Dan Hennings
asked on
Modified Date of Folders in Windows Explorer
We are in the midst of a massive folder reorganization. We have found that when we move a folder to a different folder in Windows Explorer, the moved folder's modified date changes to the current date. No sub-folder or file within the moved folder was modified. The only change was moving the folder to a different parent folder.
How can we change that? Here is what we want:
1) When we move a folder, the date of the moved folder does not change.
2) The modified date of a folder is equal to the most recent file within that folder.
How can we change that? Here is what we want:
1) When we move a folder, the date of the moved folder does not change.
2) The modified date of a folder is equal to the most recent file within that folder.
flubbster
I believe this is a windows thing by design and I know no way of modifying that behavior. When a folder or file is moved, windows updates the Master File Table (MFT) so it knows where it is located. Hence, the new modified date. There are utilities available to change the modified date, but it would have to be done manually I believe. Will investigate a bit more...
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Yeah... I thought of robocopy also but the question sounded more like the file is just being moved and not copied via a command line. But, whatever works... lol
ASKER
I am willing to do command line work, and I can train others to do it as well. Thanks for your inpu.
> I am willing to do command line work, and I can train others to do it as well.
Good to hear! Not everyone is so inclined. You're welcome — happy to help.
Good to hear! Not everyone is so inclined. You're welcome — happy to help.
I've requested that this question be deleted for the following reason:
Not enough information to confirm an answer.
Not enough information to confirm an answer.
There is definitely enough information to confirm an answer. The author's question is this:
Here is what we want:The author also said this:
1) When we move a folder, the date of the moved folder does not change.
2) The modified date of a folder is equal to the most recent file within that folder.
I am willing to do command line work, and I can train others to do it as well.I tested the solution proposed in this post. It meets the author's requirements and works perfectly. That is, (1) the /DCOPY:T option of ROBOCOPY retains the source folder's date on the destination folder and (2) the -DIRNEWEST option of dirdate sets a folder's date to the date of the newest file in the folder. I have confirmed that this is an answer. If anyone cannot get it to work, please let me know and I'll be happy to help you through it. Regards, Joe
Matt,
Thank you for accepting — very much appreciated! Regards, Joe
Thank you for accepting — very much appreciated! Regards, Joe