Re: setting file creation time of a date

[mlelstv%serpens.de@localhost (Michael van Elst)]

riccardo.mottola%libero.it@localhost (Riccardo Mottola) writes:

>I can with lstat get it and on copy of a file, set it using by using 
>utime(3) or utimensat(3)

>But can I set the creation time? I'd like to be able to preserve it when 
>dealing with files.

This is explained in the utimes manpage. utimensat() will set the
birth time when the modification time predates the current birth time.

So you cannot set a future date. But e.g. creating a file, setting
modification time to birth time, then in a second call setting the
modification time to the real modification time, will do what you
want.

To set a later birth time you need to travel into the future
(e.g. by manipulating the system clock) and be careful to avoid
paradoxes when you dare to come back.

-- 
-- 
                                Michael van Elst
Internet: mlelstv%serpens.de@localhost
                                "A potential Snark may lurk in every tree."