Preserving Creation and Modified Timestamps when Moving Files and Directories using Robocopy
Robocopy is a powerful command-line tool in Windows that allows you to move files and directories from one location to another. One of the challenges when moving files and directories is preserving the creation and modified timestamps of the files and directories. This article will discuss how to use Robocopy to move files and directories while preserving their timestamps.
What are Creation and Modified Timestamps?
Creation timestamp is the date and time when a file or directory was created. Modified timestamp is the date and time when a file or directory was last modified. These timestamps are important metadata that provide information about the history of a file or directory.
Using Robocopy to Move Files and Directories
Robocopy has several parameters that allow you to preserve the timestamps of files and directories when moving them. The following is an example command that moves a directory named "source" to a directory named "destination" while preserving the timestamps:
robocopy source destination /DCOPY:T /COPYALL /B /MIR
Here's a breakdown of the parameters used in the command:
- /DCOPY:T: This parameter copies the directory timestamps (created and last written) to the destination directory.
- /COPYALL: This parameter copies all file information (timestamps, attributes, and security permissions).
- /B: This parameter copies files in backup mode, which allows you to copy files that are in use or locked by other processes.
- /MIR: This parameter creates a mirror of the source directory at the destination directory, which means that it copies all files and subdirectories, including empty ones.
Preserving Timestamps when Moving Subdirectories
To preserve the timestamps of subdirectories when moving them, you can use the following command:
robocopy source destination /DCOPY:DA /COPYALL /B /MIR
Here, the /DCOPY:DA parameter copies the directory timestamps (created and last written) and the archive attribute to the destination directory.
Robocopy is a powerful tool for moving files and directories while preserving their timestamps. By using the appropriate parameters, you can ensure that the creation and modified timestamps of your files and directories are preserved during the move. This is important for maintaining the integrity and history of your files and directories.