Delphi Basics : FileSetDate command

DelphiBasics

FileSetDate
Function

Set the last modified date and time of a file

SysUtils unit

1	function FileSetDate(FileHandle Integer; FileAge Integer):Integer;
2	function FileSetDate (const FileName string; FileAge Integer:Integer;

Description

The SetFileDate function sets the last modified date and time of a file.

Version 1 of this function takes a FileHandle parameter to indicate the file. This requires use of the FileOpen function, which is one of the low level file handling routines in Delphi.

Version 2 of this function takes a FileName parameter to define the file.

The file is searched for in the current directory.

The second parameter, FileAge is an Integer date/time representation that is used to change the last modified date/time of the file.

Use the DateTimeToFileDate function to convert a TDateTime value to this integer format.

Related commands

DateTimeToFileDate		Convert a TDateTime value to a File date/time format
FileAge		Get the last modified date/time of a file without opening it
FileDateToDateTime		Converts a file date/time format to a TDateTime value
FileGetAttr		Gets the attributes of a file
FileSetAttr		Sets the attributes of a file

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Example code : Display, update, and redisplay the last modified date of a file

var
  fileName    : string;
  fileDate    : Integer;
  newDateTime : TDateTime;

begin
  // Try to open the Unit1.DCU file for the current project
  fileName := 'Unit1.DCU';
  fileDate := FileAge(fileName);

  // Did we get the file age OK?
  if fileDate > -1 then
  begin
    ShowMessage(fileName+' last modified date = '+
                DateTimeToStr(FileDateToDateTime(fileDate)));

    // Now change the last modified date
    newDateTime := StrToDateTime('01/01/2000 12:34:56');
    FileSetDate(fileName, DateTimeToFileDate(newDateTime));
  end;

  // Did we update the file last modified date OK?
  fileDate := FileAge(fileName);
  if fileDate > -1 then
    ShowMessage(fileName+' last modified date = '+
                DateTimeToStr(FileDateToDateTime(fileDate)));
end;

Show full unit code

  Unit1.DCU last modified date = 30/10/2002 15:16:22
  Unit1.DCU last modified date = 01/01/2000 12:34:56