file creation date

dvir

Hi,

I'm trying to get the creation date of a posted file.
(The file was posted thru a form).

All php functions (filemtime, fileatime etc.) on the file name are returning present time.

Anyone knows the reason ?

Here's some code:

the form:

.
<FORM ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data" METHOD="POST" ACTION="upload.php">
<TABLE>
<TR><TD>File</TD><TD>
<INPUT TYPE="FILE" NAME="File"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Submit"></FORM>
.

and upload.php:

.
.
$ftime = filemtime($File);
$fsize = filesize("$File");
$fd = fopen( $File, "r");
.
.
.

Thanks.

yelvington

If this is a freshly uploaded file, it's going to have a fresh timestamp. The HTTP upload method does not pass along legacy metadata such as timestamps.

rosscarlson

Yeah, but let's say you need the CREATION time/date of a file? How would you get it?

filemtime shows the modified time
filectime shows the changed time
fileatime shows the access time

But there is now creation time. There's got to be a way to get that?

Thanks,

Ross

yelvington

PHP documentation says:

"Note also that in some Unix texts the ctime of a file is referred to as being the creation time of the file. This is wrong. There is no creation time for Unix files in most Unix filesystems."

rosscarlson

Yeah, I realize that, so is there no way to read it IF it's there? I really need to do this somehow or someway.

Plus Windows would support that (wow something Windows does better - let the flaming begin!)

???

Ross

icaro

i think php dont do this... since it is done for linukz sys first... winblows versions is a consequence.

consider to use asp (not kidding!), if you NEED this information, take a look if it is possible..
and dont ask me how, i do not know asp.. 🙂

dvir

But only for an image file - you can read the exif information and get the creation date from there.

rosscarlson

Yeah, but I need to do this for directories and other files.

So, no way to do it, huh???

Ross

Weedpacket

Originally posted by rosscarlson
Yeah, I realize that, so is there no way to read it IF it's there? I really need to do this somehow or someway.

Plus Windows would support that (wow something Windows does better - let the flaming begin!)

???

Ross

Windows ctime is probably the same thing as Unix ctime.

The file you've got on your server is a different file from the one on the user's machine. It's a copy. It contains the same information, but it's on a different drive on a different computer in a different place.

Basically, I don't think the information you're looking for is going to exist for most file types. That's why some file formats have provision to store "Creation Date" data.

rosscarlson

No, you're missing me. I posted here just to continue the discussion, but my issue is a little different.

I want to read the file creation time of the file that is ON the server (not remote). And yes, on Windows ctime does return change time. I just need something to return creation time.

So I need to be able to read the CREATION time of files and folders on the server, not remotely or anything funky like that. I only point out Windows because it does track creation time...

Thanks for the help though...

Ross