Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
DataFlex

Set a Remote File's Last-Access Time

See more SFTP Examples

Demonstrates the Chilkat SFtp.SetLastAccessTimeStr method, which sets a remote file's last-access 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.

Background: Setting the access time explicitly is mainly for faithful restores and mirrors, where you want the copy's metadata to match the original exactly. Note that many servers update the access time on their own whenever a file is read (unless mounted noatime), so a value you set can be overwritten by ordinary access — making this the least durable of the timestamps to control.

Chilkat DataFlex Downloads

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.SetLastAccessTimeStr method, which sets a remote file's last-access 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 ComSetLastAccessTimeStr 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 "Last-access time set."

    Send ComDisconnect To hoSftp


End_Procedure