Main menu - File - Attributes/Timestamp...


Activating the menu item "File → Attributes/Timestamp..." or the shortcut "Shift+Enter" opens the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog for the items (files and/or folders) selected in the active panel. In this dialog their attributes and their timestamps (date and time) can be changed.


This command should be performed only by very experienced users.


The "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog contains the tabs

the information bar

and the buttons

Tab Operation


Selected item(s)

The content displayed under "Selected item(s)" differs according to for how many items (files and/or folders) attributes and timestamps have to be changed:

  • One item to be changed
    If only one file (or folder) is selected, the name of the file (or folder) is displayed under "Selected item(s)".
  • Several items to be changed

If several files (and/or folders) are selected, the number of files (and/or folders) is displayed under "Selected item(s)".

from

The folder from where the items have to be changed is displayed under "from".

Include files and folders in subfolders

If this option is checked, the operations defined in this dialog are also executed in files and folders, that are stored in subfolders of the selected folders.

Include only files of this type:

  • Input field "Include only files of this type"
    The content of the input field "Include only files of this type" allows to limit (filter) the number of items selected in the active panel of the FreeCommander main window. This reduces the number of items to be changed. Wildcards and regular expressions are accepted in the input field. As soon as a filter is entered and the tab "Files" or the button "Run" are activated, the contents of the information bar  ...files ...folders is refreshed.
  • Button
    After activating the button a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field and the text "<RegExp>:" (to enter regular expressions). Clicking a row in this selection list overwrites the contents of the input field with the contents of the clicked row.
  • Button
    After activating the button a selection list with filters (defined under the menu item "Folder → Filter → Set filter") is shown. Selecting a filter overwrites the contents of the input field with "<Filter>:" + "contents of the filter".

Set attributes

If this option is checked, for each attribute can be defined whether it has to be set for all files and folders listed in the tab "Files". The following attributes can be changed:

  • Archive
  • Read only
  • Hidden
  • System

The status of the following attributes is only shown, if all items listed in the tab "Files" have the same status concerning the attribute.

These attributes can not be changed:

  • Compressed
  • Reparse point
  • Encrypted

Tab "Set timestamp"

Option "Set timestamp"

If this option is checked, the options "Move timestamp" and "Set timestamp as in target folder" are inactive. All files and folders listed in the tab "Files" receive the timestamps defined here. The following timestamps can be set:

  • Created
    The "Created" timestamp can be edited, if the check boxes in the rows "Set timestamp" and "Created" are checked. The following processing possibilities are offered for the "Created" timestamp:
    • Editing in the date and the time input fields
    • Selecting the date after clicking the button
    • Increase or decrease the selected hour, minute or seconds number by clicking the buttons
    • Setting the actual timestamp by clicking the button
    • Using the "Modified" timestamp as "Created timestamp by clicking the button in the row "Modified".
  • Modified

The "Modified" timestamp can be edited, if the check boxes in the rows "Set timestamp" and "Modified" are checked. The following processing possibilities are offered for the "Modified" timestamp:

    • Editing in the date and the time input fields
    • Selecting the date after clicking the button
    • Increase or decrease the selected hour, minute or seconds number by clicking the buttons
    • Setting the actual timestamp by clicking the button
    • Using the "Created" timestamp as "Modified timestamp by clicking the button in the row "Created".
  • Accessed
    The "Accessed" timestamp is only shown. It can not be edited.
  • Copy date "modified" to "created" for each file
    If this option is checked, the "modified" timestamp of each file is copied to its "created" timestamp.
  • Copy date "created" to "modified" for each file
    If this option is checked, the "created" timestamp of each file is copied to its "modified" timestamp.

Tab "Move timestamp"

Option "Move timestamp"

If this option is checked, the options "Set timestamp" and "Set timestamp as in target folder" are inactive.

  • Selection field "Modified"
    • If "Modified" is selected, the "Modified"-timestamp is moved by the value defined below.
    • If "Created" is selected, the "Created"-timestamp is moved by the value defined below.
  • Selection field "+"
    • If "+" is selected, the period defined below is added to the selected current timestamp.
    • If "-" is selected, the period defined below is subtracted from the selected current timestamp.
  • Input fields "Years", "Months", "Days", "Hours", "Minutes", "Seconds"
    With these input fields the period can be defined by which the selected current timestamp should be moved.

Tab "Set timestamp as in target folder"

Option "Set timestamp as in target folder"

If this option is checked, the options "Set timestamp" and "Move timestamp" are inactive.

  • Option "Created"
    If this option is checked, the "Created" timestamp of an item of the "from" folder is set to the value of the created timestamp of the item of the same name in the target folder.
  • Option "Created from Modified"
    If this option is checked, the "Created" timestamp of an item of the "from" folder is set to the value of the modified timestamp of the item of the same name in the target folder.
  • Option "Modified"

If this option is checked, the "Modified" timestamp of an item of the "from" folder is set to the value of the modified timestamp of the item of the same name in the target folder.

  • Option "Modified from Created"

If this option is checked, the "Modified" timestamp of an item of the "from" folder is set to the value of the created timestamp of the item of the same name in the target folder.

  • Target folder
    In this input field the folder can be entered, whose items of the same name should provide the timestamps for the items in the tab "Files".
    The input field initially holds the inactive folder. An other folder can be entered manually.

After activating the button or the F4 key, the "Browse for folder" dialog is shown. Selecting a folder and activating "OK" overwrites the input field folder with the selected folder.

Tab "Save/load timestamps"

This dialog makes it possible to save file names and their timestamps in a file, change the timestamps in this file, save this file and set the timestamps of the original files as changed in this file list.

  • Save all timestamps in the file
    If this option is checked, all file names and their timestamps are saved in a file.
  • Set the timestamp as saved in the file
    If this option is checked, the timestamps of the original files are changed from this file list.
  • Type of timestamp

The type of timestamp that is saved in the file or changed from this file:- "modified", "created", "created and modified".

  • File

The file where the list is saved, or from which the timestamps of the original files should be changed.

Tab "Set timestamp from picture EXIF"


This dialog makes it possible to read exif time informations from picture files, that contain exif data, and writes it as timestamp to the file. Files that contain no exif information are ignored.

  • "Created" from
    If this option is checked, the "Created" timestamp is replaced by the exif infomation, selected in the selection field. The following exif informations are offered:
      - Aufnahmedatum
      - Änderungsdatum
      - Digitalisierungsdatum
  • "Modified" from
    If this option is checked, the "Modified" timestamp is replaced by the exif infomation, selected in the selection field. The following exif informations are offered:
      - Date taken
      - Date modified
      - Date digitized

Tab "Random timestamps"

If the option "Random timestamps" is checked, all files and folders listed in the tab "Files" receive random timestamps, within the limits defined in the fields "Generate timestamps between". The following timestamps can be set:

  • Selection field "Modified"
    • If "Modified" is selected, the modified timestamp is set to a random value, within the limits defined in the fields "Generate timestamps between".
    • If "Created" is selected, the created timestamp is set to a random value, within the limits defined in the fields "Generate timestamps between".
  • Selection field "Generate timestamps between"

The timestamp limits for the generation of the random timestamps.

Tab "Set folder timestamp from most recent item"

The tab "Set folder timestamp from most recent item" is active only, if folders are selected exclusively (and no files).

If the option "Set folder's 'Modified timestamp' from the last item in the folder" is checked, it can be chosen:

  • Search for the recent file

With this option each folder is searched individually for the contained file with the youngest "Modified" timestamp and this timestamp is used for the folder's "Modified" timestamp.

  • Search for the recent item (file or folder)

With this option each folder is searched individually for the contained item (file or folder) with the youngest "Modified" timestamp and this timestamp is used for the folder's "Modified" timestamp.

Tab Files

The tab "Files" lists all items (files and/or folders) for which the attributes and/or timestamps should be changed.



Initially only the columns "Name" and "Path" are filled. The columns "Attribute", "Created" and "Modified" are filled only after activating the button .

Button

Activating the button reloads all files. This may be useful if they can be processed from various workspaces.

Preview changes

The button is active only, if at least one operation is checked in the tab "Operation".

After activating the button " the following additional columns are shown with the desired changes:

  • Attribute
  • Created
  • Modified

Quick filter bar


The quick filter provides the possibility to decrease the number of files whose attributes and/or timestamps should be changed.

  • Input field
    The input field "Quick filter" allows to define a filter. (Example: ".bmp; .png; a*.htm")
    As soon as the focus is on this field and the first character is typed, the quick filter is activated and the button behind the input field is switched from to .
  • Button

After activating the button a selection list is shown, with the last inputs (filters) in this field. Clicking the button activates the highlighted filter.

  • Button
    Clicking activates the quick filter, changes the button to and refreshes the contents of the information bar  ...files ...folders.
    Clicking deactivates it and switches the button back to .

Tab Settings

Under the tab "Settings" further settings for the "Attributes/Timestamp" process can be defined.



Auto close for successful operation

If this option is checked, the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog is closed automatically, as soon as all changes are successfully completed.

Auto close for canceled operation

If this option is checked, the "Pack files" dialog is closed automatically, after one pack process was canceled.

Activate "Set timestamp" with current timestamp on open mask

If this option is checked, on opening the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog the actual timestamp is inserted in the row "Modified" of the operation "Set timestamp".

Information bar:  ...files ...folders

In the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog the information bar (lowest window line) "Waiting for starting operation on: ...files ...folders" shows the information how many files and folders are to be changed. On opening the dialog the bar is invisible. Whenever the tab "Files" or the button "Run" are activated, the files and folders to be changed are loaded and their number is calculated and shown. The number of files and folders shown in the information bar can be different from the number shown under "Selected item(s)". The differences may result from:

  • The input field "Include only files of this type" contains a filter
  • Under "Selected item(s)" all selected files and folders are counted.
    In the information bar all subfolders and all files in selected folders and their subfolders are counted additionally.

Button Queue

Pressing the button adds the change operation to the operations queue and starts the processing of the operations queue.

Activating the button in the operation queue bar opens the operations queue dialog.

File operations via the operations queue are described in the chapter Operations queue.

Button Run

After activating the button the change process for all items to be changed is started directly. The "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog shows the following modifications:



Pause

Clicking this option checks it and suspends the change process. Clicking it again unchecks the option and continues the change process.

Cancel

After activating the button (during the change process) the request "Do you really want to cancel the operation?" is shown. After confirming the request, the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog is closed (without further change processes). Already completed changes remain.

Changing progress

The changing progress is visualized as follows:

  • The message "x% copied" is shown in the title bar.
  • A progress bar is shown below the item list.

Change status of the items

In the item list each item is preceded by an icon that shows the change status of the item:

  •                Item not yet changed
  •        Item changed successfully
  •        An error has occurred during the changing process of this item.
                   The item was not changed.
                   An error message is shown in the column "Error message" in the row of the item.

The message bar shows the actually changed item.


The items are changed in the order in which they are listed in the tab "Files".

Button Cancel

Activating the button "Cancel", cancels the changing process and closes the "Attributes/Timestamp" dialog.