How can I set the last modified time of a file from python?

Question

I have a python script that downloads a file over FTP using ftplib.

My current download code looks just like the example in the ftp lib docs:

ftp.retrbinary('RETR README', open('README', 'wb').write)

Now I have a requirement that the file downloaded over FTP needs to have the same last modified time as the file on the FTP server itself. Assuming I could parse out the time from ftp.retrlines('list'), how can I set the modified time on the downloaded file?

I’m on a unix based OS if that matters.

Asked By: jdeuce

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Source

Answer 1

There are 2 ways to do this. One is the os.utime example which
is required if you are setting the timestamp on a file that has no
reference stats.

However, if you are copying the files with shutil.copy() you have a
reference file. Then if you want the permission bits, last access time,
last modification time, and flags also copied, you can use
shutil.copystat() immediately after the shutil.copy().

And then there is shutil.copy2 which is intended to do both at once…

Answered By: The Veritable Bugeater

Answer 2

Use os.utime:

import os

os.utime(path_to_file, (access_time, modification_time))

More elaborate example: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/os_utime.htm

Answered By: Charlie

Answer 3

To edit a file last modified field, use:

os.utime(<file path>, (<access date epoch>, <modification date epoch>))

Example:

os.utime(r'C:myfilepath.pdf', (1602179630, 1602179630))

– Epoch is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970. see more

If you are looking for a datetime version:

import datetime
import os

def set_file_last_modified(file_path, dt):
    dt_epoch = dt.timestamp()
    os.utime(file_path, (dt_epoch, dt_epoch))

# ...

now = datetime.datetime.now()
set_file_last_modified(r'C:myfilepath.pdf', now)

– For Python versions < 3.3 use dt_epoch = time.mktime(dt.timetuple())

Answered By: Jossef Harush Kadouri

How can I set the last modified time of a file from python?

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