
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ...

Chris Maunder

4:49 15 Jul '09

Sounds like you have a version of windows that has the older C++ libs. I've uploaded a new version that is statically linked. If that doesn't work then the best bet is to recompile it on your system. cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ...

Gert3d

21:28 15 Jul '09

Hi Chris,

It runs great now! I am not a programmer, so I would not have been able to compile the code. Thanks for re-doing this.
While not sure how much time you still want to devote to the utility, I thought it would be useful to share some observations:
- after pressing 'Go' a interim alert box now comes up: "True", with OK choice.
- the path-box has a memory, nice but it is quite persistent: a previously used long pathname 'overrides' a shorter one in the same sequence (up-directory -> root)
- I had a crash once - probably because of too long pathnames? - when timestamping a directory with many sub-sub-directories
- Maybe add another checkbox for the option to set the specific timestamp as filled in (so not shifting an offset, but having the usual function for changing the date/time attribute). But that wasn't the initial purpose of the utility of course.

Well, thanks again,
greetings from the NL, Gert.

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ...

Chris Maunder

21:51 15 Jul '09

Yikes. That was pretty amateur. I've removed the debug code I left in I also put in a check for long file names that may help. As to the other suggestions: They would be nice to do but unfortunately I just don't have the time cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: offset the timestamp using original value ... [modified]

Gert3d

23:41 15 Jul '09

Hi Chris, "I just don't have the time" Well, it looks like you're using it to the max, 24/7? But, of course. I'm already grateful that you expanded the utility. A detail then: some indication when it is done? Success with the project, I must have a closer look into the Beginner sections. ciao, Gert modified on Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:10 AM
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Use modified Timestamp for foto-file synchronization

jeroen van dael

2:12 12 Dec '06

Hi Chris,
thanks for your Timestamp source code (although I don't like the MFC in it). I had to combine a lot of foto's from two different digicam's and discovered that their timeline was corrupted as the two internal clocks of the camera's were out of sync. So I modified just one line in your Timestamp code to get the fs.m_mtime changed with the updown counter settings, set to the timelag between both clocks:

fs.m_mtime += CTimeSpan(m_nDays, m_nHours, m_nMins,0);

(see TimeStampDlg.cpp, line 443)

After that, your little program saved me a lot of work!

jeroen van dael, hilversum, the netherlands

Add 12 hours to *existing* time stamp?

rcblanchard

3:55 26 Dec '04

Y'know when you set the date/time in a digital camera and you're in a hurry and you think it's 12-hour time and it's really 24-hour time, so you set it 12 hours too early? Then you take a bunch of pics and they're all 12 hours early...

Timestamp is an exellent utility, but it can't set a time stamp relative to what it currently is. Does anyone know of a utility that will do this?

Much appreciated.

-Bob Blanchard

Re: Add 12 hours to *existing* time stamp?

The Chrisman

8:02 27 Feb '06

Seems easy... like you could get pretty close by setting your time clock [just prior] to the time that you want to set them at... get the timestamp changer ready and click at the right moment as you sit watching the GUI clock. That should get you within a second or so. Chris:->
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: Add 12 hours to *existing* time stamp?

kwestman

6:31 11 Jul '06

That's not what he means I dont think. What we need is similar to what exifer http://bppdocs.camner.net/html/exifer_info.htm[^]can do with pictures, add a specific amount of time to each file date, so when you're done they don't end up at all the exact date, but rather an offset of time ahead or behind what they originally were.
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: Add 12 hours to *existing* time stamp?

Psinewave

15:53 20 Aug '06

Funny, I just ran into the same problem myself - accidentally set the date on my camera to am when I meant pm ... actually the "fix" is real easy ... change line 443 of TimeStampDlg.cpp to:

fs.m_mtime = fs.m_mtime + CTimeSpan(m_nDays,m_nHours,m_nMins,0);

For a bit of context, here's what mine looks like now:

void CTimeStampDlg::StampFile(LPCTSTR szFile)
{
TRACE1("File is \"%s\"\n", szFile);

CFileStatus fs;
if (CFile::GetStatus(szFile, fs))
{
fs.m_mtime = fs.m_mtime + CTimeSpan(m_nDays,m_nHours,m_nMins,0);
//fs.m_mtime = m_FileTime;
CFile::SetStatus(szFile, fs);
}
}

Works beautifully Smile | :)

change created date of file?

ngtrungthanh

2:12 14 Apr '04

Hi, I am looking for a method to change created date of file. Have you got an idea? Thank you. Nguyen Trung Thanh
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

Re: change created date of file?

ifbn

18:05 31 Aug '04

////////////I am a beginner~~~

BOOL ChangeFileTime(CString &strFileName
,SYSTEMTIME &sNewCreateDate,SYSTEMTIME &sNewCreateTime
,SYSTEMTIME &sNewAccessDate,SYSTEMTIME &sNewAccessTime
,SYSTEMTIME &sNewWriteDate ,SYSTEMTIME &sNewWriteTime
,BOOL bChangeCreateDate,BOOL bChangeCreateTime
,BOOL bChangeAccessDate,BOOL bChangeAccessTime
,BOOL bChangeWriteDate ,BOOL bChangeWriteTime
)
{

HANDLE hFile;
SYSTEMTIME sCreate,sAccess,sWrite;
hFile = CreateFile(strFileName, GENERIC_READ|GENERIC_WRITE,FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_DELETE,NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, NULL);

//////////////源文件时间
GetFileTime(hFile,&fCreate,&fAccess,&fWrite);

FileTimeToLocalFileTime(&fCreate,&fCreate);
FileTimeToLocalFileTime(&fAccess,&fAccess);
FileTimeToLocalFileTime(&fWrite,&fWrite);

FileTimeToSystemTime(&fCreate,&sCreate);
FileTimeToSystemTime(&fAccess,&sAccess);
FileTimeToSystemTime(&fWrite,&sWrite);
///////////////////////////

if (bChangeCreateDate)
{
sCreate.wYear = sNewCreateDate.wYear;
sCreate.wMonth = sNewCreateDate.wMonth;
sCreate.wDay = sNewCreateDate.wDay;
sCreate.wDayOfWeek = sNewCreateDate.wDayOfWeek;
}
if (bChangeCreateTime)
{
sCreate.wHour = sNewCreateTime.wHour;
sCreate.wMinute = sNewCreateTime.wMinute;
sCreate.wSecond = sNewCreateTime.wSecond;
//sCreate.wMilliseconds = sNewCreateTime.wMilliseconds;
}

if (bChangeAccessDate)
{
sAccess.wYear = sNewAccessDate.wYear;
sAccess.wMonth = sNewAccessDate.wMonth;
sAccess.wDay = sNewAccessDate.wDay;
sAccess.wDayOfWeek = sNewAccessDate.wDayOfWeek;
}
if (bChangeAccessTime)
{
sAccess.wHour = sNewAccessTime.wHour;
sAccess.wMinute = sNewAccessTime.wMinute;
sAccess.wSecond = sNewAccessTime.wSecond;
//sAccess.wMilliseconds = sNewAccessTime.wMilliseconds;
}

if (bChangeWriteDate)
{
sWrite.wYear = sNewWriteDate.wYear;
sWrite.wMonth = sNewWriteDate.wMonth;
sWrite.wDay = sNewWriteDate.wDay;
sWrite.wDayOfWeek = sNewWriteDate.wDayOfWeek;
}

if (bChangeWriteTime)
{
sWrite.wHour = sNewWriteTime.wHour;
sWrite.wMinute = sNewWriteTime.wMinute;
sWrite.wSecond = sNewWriteTime.wSecond;
//sWrite.wMilliseconds = sNewWriteTime.wMilliseconds;
}

SystemTimeToFileTime(&sCreate, &fCreate);
SystemTimeToFileTime(&sAccess,&fAccess);
SystemTimeToFileTime(&sWrite,&fWrite);

LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fCreate,&fCreate);
LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fAccess,&fAccess);
LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fWrite,&fWrite);

BOOL bResult = SetFileTime(hFile
, (dwdateResult1 == GDT_VALID)?&fCreate:(dwtimeResult1 == GDT_VALID)?&fCreate:(LPFILETIME)NULL
, (dwdateResult2 == GDT_VALID)?&fAccess:(dwtimeResult2 == GDT_VALID)?&fAccess:(LPFILETIME)NULL
, (dwdateResult3 == GDT_VALID)?&fWrite:(dwtimeResult3 == GDT_VALID)?&fWrite:(LPFILETIME)NULL
);
//SetFileTime(hFile,&fCreate, &fAccess, &fWrite);

CloseHandle(hFile);

return bResult;
}

Re: change created date of file?

meouvn

16:42 8 Dec '05

void CTimeStampDlg::StampFile(LPCTSTR szFile)

{

    TRACE1("File is \"%s\"\n", szFile);

 

    /*CFileStatus fs;

    if (CFile::GetStatus(szFile, fs))

    {

        fs.m_mtime = m_FileTime;

        CFile::SetStatus(szFile, fs);

    }*/

 

	HANDLE hFile;

	FILETIME fCreate, fAccess, fWrite;

	SYSTEMTIME sCreate,sAccess,sWrite;

	

	m_FileTime.GetAsSystemTime(sCreate);

	m_FileTime.GetAsSystemTime(sAccess);

	m_FileTime.GetAsSystemTime(sWrite);

 

	SystemTimeToFileTime(&sCreate, &fCreate);

	SystemTimeToFileTime(&sAccess,&fAccess);

	SystemTimeToFileTime(&sWrite,&fWrite);

 

	LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fCreate,&fCreate);

	LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fAccess,&fAccess);

	LocalFileTimeToFileTime(&fWrite,&fWrite);

 

	hFile = CreateFile(szFile, GENERIC_READ|GENERIC_WRITE,FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_DELETE,NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, NULL);

	BOOL bResult = SetFileTime(hFile,&fCreate, &fAccess, &fWrite);

	CloseHandle(hFile);

 

	//ChangeFileTime(szFile, m_FileTime.Get, m_FileTime, m_FileTime, m_FileTime, m_FileTime, m_FileTime, true, true, true, true, true, true);

}

above is what i did to change created date in StampFile function

--------------------------
ERP VN: www.erpvn.net

-- modified at 22:43 Thursday 8th December, 2005

timestamp

dazzavazza

3:09 27 Mar '03

Hi Guys, Do you know if the use of timestamp can be scripted and if so, can u script the use of a unc path to run timestamp against?? This will be for use for a directory and all the files and folders below it. And can the tool modify/touch read only files? Or do i have to run attrib prior to timestamp to get rid of the readonly bit of the files. Thanks Dazza
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

directory's date/time

Peppe

23:06 11 Dec '02

Hi Chris, how can I change the directory's date/time (not the files inside it)? Bye. Giuseppe
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink	2.00/5 (1 vote)

Re: directory's date/time

wct

17:48 12 Oct '10

You need to do such as:

BOOL change_dir_timestamp(TCHAR* DirName,const FILETIME&ftCreationTime,const FILETIME&ftLastAccessTime, const FILETIME&ftLastWriteTime)
{
      HANDLE hDir = CreateFile(
        DirName,
        GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
        FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_DELETE,NULL,OPEN_EXISTING,
        FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS,
        NULL);
 
      if (hDir ==INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE ) 
             return FALSE;
	  
 
      BOOL retval = SetFileTime(
       hDir, &amp;ftCreationTime,&amp;ftLastAccessTime,&amp;ftLastWriteTime);
 
      CloseHandle(hDir);
      return retval;
}

ChinTse Wu[^.^]

Alas useful...

Pierre Couderc

6:54 3 Dec '02

But it shows the poorness of the design of the full time stamp system - that I think inherited from DOS... Timestamps on files should be GMT times, converted to local time only when the they need to be displayed. And your tool should be unnecessary... Alas, thank you for it! Pierre Couderc
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink

You can do this already with an excellent Shell Extension - PropertiesPlus 1.65

me101

12:50 2 Dec '02

Not sure if this has been mentioned before...

There is an excellent Shell Extension available for Win95/98/nt4/2k/xp, called "Properties Plus 1.65", available at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/cool/kish/pplusmain.htm.

PropertiesPlus is a free add-on for your Windows Explorer.

It adds additional functionality to your right-click menu under the menu option PropertiesPlus.

Here you'll be able to modify file attributes, file extensions, and the time stamps of single files, multiple files, or files contained within the folders. Display the bytes allocated.

Give it a look, been using it for quite a long time, it's one of those system programs that I always install on a new system, it's just that handy!

Re: You can do this already with an excellent Shell Extension - PropertiesPlus 1.65

Philippe Lhoste

22:31 2 Dec '02

Well, while we are on the topic of favorite closed source freewares, for this purpose, I use Date/Time Shell Extension, that can be found at http://space.dolphin.free.fr/Windows/main.html
It has numerous options, can change Creation and Modified time/date, etc.

Check out also his Folder Size Shell Extension...

Well, if you look around, you can also find other freewares for this purpose. Now, Chris' approach is original because it uses a time offset, not an absolute one. And we get the source...

Philippe Lhoste (Paris -- France)
Professional programmer and amateur artist
http://jove.prohosting.com/~philho/

Re: You can do this already with an excellent Shell Extension - PropertiesPlus 1.65

kajjo

13:00 3 Aug '03

Gurus, Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a programmer. I was doing a search to find the tools available to change the timestamp on a file/folder..... My question is, "Is it possible to tell if a file has had its timestamp tampered, perhaps by using one of the available utilities?" This question is asked from a security point of view. thanks Kirk
Sign In·View Thread·Permalink