How can I change the timestamp on a file?



As an IT administrator, it is sometimes necessary to change the timestamp on a file. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as to make sure a file is accessed at a certain time or to ensure that the file is not changed without authorization. Depending on the operating system and the tools available, there are a few different methods of changing the timestamp on a file.

The first and most basic method is to use the command line. On Linux systems, the command ‘touch’ can be used to change the timestamp of a file. The syntax is ‘touch -t ’, where the date is in the format YYYYMMDDHHMMSS. For example, to change the timestamp of a file named ‘example.txt’ to November 1st, 2020 at 4:30 PM, the command ‘touch -t 202011011630 example.txt’ could be used. On Windows systems, the command ‘fsutil’ can be used to change the timestamp of a file. The syntax is ‘fsutil file settimestamp ’, where the date is in the format YYYY/MM/DD/HH/MM/SS. For example, to change the timestamp of a file named ‘example.txt’ to November 1st, 2020 at 4:30 PM, the command ‘fsutil file settimestamp example.txt 2020/11/01/16/30/00’ could be used.

Another method of changing the timestamp on a file is to use a graphical user interface (GUI). On Linux systems, the file manager ‘Nautilus’ can be used to change the timestamp of a file. To do this, right-click on the file and select ‘Properties’. On the ‘Properties’ window, select the ‘Date modified’ field and enter the desired date. On Windows systems, the file explorer can be used to change the timestamp of a file. To do this, right-click on the file and select ‘Properties’. On the ‘Properties’ window, select the ‘Date modified’ field and enter the desired date.

Finally, there are a variety of third-party software tools that can be used to change the timestamp on a file. These tools range from free and open-source tools to commercial applications. Many of these tools provide more advanced features than the basic command line and GUI methods, such as the ability to change multiple files at once or to set timestamps with a higher degree of precision.

In conclusion, there are a few different methods of changing the timestamp on a file depending on the operating system and the tools available. The most basic methods are to use the command line or a graphical user interface, but there are also a variety of third-party software tools that can be used for more advanced features.

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