Setting Creation Date and Modified Date - How To?

[zxandris]

I've searched the forum and the entire internet and I've had no luck in trying to set the file creation date, and the modified date.  function FileSetDateUTF8 should work but it doesn't actually appear to change anything and I want to change both the file age and the modified to different date times.

I found :-

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. function SetFileDate(const aFilename: string; aDate: TDateTime): boolean;
2. var
3.   fileHandle: THandle;
4.   fileTime: TFILETIME;
5.   LFileTime: TFILETIME;
6.   LSysTime: TSystemTime;
7. begin
8.   Result:=False;
9.   try
10.     DecodeDate(aDate, LSysTime.Year, LSysTime.Month, LSysTime.Day);
11.     DecodeTime(aDate, LSysTime.Hour, LSysTime.Minute, LSysTime.Second, LSysTime.Millisecond);
12.     if SystemTimeToFileTime(LSysTime, LFileTime) then
13.     begin
14.       if LocalFileTimeToFileTime(LFileTime, fileTime) then
15.       begin
16.         fileHandle:=FileOpenUTF8(aFilename, fmOpenReadWrite or fmShareExclusive);
17.         if SetFileTime(fileHandle, fileTime, fileTime, fileTime) then
18.           Result:=True;
19.       end;
20.     end;
21.   finally
22.     FileClose(fileHandle);
23.   end;
24. end;
25.  

That seems to just blank the modified date, (reporting in windows).

But I have no idea how to make that work either, windows calls are not my forte.  Any one would like to take pity on a noob? 

[zxandris]

Actually I Think I have it doing what I want but I would REALLY appreciate someone checking it for me.  It seems to set the date right, now sure about the time.

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. function SetFileDate(const aFilename: string; ccdate, mDate: TDateTime): boolean;
2. var
3.   fileHandle: THandle;
4.   NewCreationFileTime: TFILETIME;
5.   LFileTime: TFILETIME;
6.   LSysTime: TSystemTime;
7.   mfileTime: TFILETIME;
8.   mLFileTime: TFILETIME;
9.   mLSysTime: TSystemTime;
10. begin
11.   Result:=False;
12.   try
13.     DecodeDate(mDate, LSysTime.Year, LSysTime.Month, LSysTime.Day);
14.     DecodeTime(mDate, LSysTime.Hour, LSysTime.Minute, LSysTime.Second, LSysTime.Millisecond);
15.     DecodeDate(ccDate, mlSysTime.Year, mlSysTime.Month, mlSysTime.Day);
16.     DecodeTime(ccDate, mlSysTime.Hour, mlSysTime.Minute, mlSysTime.Second, mlSysTime.Millisecond);
17.     if SystemTimeToFileTime(mlSysTime, mFileTime) then
18.     begin
19.         if LocalFileTimeToFileTime(mFileTime, mLFileTime) then
20.         begin
21.             if SystemTimeToFileTime(LSysTime, LFileTime) then
22.             begin
23.               if LocalFileTimeToFileTime(LFileTime, NewCreationFileTime) then
24.               begin
25.                 fileHandle:=FileOpenUTF8(aFilename, fmOpenReadWrite or fmShareExclusive);
26.                 if SetFileTime(fileHandle, NewCreationFileTime, mfileTime, NewCreationFileTime) then
27.                   Result:=True;
28.               end;
29.             end;
30.         end;
31.     end;
32.   finally
33.     FileClose(fileHandle);
34.   end;
35. end;
36.  

Please help a noob here, I have to admit I don't especilly know what the code is doing so that doesn't help - lol.

[zxandris]

Actually I Think I have it doing what I want but I would REALLY appreciate someone checking it for me.  It seems to set the date right, now sure about the time.

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. function SetFileDate(const aFilename: string; ccdate, mDate: TDateTime): boolean;
2. var
3.   fileHandle: THandle;
4.   NewCreationFileTime: TFILETIME;
5.   LFileTime: TFILETIME;
6.   LSysTime: TSystemTime;
7.   mfileTime: TFILETIME;
8.   mLFileTime: TFILETIME;
9.   mLSysTime: TSystemTime;
10. begin
11.   Result:=False;
12.   try
13.     DecodeDate(mDate, LSysTime.Year, LSysTime.Month, LSysTime.Day);
14.     DecodeTime(mDate, LSysTime.Hour, LSysTime.Minute, LSysTime.Second, LSysTime.Millisecond);
15.     DecodeDate(ccDate, mlSysTime.Year, mlSysTime.Month, mlSysTime.Day);
16.     DecodeTime(ccDate, mlSysTime.Hour, mlSysTime.Minute, mlSysTime.Second, mlSysTime.Millisecond);
17.     if SystemTimeToFileTime(mlSysTime, mFileTime) then
18.     begin
19.         if LocalFileTimeToFileTime(mFileTime, mLFileTime) then
20.         begin
21.             if SystemTimeToFileTime(LSysTime, LFileTime) then
22.             begin
23.               if LocalFileTimeToFileTime(LFileTime, NewCreationFileTime) then
24.               begin
25.                 fileHandle:=FileOpenUTF8(aFilename, fmOpenReadWrite or fmShareExclusive);
26.                 if SetFileTime(fileHandle, NewCreationFileTime, mfileTime, NewCreationFileTime) then
27.                   Result:=True;
28.               end;
29.             end;
30.         end;
31.     end;
32.   finally
33.     FileClose(fileHandle);
34.   end;
35. end;
36.  

Please help a noob here, I have to admit I don't especilly know what the code is doing so that doesn't help - lol.

Nope still not working right, it seems to set the date, but the time is weird, and for some reason it doesn't report anything when you look at the file in windows export, the modified is blank but under properties it's set the date, but not the time.

[Thaddy]

If it is not the filename on disk but the real creation/compilation date you can use Attributes in trunk. There is an example in the wiki that I added.
This example stores the creation/compile date without relying on the disk date, so it avoids being fooled by copying..
https://wiki.freepascal.org/Custom_Attributes#Complete_example

As long as you do not recompile, that date is static and so the real compilation date..

[KodeZwerg]

Attached is a demo that full covers the usage for Windows API GetFileTime() and SetFileTime().

It does currently not work when target file is in use or locked.

Enjoy!

Ps: just written in a hurry so not much checks done yet.

[KodeZwerg]

Quick update:
Please add/update the helpers:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. function TForm1.EncodeDateTime(const AYear, AMonth, ADay, AHour, AMinute, ASecond, AMilliSecond: word): TDateTime;
2. var
3.   LDateTime: TDateTime;
4. begin
5.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
6.   Result := Now;
7.   try
8.     LDateTime := Trunc(EncodeDate(AYear, AMonth, ADay)) +
9.                  Frac(EncodeTime(AHour, AMinute, ASecond, AMillisecond));
10.   finally
11.     Result := LDateTime;
12.   end;
13. end;
14.  
15. function TForm1.FileTimeToLocalSystemTime(const AFileTime: TFileTime): TSystemTime;
16. var
17.   LLocalTime: TFileTime;
18. begin
19.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
20.   try
21.     FileTimeToLocalFileTime(AFileTime, LLocalTime);
22.   finally
23.     FileTimeToSystemTime(LLocalTime, Result);
24.   end;
25. end;
26.  
27. function TForm1.FileTimeToDateTime(const AFileTime: TFileTime): TDateTime;
28. var
29.   LSystemTime: TSystemTime;
30. begin
31.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
32.   try
33.     LSystemTime := FileTimeToLocalSystemTime(AFileTime);
34.   finally
35.     with LSystemTime do
36.       Result := EncodeDateTime(wYear, wMonth, wDay, wHour, wMinute, wSecond, wMilliseconds);
37.   end;
38. end;
39.  
40. function TForm1.DateTimeToFileTime(const ADateTime: TDateTime): TFileTime;
41. var
42.   LFileTime: TFileTime;
43.   LSystemTime: TSystemTime;
44. begin
45.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
46.   try
47.     with LSystemTime do
48.       begin
49.         DecodeDate(ADateTime, wYear, wMonth, wDay);
50.         DecodeTime(ADateTime, wHour, wMinute, wSecond, wMilliSeconds);
51.       end;
52.   finally
53.     if SystemTimeToFileTime(LSystemTime, LFileTime) then
54.       LocalFileTimeToFileTime(LFileTime, Result);
55.   end;
56. end;

and in "function TForm1.SetFileTimes: Boolean;" update the LNew* settings to:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1.   FNewCreate := EncodeDateTime(seYearCreate.Value, seMonthCreate.Value, seDayCreate.Value, seHourCreate.Value, seMinuteCreate.Value, seSecondCreate.Value, seMillisecondCreate.Value);
2.   FNewModify := EncodeDateTime(seYearModified.Value, seMonthModified.Value, seDayModified.Value, seHourModified.Value, seMinu]"]>Blockeddified.Value, seSecondModified.Value, seMillisecondModified.Value);
3.   FNewAccess := EncodeDateTime(seYearAccess.Value, seMonthAccess.Value, seDayAccess.Value, seHourAccess.Value, seMinuteAccess.Value, seSecondAccess.Value, seMillisecondAccess.Value);

[zxandris]

Thank you, that's very kind of you to help I'll have to see what I can do with this - thanks

CJ

Quick update:
Please add/update the helpers:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. function TForm1.EncodeDateTime(const AYear, AMonth, ADay, AHour, AMinute, ASecond, AMilliSecond: word): TDateTime;
2. var
3.   LDateTime: TDateTime;
4. begin
5.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
6.   Result := Now;
7.   try
8.     LDateTime := Trunc(EncodeDate(AYear, AMonth, ADay)) +
9.                  Frac(EncodeTime(AHour, AMinute, ASecond, AMillisecond));
10.   finally
11.     Result := LDateTime;
12.   end;
13. end;
14.  
15. function TForm1.FileTimeToLocalSystemTime(const AFileTime: TFileTime): TSystemTime;
16. var
17.   LLocalTime: TFileTime;
18. begin
19.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
20.   try
21.     FileTimeToLocalFileTime(AFileTime, LLocalTime);
22.   finally
23.     FileTimeToSystemTime(LLocalTime, Result);
24.   end;
25. end;
26.  
27. function TForm1.FileTimeToDateTime(const AFileTime: TFileTime): TDateTime;
28. var
29.   LSystemTime: TSystemTime;
30. begin
31.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
32.   try
33.     LSystemTime := FileTimeToLocalSystemTime(AFileTime);
34.   finally
35.     with LSystemTime do
36.       Result := EncodeDateTime(wYear, wMonth, wDay, wHour, wMinute, wSecond, wMilliseconds);
37.   end;
38. end;
39.  
40. function TForm1.DateTimeToFileTime(const ADateTime: TDateTime): TFileTime;
41. var
42.   LFileTime: TFileTime;
43.   LSystemTime: TSystemTime;
44. begin
45.   SetLastError(ERROR_SUCCESS);
46.   try
47.     with LSystemTime do
48.       begin
49.         DecodeDate(ADateTime, wYear, wMonth, wDay);
50.         DecodeTime(ADateTime, wHour, wMinute, wSecond, wMilliSeconds);
51.       end;
52.   finally
53.     if SystemTimeToFileTime(LSystemTime, LFileTime) then
54.       LocalFileTimeToFileTime(LFileTime, Result);
55.   end;
56. end;

and in "function TForm1.SetFileTimes: Boolean;" update the LNew* settings to:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1.   FNewCreate := EncodeDateTime(seYearCreate.Value, seMonthCreate.Value, seDayCreate.Value, seHourCreate.Value, seMinuteCreate.Value, seSecondCreate.Value, seMillisecondCreate.Value);
2.   FNewModify := EncodeDateTime(seYearModified.Value, seMonthModified.Value, seDayModified.Value, seHourModified.Value, seMinu]"]>Blockeddified.Value, seSecondModified.Value, seMillisecondModified.Value);
3.   FNewAccess := EncodeDateTime(seYearAccess.Value, seMonthAccess.Value, seDayAccess.Value, seHourAccess.Value, seMinuteAccess.Value, seSecondAccess.Value, seMillisecondAccess.Value);

[KodeZwerg]

Updated version attached.
Now UI and the number of possible days in a month do match.