file creation time

[so_2]

Hi All

Is there any command to know when do a file is actually created (not modified)?

Thanks and regds


S.O

[Muthukumar_5]

We may not find file creation time in *NIX platforms.

See this:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=203044
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=832810

--
Muthu

[Arunvijai_4]

Hi SO,

It is not possible to find out the creation time as UNIX doesn't provide anyways to do that.

-Arun

[James George_1]

Hi

Not sure .. but looking # man ll is worth.

See the option -c !!!

Rgds / James

[Pete Randall]

James,

The -c option just sorts on time of last modification.


Pete

[A. Clay Stephenson]

UNIX does not carry that metadata. The only way to do this is to somehow include this data in the file itself. The most straightforward way is to include a datestamp in the filename itself. If you choose to do so then you should encode UTC times rather than local times because you don't want TZ settings to add to the confusion. Another approach is to simply include the epoch seconds in the filename.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

You have three timestamps held in file's inode.

The 'mtime' is the modification time. This only equals a creation time when the file is created. Thereafter, writes to the file change this value.

The 'atime' is the last access timestamp -- when a file was read or executed.

The 'ctime' is the last *change* of the inode. Changing a file's permissions, its ownership, its name, or modifying the 'mtime' and/or 'atime' with 'touch' alter the 'ctime'.

Using 'ls -l' reports the 'mtime.

Using 'ls -ul' reports the "use" time or 'atime'.

Using 'ls -cl' reports the "change" time or 'ctime'.

Regards!

...JRF...

[so_2]

Hi All

Really helping replies from all. Clossing the thread and points have been assigned to everyone.

thanks and regds
S.O