The Portable Freeware Collection Forums

FileTouch is a command-line utility that can be used to change the timestamps of multiple files at the same time. It offers support for the date and time of creation, last modification and access. Additionally, it can alter the timestamps of subfolders, process files within subfolders recursively, and use file masks.

Basic usage to change modification date of filename to current system date and time:
Download (16 KB)

FileTouch Homepage - SoftTree Technologies

Softpedia Page

So while TrueCrypt and other security tools have a variation on this feature, where it never changing the modified the date and time of secure volumes. That's the only usage I can think of for a program like this: to make an important file more obscure.

Does anyone else use programs like this? If so, for what?

webfork wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:14 pmDoes anyone else use programs like this? If so, for what?

- Reverting music files to their pre-tagged file timestamp (Mp3Tag supports preserving timestamps but sometimes external tools need to be used which don't).
- Changing timestamps for privacy reasons (obscure a timezone).
- Downloaded some file that replaces an existing one (eg: a higher quality image to replace a lower quality one) but have files sorted by Date Modified and want to preserve the original position.

Also, some touch utilities will create the file if it doesn't exist. Useful for creating empty files (for other tools to fill).

Specular wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:25 pm - Reverting music files to their pre-tagged file timestamp (Mp3Tag supports preserving timestamps but sometimes external tools need to be used which don't).
- Changing timestamps for privacy reasons (obscure a timezone).
- Downloaded some file that replaces an existing one (eg: a higher quality image to replace a lower quality one) but have files sorted by Date Modified and want to preserve the original position.

vevy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:07 am Also, some touch utilities will create the file if it doesn't exist. Useful for creating empty files (for other tools to fill).

Those all make sense -- thanks

Maintain revision integrity, by reverting a file back to it's original date after accidentally editing it (not actually true, but covers up tracks and makes it appear so).
Changing the dates of audio files appears to be a very common use since many audio programs, even some players, will change the date of files they import.