DataFlex

Set a Remote File's Creation Time

Demonstrates the Chilkat SFtp.SetCreateTimeStr method, which sets a remote file's creation date and time. The arguments are the remote path (or handle), whether the first argument is a handle, and an RFC 822 formatted date/time string such as Fri, 21 Nov 1997 09:55:06 -0600.

Background: Setting timestamps matters when preserving a file's original chronology — migrating an archive, restoring a backup, or mirroring a directory so the copies look identical to the source. Whether creation time can actually be set depends on the server and filesystem; many do not support a settable creation time even when they can set the modified and accessed times. The RFC 822 format includes a timezone offset, so the moment is unambiguous.

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DataFlex

Use ChilkatAx-win32.pkg

Procedure Test
    Boolean iSuccess
    Handle hoSftp
    Integer iPort
    String sPassword
    Boolean iBIsHandle
    String sDateTimeStr
    String sTemp1

    Move False To iSuccess

    //  Demonstrates the SFtp.SetCreateTimeStr method, which sets a remote file's creation date and
    //  time.  The 1st argument is the remote path (or handle), the 2nd (bIsHandle) indicates which,
    //  and the 3rd is an RFC 822 formatted date/time string.

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatSFtp)) To hoSftp
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoSftp))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoSftp
    End

    //  Connect, authenticate, and initialize the SFTP subsystem.
    Move 22 To iPort
    Get ComConnect Of hoSftp "sftp.example.com" iPort To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
    //  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    Move "mySshPassword" To sPassword

    Get ComAuthenticatePw Of hoSftp "mySshLogin" sPassword To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get ComInitializeSftp Of hoSftp To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  The 1st argument is a path, so bIsHandle is False.
    Move False To iBIsHandle
    Move "Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:15:30 -0600" To sDateTimeStr
    Get ComSetCreateTimeStr Of hoSftp "subdir/report.pdf" iBIsHandle sDateTimeStr To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Showln "Creation time set."

    Send ComDisconnect To hoSftp


End_Procedure