Copied files change modified date


  1. Sherry0
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       New #1

    Copied files change modified date


    I've hit a showstopper in Windows 7 for which I have so far been unable to find a workaround. I maintain my websites by duplicating all updated files in my local public_html directory tree to a new location, and then using FileZilla to upload only those files to the web server. This has always been simple in WinXP :
    - use WinZip to archive everything in the directory tree
    - open the archive, sort by date, and remove all older files
    - select and extract the remaining files to the new location

    Unfortunately the new version of WinZip seems to rely on the new "feature" of Windows 7 that copying a file resets its modified date, so this approach is no longer possible. I don't see any way to force it to keep the original modified date of the file in the archive. Things I've tried so far to resolve my problem are :

    - RoboCopy
    Does not seem to have any way to filter files to be copied by date.

    - RichCopy
    Looks like it should work, but the GUI selection of include/exclude filters does not work. Everything is copied, regardless of the selection, nor does that selection persist when you save the profile.

    - 7-Zip
    Can't find any way to hide the directories and show only the files when browsing the archive. Deleting the older files does not remove the no longer used directories. I can't see how to get the files to extract using their internal relative paths -- the dialog box mentioned in the help file does not come up on this machine.

    - WinRAR
    Can't find any way to show the files in a flat view when browsing the archive in order to remove the older files.

    At this point I'm working on a bash script to run under cygwin as a last resort. Can anyone point me to something that is workable for this task?

    Thanks for the help.
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  3. Kari
    Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       New #2

    Sherry0 said:
    - RoboCopy
    Does not seem to have any way to filter files to be copied by date.
    Robocopy's MAXAGE switch? To for instance exclude all files over 2 days old:
    Code:
    robocopy C:\Example\ D:\Example\ /E /MAXAGE:2
    Kari
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  4. logicearth
    Posts : 5,642
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       New #3

    I've said in another thread of similer nature. Windows 7 does not change the modified date when copying. I've tried over and over again to replicate this. But never have I seen the modified date altered. I can only assume you have software like an anti-virus that is makling these changes. Otherwise I cannot replicate the issue at hand.

    However, maybe you should look into SVN? Let it handle keeping record of all your modifications and keeping previous versions of files. Most developers these days use some type of revision control.
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  6. Sherry0
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    @Kari: Thank you for the pointer. It's not exposed in the GUI, but the command line switch can even use a YYYYMMDD date. This will greatly simplify my first step.

    @logicearth: Yes, I read your other posts. Unfortunately it seems a number of folks continue to struggle with this problem, so it keeps coming up. I do not believe it is a virus issue based on my experience detailed below.

    This behavior was consistent with me, costing me several days of frustration and research, and resulted in my post above. This morning I read on the WinZip site that they only certify their versions 14+ for Windows 7. Since I have been using WinZip 11.2, I downloaded and installed version 15 (the newest). Suddenly the problem disappeared.

    In an effort to track down the source of the problem, I uninstalled all the various tools I have tried to use for workarounds, including purging my machine of all flavors of WinZip. Then I re-installed WinZip 11.2 from its MSI file. Things still appear to be functioning as expected. I can only say that I originally installed WinZip 8.0 here before realizing it would not actually run under Windows 7, and then installed WinZip 11.2 afterwards. So, perhaps something in that sequence caused the behavior shift.

    As for SVN -- yes, I would prefer to use something other than zip files for my audit trail. Right now that's a couple of steps down the road, and the exact reason I upgraded to Windows 7 for my (new) primary machine. The old WinXP box will be converted to Linux Mint with PostgreSQL and SVN. But that won't happen tomorrow, as I have a day job, so I need to continue my interim processes. And I will still want a sparse directory for the FTP upload.

    Anyway, thank you both for your replies, and I hope the description of my experience here will benefit others who are having the same issues.
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  7. SnQQpyDog
    Posts : 4
    Win 7 Pro x64
       New #5

    Workaround


    Yes I realise this is an OLD thread but I came across it looking for a solution to this problem myself.

    Well after a lot of searching I discovered this has never been fixed by MS No change there then!

    What I discovered is that if you try copy paste a file as a workaround it also retains the original modified date. Although I notice that file Date accessed does change. However...
    For sorting files and archiving etc or whatever your purpose a lot of people expect NATURALLY that a modified file should date/time stamp correctly and work on the Date modified parameter.

    So in the end I came across this little shell extension app SKTimeStamp and there's a 64bit version too.
    Copied files change modified date-sktimestamp_one.png

    SKTimeStamp

    You can modify a single file's attributes or by selecting a group of files you can modify them simultaneously. You can change the Modified date, Created Date and Accessed date or you can click Touch button and it changes modified date to the current date and time.

    Not perfect but failing a hotfix by MS I hope it helps others out.

    cheers
    SD

    PS Its my 1st post here so I hope I didn't break any rules - be kind
    PPS I registered here, just to put this info up
    Last edited by SnQQpyDog; 10 Jun 2013 at 16:20.
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  8. Layback Bear
    Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       New #6

    Welcome SnQQpyDog to our Forum. No I don't believe you have broken any rules.
    Thank you for the information it could very likely help others and that is why we are here.
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  10. SnQQpyDog
    Posts : 4
    Win 7 Pro x64
       New #7

    Layback Bear said:
    Welcome SnQQpyDog to our Forum. No I don't believe you have broken any rules.
    Thank you for the information it could very likely help others and that is why we are here.
    Well thats a relief and thank you for the welcome... though I have to admit I've been lurkin for a while!

    A quick question I did have an image for the tool, does the BBcode omit images or is it because I'm MrNewbie?haha
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  11. Layback Bear
    Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       New #8

    Take a read through this Tutorial.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
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  12. SnQQpyDog
    Posts : 4
    Win 7 Pro x64
       New #9

    Layback Bear said:
    Take a read through this Tutorial.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
    Yeah I'm familiar with the process thanks, I was trying to link straight to the online image
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  13. Layback Bear
    Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       New #10

    I personally prefer our Forum method. It's more sure for other members. If I remember correctly their is a size limit.
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