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Can we change the file created date?

 
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Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers Can we change the file created date?
# 1  
Old 12-30-2011
Can we change the file created date?
Hi,

I am creating a file in unix today.
Is it possible to make the file created as 2 days older (or some past date)?
P.S:
i dont want to change the system date to older one and try.Smilie

Thanks,
Pandeeswaran
# 2  
Old 12-30-2011
I Believe you can do this by touch command

Code:
touch newfile #will change modification time to current date and time

Code:
touch -t 8001031305 oldfile  #sets the modification time of oldfile to 13:05 on January 3, 1980.

Code:
touch -r oldfile newfile # sets the modification time of newfile to that of 
oldfile.

These 4 Users Gave Thanks to ambarginni For This Post:
ken6503 kris.adrianto Landis pandeesh
# 3  
Old 12-30-2011
Thanks!! Its awesome!
# 4  
Old 12-30-2011
The file creation date is the one date you cannot change with "touch". You can change the "last accessed" date and/or the "last modified" date.
# 5  
Old 12-30-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by methyl
The file creation date is the one date you cannot change with "touch". You can change the "last accessed" date and/or the "last modified" date.
So, how we can get the file creation date?

Thanks,
Pandeeswaran
# 6  
Old 12-30-2011
@pandeesh
In modern unix the nearest to file creation date is the "last modification date of the inode".
Code:
ls -ladc oldfile

However this date is unreliable because it can be changed by certain backup software and anything which changes the inode like "chmod" ... and of course the "touch" command itself !
This User Gave Thanks to methyl For This Post:
pandeesh
# 7  
Old 12-30-2011
The file creation date (ctime) is not really the creation date in unix, it is the last time the inode data and some other metadata was modified.

chmod modifies ctime. assume the file is -rwxr-xr-x (755) then
Code:
chmod 755 filename  # you have to own the file to do this

will set ctime to now.

Linux chattr command can also change the ctime.
 
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