Scalabium Software
Knowledge for your independence'.
Home Delphi and C++Builder tips

#122: How can I change a creation date/time for some file on disk?

Today I want to show how you can change a datetime of file creation from own application:

function SetDateToFile(const FileName: string; Value: TDateTime): Boolean;
var
  hFile: THandle;
begin
  Result := False;
  try
    {open a file handle}
    hFile := FileOpen(FileName, fmOpenWrite or fmShareDenyNone);

    {if opened succesfully}
    if (hFile > 0) then
      {convert a datetime into DOS format and set a date}
      Result := (FileSetDate(hFile, DateTimeToFileDate(Value)) = 0)
  finally
    {close an opened file handle}
    FileClose(hFile);
  end;
end;

To use:
SetDateToFile('C:\My Documents\application.cfg', Now());

This code can be useful in case of application protection - you can store in creation date of some your file a same important value. For example, version of application or date of first start for your trial.

Published: August 13, 2001

See also

	ABA Document Convert
	Database Information Manager
	Paradox ActiveX
	Word Web-stream
	DBISAM Viewer
	SMMsg suite
	Metafile Convert
	Paradox to MS Access converter
	Paradox to Text converter
	Viewer for TNEF-files (winmail.dat)

Contact to webmaster