Unsure why access time on a directory change isn't changing Post: 303037890

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Top Forums UNIX for Beginners Questions & Answers Unsure why access time on a directory change isn't changing Post 303037890 by hicksd8 on Thursday 15th of August 2019 05:12:14 PM

08-15-2019

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You didn't say which operating system this is but there has to be difference between read and open. If you think about it, if a read updated the access time then all the access times would change when a backup is run which wouldn't be any good if you had to restore the whole lot. However, if an application opens a file then that will update the access time. For example, if you open a file with vi and then immediately quit with :q!, the access time should update because the file has been specifically opened. Additionally, if youvi followed by :w! (even if you haven't changed anything) the file will be written back so the modified date should change.

Now with a directory it is holding the details of its files so if a new file is created the directory is modified. Also, if an application specifically opens a file with that directory in its pathname (and blocks may need to be allocated/deallocated to the file), then the access time should change.

You should be able to verify this on your operating system with a few tests.

Last edited by hicksd8; 08-16-2019 at 05:20 AM..

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LEARN ABOUT DEBIAN

explain_utime_or_die

explain_utime_or_die(3) 				     Library Functions Manual					   explain_utime_or_die(3)

NAME

       explain_utime_or_die - change file times and report errors

SYNOPSIS

       #include <libexplain/utime.h>
       void explain_utime_or_die(const char *pathname, const struct utimbuf *times);

DESCRIPTION

       The  explain_utime_or_die function is used to call the utime(2) system call.  On failure an explanation will be printed to stderr, obtained
       from explain_utime(3), and then the process terminates by calling exit(EXIT_FAILURE).

       This function is intended to be used in a fashion similar to the following example:
	      explain_utime_or_die(pathname, times);

       pathname
	       The pathname, exactly as to be passed to the utime(2) system call.

       times   The times, exactly as to be passed to the utime(2) system call.

       Returns:
	       This function only returns on success.  On failure, prints an explanation and exits.

SEE ALSO

       utime(2)
	       change file last access and modification times

       explain_utime(3)
	       explain utime(2) errors

       exit(2) terminate the calling process

COPYRIGHT

       libexplain version 0.52
       Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Miller

															   explain_utime_or_die(3)