Update File Timestamps in Linux
How to Change the Last Modified Date of a File in Linux
Changing the last modified date of files in Linux can be vital for managing your files and keeping your system organized. This guide will walk you through various methods, primarily utilizing the `touch` command, along with additional tips and use cases.Understanding the Touch Command
The `touch` command is a standard feature in Linux that alters file timestamps. The primary functionality includes:- Creating empty files if they do not exist.
- Updating the last modified and access times of existing files.
Basic Syntax
To change the last modified date of a file, use the following command in your terminal:touch -t YYYYMMDDhhmm.ss filename
Where:
- YYYY: Year
- MM: Month
- DD: Day
- hh: Hour
- mm: Minute
- ss: Seconds (optional)
Example Usage
Suppose you want to set the last modified date of a file named `example.txt` to October 1, 2023, at 3:45 PM. You would run:touch -t 202310011545.00 example.txt
Changing the Timestamp to Current Time
If you simply want to update the file's last modified time to now, you can just run:touch example.txt
This updates the timestamp to the current date and time.
Using the Date Command
For more complex date manipulation, you can also use the `date` command in combination with `touch`. For example:touch -d "2023-10-01 15:45" example.txt
Common Use Cases
You might want to change the last modified date of files for various reasons, including:- Keeping logs organized by modification dates.
- Updating timestamps for bartering with version control systems.
- Correcting errors in file timing caused by system issues.
