Windows equivalent of the Linux command 'touch'?

Question

What do you use when you want to update the date-modified field of a file on Windows?

1. commands accessible via C++, .NET, C#, or something native to Windows (Vista preferably)
2. tools/applications preferably free, and if possible open source as well

Edit: there is already a page for applications as pointed out by CheapScotsman here.

If anyone knows how I can do this via C++, C#, WSH or something similar, well and good, else I would think everything else is covered in the linked question.

Answer 1

If you feel like coding it yourself, .NET offers the File.SetLastAccessTime, File.SetCreationTime and File.SetLastWriteTime methods.

Answer 2

Here's a simple regfile I wrote to add right-click "touch" in Windows explorer. It'd be easy to script it, too, since it just calls:

cmd.exe /c copy %1+nul %1 /by

Answer 3

You could also install Cygwin which gives you Touch as well as a plethora of other *NIX commands.

Answer 4

How about codeproject "Touch for Windows": http://www.codeproject.com/KB/applications/touch_win.aspx

edit; Same question as here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/51435/windows-version-of-the-unix-touch-command/51439

Answer 5

There are Windows ports of many Unix utilities. Have a look at unxutils or GnuWin32 projects.

Answer 6

From a similar question on Stack Overflow.

For updating timestamps (ignoring the other functionality of touch), I'd go with:

copy /b filename.ext +,,

Answer 7

Save the following as touch.bat in your %windir%\system32 folder or add the folder in which it is saved to your PATH environment variable:

@echo off
if %1.==. goto end
if not exist %1 goto end
copy /b %1 +,, > nul
echo %1 touched!
:end

Sample usage:

touch *.cpp
touch somefile.c

Reference: Microsoft KB 69581

Answer 8

There is an utility which adds touch to the context menu (right-click) of a folder. More information is available here

Answer 9

The four alternatives mentioned above, plus four more not mentioned here, can be found in the answer to a similar question: "Windows Recursive Touch Command"