Help -- files suddenly losing "Date Modified"

I have an external USB drive that I use for backing up important files. I use File Synchronizer to sync folders on my internal drive(s) with their counterparts on this external drive. Today when attempting to sync my Photos folder, I was shocked to see that FS flagged all my photos as needing to be copied to the external drive. It turns out that the reason is that all the files on my external drive suddenly show up as having no Date Modified, which FS interprets as 12/31/1969 !!!
Does anyone know what may have caused this and how to fix it?

Robert Stover wrote:
When you say <source> is that just the name of the hardrive I'm pulling from "New 250" or is the down to the file level... <New 250>users>documents>tcpa-report.doc>
Terminal requires complete file paths in the UNIX style, using slashes between parts of the path. The root of all paths for files on mounted volumes is "Volumes" but if that is omitted the path defaults to the startup volume. Spaces separate command parts, so you must also "escape" spaces that appear in path names or they will be interpreted as command part separators. To escape a character, either precede it with a backslash ("") or enclose the entire part of the path in quotes.
So, assuming "New 250" is not the startup (boot) volume, the UNIX style path to "tcpa-report" would be:
/Volumes/New 250/Users/Documents/tcpa-report.doc
If "New 250" is the boot drive, you could also use:
/Users/Documents/tcpa-report.doc
Fortunately, you don't have to remember any of this if you use the drag & drop capabilities of Terminal. Type the command up to the place where you need to enter a path (including typing the space just before it). Then drag the item whose path you need from the Finder into the Terminal window & drop it there. The path will automatically be formatted, including any escaping needed.
If you need to follow one path with another, just type the single space that must separate them & drag the other file path into the window. Obviously, if the second path doesn't exist yet, you can't do this but you can drag the enclosing item into the window & type the final part of the path yourself. You can also use copy & paste within Terminal: copy by dragging across text with the pointer to highlight it, copy, then paste at the cursor.

Similar Messages

In my opinion, the real solution is for Apple to offer us a choice of the photo sort order in ITunes. My preference would be filename, perhaps with options to choose the Date Taken attribute, file timestamp or date modified filestamp (EXIF date fields as

I tryed to sort my pictures with buying Apps and following suggestion from apple, but without any success. In my opinion, the real solution is for Apple to offer us a choice of the photo sort order in ITunes. My preference would be filename, perhaps with options to choose the Date Taken attribute, file timestamp or date modified filestamp.

Not a problem when using iPhoto on a Mac, which the transfer of photos is primarily based on - not manually managing photo storage as seems to be common with Windoze.
The same should be available with a supported photo management app on a PC.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4221

Help...Move files without changing "date modified"?

I need to move files over from my old dead g4's hard drive to my intel mac book pro - but without altering the "date modified" in my documents and folders. I've pulled them over once, but all the files get tagged with the modification date I pull them onto the new hard drive.
Are there any utilities or software or tricks to do this?
Any help or direction will be appreciated.

Robert Stover wrote:
When you say <source> is that just the name of the hardrive I'm pulling from "New 250" or is the down to the file level... <New 250>users>documents>tcpa-report.doc>
Terminal requires complete file paths in the UNIX style, using slashes between parts of the path. The root of all paths for files on mounted volumes is "Volumes" but if that is omitted the path defaults to the startup volume. Spaces separate command parts, so you must also "escape" spaces that appear in path names or they will be interpreted as command part separators. To escape a character, either precede it with a backslash ("") or enclose the entire part of the path in quotes.
So, assuming "New 250" is not the startup (boot) volume, the UNIX style path to "tcpa-report" would be:
/Volumes/New 250/Users/Documents/tcpa-report.doc
If "New 250" is the boot drive, you could also use:
/Users/Documents/tcpa-report.doc
Fortunately, you don't have to remember any of this if you use the drag & drop capabilities of Terminal. Type the command up to the place where you need to enter a path (including typing the space just before it). Then drag the item whose path you need from the Finder into the Terminal window & drop it there. The path will automatically be formatted, including any escaping needed.
If you need to follow one path with another, just type the single space that must separate them & drag the other file path into the window. Obviously, if the second path doesn't exist yet, you can't do this but you can drag the enclosing item into the window & type the final part of the path yourself. You can also use copy & paste within Terminal: copy by dragging across text with the pointer to highlight it, copy, then paste at the cursor.

Keeping offline help files up-to-date

Months ago, I've downloaded the help files for all the CC applications to my Shared/Documents/Adobe/PDF/pdf/ folder for offline help when hitting F1 from within the application. And that's fine, it works.
But now I wonder, how do I keep them easily up-to-date.
I know I can go to that page again and download them manually over and over again... but that's a hassle.
Then I tried to remove the offline files to restore the online link, but that doesn't work.
How do you get online help back under the F1 button?
Or is there a solution to to refresh the offline files with a single click?
Any ideas?

Jeff, it's NOT a specific product inquiry!
I have 15 offline help pdf files, for 15 products (AE, AU, BR, DW, FL, AI, IC, ID, PS, PL, PR, ...). It is an installation question. I can't go post this question in each of the 15 products, right?
I know you want to help, but this is discussion about being a the right forum is not helping me... sorry.
So back to the real problem:
I know that my link shows the pdf's for the OFFLINE help.
I want the ONLINE link back, as it is with a default installation.
I know that this is possible because here at work I have them offline, while at home I use the online help.
EDIT:
When I create a new user in OS X, that user has the online help system. So there must be a preference setting in my local user folder that regulates that. I could try to delete all my preferences files, but that is a bit drastic and time consuming to reset everything to my likes.

Detection Method of Date Modified fails due to copied files date modified change

I've been working through an issue for some time now and I think it's a bug with SCCM 2012 SP1. I've built literally 50 deployments in "Application Management" in SCCM 2012, but I've been chasing my tail on a few of them throwing the
"succeeded but couldn't detect" error. The few that have given me problems are all copying text files and then detect the modified date to verify that the file is there. All worked when I initially built them in Windows 8 but are now failing
randomly...even on a machine where they previously worked and I deleted the files to test the deployment again.
What I'm doing:
My java deployment requires policies which we control with the Deployment.config, deployment.properties and java.policy files. A simple script creates the directories and copies the files. I then create a deployment type for this "ConfigFileCopy.cmd"
and create a detection rule for each file that I am moving over. The detection rule looks for a "date modified" date between the beginning and end of the date for the day I modified the file. This allows me to modify the files to change our
java policies and then redeploy them with the "new" modified date as the detection rule, which forces the update.
The problem:
When I first created my deployment, everything worked pretty well. The files copy out and the script runs successfully. There were some minor tweaks I need to make to my scripts, so I did and then updated the content for the deployment type. I believe this
is where things go a little wonky. At this point, my deployment starts failing with the "0x87D00324" error.
Looking through the logs, everything looks good. The reason configuration manager is failing on detecting the modified date for those files, as it turns out, is because the modified dates don't meet the criteria. So that part is properly failing the detection.
The problem is that the modified dates are correct on the server but not the client. Looking in c:\windows\ccmcache, I can see multiple folders....presumably one for each version of the application that I updated. Looking at any of the newer content folders
for this app, the modified dates are the date and time the file was copied out to the workstation, which is incorrect as the file hasn't been modified during that process.
The odd part, is that this doesn't happen EVERY time on EVERY machine. My primary desktop is windows 8.1 and received the files correctly and installed without issue. My test win 8.1 laptop initially received them correctly, but then as I refined the scripts
it began picking up the wrong modified dates and started failing.
I found a similar issue to this existed in SCCM 2007 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2276865) so I suspect that this is truly just a bug that hasn't been addressed (or maybe is fixed in R2). Unfortunately
we have business reasons we can't upgrade to R2 at this time so I'm hoping someone has experienced this and has some sort of work around that might get me by for now. If someone can confirm it is fixed in R2, that would help my case to upgrade as well.
I can work around the issue by changing my logic to detect any date greater than a specific date. But I shouldn't have to do that and I'm concerned there are scenarios I haven't thought of that will cause unexpected behavior or failures with that.

This outlines the behavior. It's apparently by design.
"SCCM has a habit of changing the ‘Date Modified’ timestamp of all files it delivers when it detects an ‘upgrade’ of the source files for that application. It typically does not touch the timestamp
of the source files if it delivers a brand new install to a client that has never received the software, however if a single file in the source folder is changed for that application, then SCCM tries to use a previous version of the application in the cache
(C:\windows\ccmcache) and only downloads the new file that has change. This results in all files having their ‘Data Modified’ timestamp changing (except for the brand new file). Therefore determining if that application has delivered
successfully using ‘Date Modified’ timestamps is not recommended. The key to seeing this process in action is looking at the file properties in the
C:\windows\ccmcache\<sccm code> folder for that application, particularly before and after a file is updated in the original source SCCM application folder."
http://blog.kloud.com.au/tag/sccm/

How to set "Date Modified" as default tab in Open File window

Photoshop CS5.1
When I click on Open File, the window that comes up has several default columns (FileName, Date, Size, etc).
I can right-click on the tab bar and add "Date Modified" to the tabs, but I would like to have "Date Modified" be a default column whenever I open the file selector (and no matter which folder I open up).
I cannot find a way to do this. I want to know the last date I modified a file, not when it was created.
Is there a way to universally set this column as a default?

Date modified always shows for me in Details view.
I believe what columns are showing has to do with what columns you've set in Windows Explorer...
Here's an excerpt paraphrased from my Configure the Windows 7 "To Work" Options book that may cover what you need:
Open Windows Explorer...
Navigate to a folder of the type you want to see (e.g., one containing your Photoshop images) and set Details view.
Make the window look the way you'd like future Explorer windows to look. Reorganize Details view columns, e.g., to Name, Size, Type, Date Created, Date Modified, Attributes, etc. and size them so they fit.
Choose Tools - Folder options, then click the View tab.
Click [ Apply to Folders ] to apply the above settings to all folders.
[ OK ] to exit.
Hope this helps.
If the Date modified still doesn't stick for you, there are some other things I've done (and documented) to tweak the configuration of my systems that may help make my seeing the columns being set as shown in the attached image when I choose File - Open in Photoshop.
-Noel

InDesign will not open files in Date Modified order

I have never had this problem before, but suddenly InDesign will not import/open my files (photos) in Date Modified order. No matter how I select the files or order/arrange the files in the File\Place window, they open in name order. I have 200 separate folders with six photos each. These are to be placed in the InDesign document in date modified order. Someone suggested batch renaming the files using Adobe Bridge, however the files are in 200 individual folders for a reason and I don't want to open each folder and batch rename 6 at a time. I have reset my InDesign preferences with no luck. I am using Version CS5.5 of InDesign, Mac OS X 10.7.5. Any suggestions?

@Emily,
It usually only confuses a discussion to open a new thread on the same subject.
I'm directing you back to the original discussion you opened earlier today instead of starting another one:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1292390?tstart=0
I'm also locking this discussion.

"Date Modified" changes in iTunes 11

Hi. I'm running iTunes 11 on a Windows 7 machine. I've noticed that after I close iTunes and reopen it, some of my music files get their "Date Modified" changed as soon as I play the track. This wouldn't be a problem if it happens once, but for some tracks (especially tracks I've purchased) it happens several times. One track changed three times in three days--so it's like whatever settings I created on the track don't hold (sometimes I modify the title, the artist's name or the year--and they end up reverting back to the way they were before, then I play the track and the settings change to the way I modified it). It's almost like something else is modifying the files without my knowledge.
Weird, I know. Can anyone advise how I can keep the settings? Thanks!
Doug

turingtest2 wrote:
...but I worry about the implications when people are discussing troublemakers in the Lounge or Using ASC.
I wouldn't know, despite contributing to this forum for six years, and since five points have mysteriously disappeared from my profile this morning, I'm actually getting further away from being classed as a valued contributor. (That tells me something a lot!) Actually, I think that if such a link was added to a thread, anyone clicking on it would presumably see "you are not authorised to see this post" message. Funnily enough, I see it all the time in "branched to a new discussion" links.
Clearing the browser cache appears to have solved my "add images" issue. Thanks for that. Have you noticed that the facility to edit a post (for up to fifteen minutes after posting) has disappeared? Still, at least spell check is back.
Phil

How do I change or remove default apps for a given file extension (in Terminal?) without munging date modified on all my old files?

When a program is installed, it seems to be able to do it (sometimes inappropriately if it hijacks file associations without asking) so why can't I? This is for 10.4.
Specifically:
1. Since installing an HP wireless printer, HP not only tries to install a bunch of sales-ware on your machine that you have to carefully opt out of (annoying, but not a problem if forewarned), it changes the default file association for a number of basic file types, listing all sort of existing files as HP printer files. Using Get Info to change the default file type association globally causes it to mark ALL the files of that type as newly updated, munging the file metdata (which HP did NOT do). Most of the stuff on our computer is sorted by last modified, so if there is a way to fix this in Terminal (to simply fix or remove the HP default tag) without changing the date the file was modified, it would help. Note that uninstalling the program that created the default would do this, but I obviously can't do that (and reinstalling HP would have the same effect). So there has to be another way, right?
2. Since updating iTunes to v.9 a while back, every mp3 is marked as an iTunes file even though iTunes has NO multiple library capability without a wonky reboot using the option key, meaning that if I click on an mp3 downloaded since last update of iTunes, it opens automatically in iTunes and gets added to the SOLE itunes library without asking. (There is no way to toggle between multiple libraries or archive media in separate folders; iPhoto has a similar problem. (Has this been fixed in the latest version of iTunes?) In comparison, Quicktime starts up immediately and does not attempt to create a playlist just because you opened a file and listened to it.
(The iTunes playlists are simply subfolders of the single main library -- and you can't create a new library without doing a wonky procedure by clicking option during startup and telling iTunes to forget where its library is located (includin everything in it) and look up an entirely separate one by hand. So any mp3 file downloaded recently is uploaded to iTunes if you click on it. This wouldn't be problem if it didn't automatically add it to the sole iTunes library just because you clicked on it.)
Besides, all my old mp3s are Quicktime files and they are all archived by date modified. To its credit, ITunes, unlike HP, does NOT hijack older files already on disk and remark them as iTunes files. It only marks newly downloaded files as such. But if I try and change file association for FUTURE mp3 files using Get Info > "use this program for all files of this type", it munges the file metadata (date modified) for all existing files!
Note that in HP case, it apparently does it at the file exchange preference level (or whatever it's called) since the OS then recognizes every file of those types as an HP file. In the iTunes case, it only does it if you download a new media file or open an existing file in iTunes, but again without changing the date it was last edited.
Since these programs are able to change the default file association without changing the date the file was last edited, it should be reversible in Terminal, correct? Why does it change "date modified" when you try and correct metadata using Get Info (or sometimes just by clicking an enclosing folder?) Date modified should be a record of when a file itself was edited, not when it was renamed, or other metadata. Otherwise stuff can't be sorted correctly.

The unix commands you need are:
GetFileInfo
SetFileInfo
and maybe find
for cryptic details use the man command
Macintosh-HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
man SetFileInfo
You may use the SetFileInfo command to set the file type & the program which will open the file.
# This little gem will do a get info on all files in a directory.
mac $ ls | xargs -I {} GetFileInfo "{}"
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/oddadocodd"
type: ""
creator: ""
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 14:53:22
modified: 05/01/2011 14:53:22
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/one.docx"
type: ""
creator: ""
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 13:57:48
modified: 05/01/2011 13:57:48
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/oneLineFile"
type: "TEXT"
creator: "!Rch"
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/07/2011 14:27:17
modified: 05/07/2011 14:27:17
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/oneLineFile.txt"
type: "TEXT"
creator: "!Rch"
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/07/2011 14:27:49
modified: 05/07/2011 14:27:49
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/three.docx"
type: ""
creator: ""
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 13:58:03
modified: 05/01/2011 13:58:03
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/two.docx"
type: ""
creator: ""
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 13:57:56
modified: 05/01/2011 13:57:56
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/weirder.doc.docx"
type: ""
creator: ""
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 14:50:03
modified: 05/01/2011 14:50:03
# well, ! is a funnie character so we escape it.
mac $ SetFile -t TEXT -c \!Rch two.docx
mac $ GetFileInfo two.docx
file: "/Users/mac/playdoc/two.docx"
type: "TEXT"
creator: "!Rch"
attributes: avbstclinmedz
created: 05/01/2011 13:57:56
modified: 05/01/2011 13:57:56
mac $
mac $ date
Sat May 7 14:40:56 EDT 2011
mac $

PDF or Excel file saved to Network folder Intermittently has "Date Modified" changed to an older date

Client saves files locally to her Win 7 64-bit laptop and they are fine when it comes to the date modifed stamp. On occasion a few of these files each day, when saved to the home directory on the server, get the Date Modified stamp changed. Time is never
the same and can be set for las tweek or - literally - 1990, 2004, 2010, etc. I have seen tech articles talking about the different options for saving the file date based on an embedded image or attachment of some type, but that has been ruled out. And this
is not the local saved file time being modified within the first minute or two of a locally copied file.
Any ideas how a file saved to a network share can randomly and intermittently have the date modified to a much older date? Have scanned for malware as well.... Thanks!

Hi
Make sure the server or nas where it's saved is sync'ed with it,s time source, and be sure it's update for the OS's patch.
Regards, Philippe
Don't forget to mark as answer or vote as helpful to help identify good information. ( linkedin endorsement never hurt too :o) )
Answer an interesting question ? Create a
wiki article about it!

Copying files to my MBA Early 2011, 10.6.7 changes their 'date modified' to the current date. It happens only to some of the files copied. Any idea what my be causing it. Never had this problem before, on othe macs I have owned.

Copying files to my new MBA (early 2011) running 10.6.7 results in their 'modification date' to change to the current date. Any idea what may be causing it. It happens only to some of the files (there is no pattern to it.). I have not seen it previously in many other macs I have owned.

Hi all
I am bumping this thread again because I can't believe that I am the only one experiencing this issue. At times it is costing me hours repeatedly copying files until eventually the date doesn't show as modified.
I thought I had cracked it earlier by changing the Sharing & Permissions settings, and applying to enclosed items the ability for Everyone, Me and Staff fo have Read & Write permissions - but that doesn't seemed to have changed much.
Copying in smaller batches helps sometimes, but then other times it makes no odds, and the Date Modified date shows as the original date for a few seconds, only to change to today's date. Driving me nuts because there is no pattern to it.
Files which I have copied and show their original modified date, when moved to a subfolder, then have their date changed to today!!! Copying other files into the folder results in files that were previously OK having their Date Modified changed!
Am I on the only one?

Originals and Modified files suddenly changed to alias

I've just been doing business as usual. Last thing I did was import several photos last week. Today, I open up the library and find that the original files have all been magically changed to alias. I could work with them up to a point, could even open them in an external editor. But as I worked, I lost even that. I find that this corruption has moved back several events - but not through the whole library. I need to know why this is happening, and if there is some way to re-designate these as original files. The data is there - or was five minutes ago. My back-up, so responsibly done last week, is corrupted too, now. I can see the thumbnails, and as I said, could actually work with the data. For a while. This is really stupid. Why would the files suddenly be alias files? iPHoto 8 7.5.1

Ah. This explains everything. I cleaned out the downloads folders last week - gone, gone - so the alias points nowhere. And the pref you sent me to? The box was unchecked. Why, I couldn't tell you - I'm the only one who uses this machine, and I certainly didn't do it. But that's happened once in a while, a program suddenly deciding to revert to or change a pref without human help. Or I'm stupid, and did it in my sleep. But that should take care of it. I am sighing. Even if I could get my time machine to boot, it wouldn't help.
Such a simple answer. I want to compliment you, but don't know what to say. You know your business. And now I feel deeply foolish. I'll try importing again and see if it doesn't work now. Which it should. Will you accept a quick kiss on the cheek from an old lady?

Just opening InDesign file changes "Date Modified" date?

Hi,
Running InDesign CC w/ Mac 10.9.5 and if the file has say yesterdays date listed as the "Date Modified" in the file listing.
If I just want to open the file just to take a quick look at the file without making any changes the "Date Modified" automatically changes to the exact time/date as opening the file.
Why? I need the "Date Modified" to stay correct.

I've tried this experiment with InDesign 10 (CC2014) on my MacOS 10.9.5 system and do not see any changes to the OS modification date for the file. Same is true under Windows. And I tried doing some suspicious operations to the document such as printing and PDF export. Closed the document and checked the File Information. The Modification Date did not change. And it normally would not change unless you explicitly save the file. Anything else you are doing while reviewing the document? Again, we would like to help, but can't repeat your symptoms.
BTW, an experiment to try is to “lock” the file using the MacOS Get Info dialog and then repeat your experiment. When opening the document in InDesign, you will see the window labeled as “read-only.” What happens when you subsequently close the document and look at the file modification date?
And of course, I assume you are not confusing the file modification date with the “last opened” timestamp!
- Dov

Finding Files by Date Modified

I need to be able to find all files in my Documents folder modified within the last weeek. (I need to be able to do this to back it up in Backup, which does not allow users to choose files by date modified.)
How is this done with Automator?
Much thanks!

Thank you so much for your help. It lead me to a solution!
I tried Smart Folders before, but Backup does not recognize them .
I am doing a weekly full disk image copy with Carbon Copy Cloner because I can't afford to be without all my stuff! I have an older used Mac on reserve in the event my hard drive (...) should crash. Should I my powerbook ever be out of service or need repair, I have a full backup of my entire disk image ready to go!
However, during the week I need to backup documents that I have been working on inbetween my weekly image copy. Unfortunately, Backup won't let me find and copy these files. Your solution with Automator (and the shell script) work great.
Thanks again!
Best regards,
Kurt Grossman

Viewing via 'date modified' & opening a folder updates its date... help!!

Hi,
So I am trying to be organized, and am sorting through some old files, all arranged as a bunch of files and subfolders within project folders. I sort these project folders by date, with the oldest at the top of the window. I open the oldest folder (with the triangle, not in a new window) to see whats in there, do the same with any subfolder that may be there, close them again, and a few seconds later the main folder date updates to the current date and jumps to the bottom of the list. This is infuriating me!, I now have projects that haven't been opened since 2001, inside a folder showing 'date modified' as 5 minutes ago.
It appears that opening a subfolder will update the date of the folder it is in. This is ridiculous!! you try to be organised with your filing and that's the thanks you get! now when i view all these projects by date, I wouldnt have a clue how old they were unless I open the folder. stupid!
I have noticed this with 2 macs, can anyone help, this can't be normal procedure. note, I havent opened, let alone saved anything, just viewed the contents of folders.
help!!

Hi folks,
This issue has been driving me crazy, and I've been searching everywhere for a solution... today I am happy to report that I found one!
Limit Point Software has just released a great utility for dealing with this issue where folders have their "Date Modified" altered after you just opened the folder.
It is called "SyncFF" and you can download at:
http://www.limit-point.com/Utilities.html
Here is the product description:
SyncFF is a drop utility for setting the modification and creation date of folders to the latest modification date of their contained files. This way the modification date of the folder matches the modification date of the "oldest" file it contains. The process is recursive, which implies all subfolders are processed too. Universal Binary, Mac OS X 10.4 and above.
It works wonderfully, and it is so nice to have the proper modification dates on my folders and projects again.
I should also say that the developer is very helpful and responsive to feedback.
Zed

Help -- files suddenly losing "Date Modified"

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