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Set Attributes - Set or Adjust File and Folder Attributes and File-Times.

This section discusses the Set Attributes functionality of the Attributor module.

The Set Attributes functionality of the Attributor module is designed for setting or adjusting the generic attributes and file-times (filetimes) of multiple files and folders with a single action. This functionality may be useful in cases as the following:

setting the attributes of a single file in general;
setting the attributes of multiple files and folders, e.g. when distributing multiple files and folders it is good practice to have all files and folders with identical file times;
resetting file and folder attributes, e.g. if the current date/time is changed between compilations, the compiler may keep rebuilding unchanged files because the last save date is later than the current time. Resetting the time of all project files to the current time resolves the problem;
other;

Capture: Set Attributes

Operation

To change the attributes and file-times, you first select the files and folders in the selected items control of the Set Attributes functionality. Then set or clear the checkboxes representing the file-attributes that you want to be set or reset. If you want the attributes to remain unaffected, leave the checkboxes in their intermediate state. To set file-times, set the appropriate checkbox and adjust the time to the desired moment. The time can be adjusted with the precision of one millisecond. Checkboxes representing attributes which cannot be adjusted are disabled and grayed-out. When you are happy with the settings, click the OK button to adjust the attributes and file-times of the selected files, folders and their content.

Controls

Selection Controls

These controls are used to select and display the files and folders for the operation. In addition to the Add Files, Add Folders and Remove buttons, you can use the standard clipboard, drag and drop, and keyboard operations.

Shortcuts

Select the behavior of the functionality in respect to any shortcuts that might be present in the selected folders.

Target

Any shortcut located in selected folder will be dereferenced and its target file or folder will be treated as if it were selected.

Shortcut

The properties of any shortcut located in a selected folder will be adjusted, but target to which it points will not.

Target and Shortcut

The properties of any shortcut located in a selected folder and the target file or folder to which it points will both be adjusted.

Ignore

Any shortcut located in selected folder will be ignored.

Operation Controls

These controls are used to control the operation of the module and thus directly affect results.

Apply to nested folders and files

This control tells Act On File how to proceed with folders contained in selected folders.

Checked

The folders contained in selected folders will be scanned and the properties of the files and folders contained within them will be adjusted appropriately.

Unchecked

The folder contained in the selected folders will be ignored.

[Multiple Checkboxes representing file and folder attributes]

These checkboxes represent the properties and attributes described in the above table.

Grayed

Grayed checkboxes cannot be adjusted. This may be because the property cannot be changed due to its nature, or there are other circumstances which prevent the attribute from being modified.

Checked

When checked, the attribute will be set for the selected files and folders appropriately.

Unchecked

When unchecked the attribute will be cleared from the selected files and folders appropriately.

Neutral

The attribute will remain in its original state.

Time controls and adjacent checkboxes

Adjust the time settings of the selected files and folders with a resolution of one millisecond.

Checked

The respective time of the selected files and folders will be set to the time entered in the time controls.

Unchecked

The respective time of the selected files and folders will not be changed.

Window Controls

These controls have generic meanings.

On Top

Sets and clears the Always On Top flag on the window. This checkbox adds or removes the window from the group of Top-most windows.

Commits work and to apply the new values of the selected attributes and file-times.

Cancel

Closes the window without doing any work.

File and Folder Attributes


Archive	This flag indicates that the item is signaled as an archive. This flag does not mean that the file or folder is an archive, but merely signals that it should be considered for backup or removal by archiving software and users.
Compressed	The file or directory that is compressed by the operating system on the storage device. For files, this flag means that the file stored is compressed. If it is copied to another storage device, it may be transferred as an uncompressed file. However, files compressed with Act On File file are always compressed. For folders, this flag means that any newly added files to that folder will be compressed. This type compression is only possible if both the operating system and the file system support this feature.
Device	This flag is reserved for system use.
Directory	This indicates that the item is directory.
Encrypted	The file or directory that is encrypted by the operating system on the storage device. For files, this flag means that the file is stored encrypted. If it is copied to another storage device it will be transferred in a normal (non-encrypted) form. Effectively, the file is secure when the owner of the file is not logged on. For example, if another user copies an encrypted file to a flash drive while the owner of the file is logged in, they will have the decrypted data stored on the flash drive. However, files encrypted with Act On File are always encrypted. For folders, this flag means that any newly added files to that folder will be encrypted. This type of encryption is only possible if both the operating system and the file system support this feature.
Hidden	The file or folder (and its content) are not listed (e.g. not displayed in Windows Explorer) unless the directory listing command requires listing of hidden files too.
Normal	Only for files, mutually exclusive with any other flag and is valid only when used singularly.
Not Content Indexed	The file or folder is ignored by the indexing services.
Offline	The file content is present on an offline storage device.
Read Only	When this flag is set, the system will not permit any changes to be made to the file. Applies to files only.
Reparse Point	Either a symbolic link, or a file or folder with an associated reparse point.
Sparse File	This flag indicates that the file is a sparse file. A sparse file is a file in which some parts are not recorded as data, but as metadata. For example, normally files are like bitmap images where the data for every pixel is stored. A sparse file is like a vector image in which one stores the vectors (i.e. equations that result in the image when drawn) - metadata.
System	A file or folder part of, or exclusively used by, the operating system.
Temporary	A file that is meant to exist only while the process that created it exists, or for a limited time. There is a difference in how the operating system handles files declared as temporary which may lead to performance degrade or upgrade depending on the circumstances when using a file flagged as temporary.
Virtual	This flag is reserved for system use.
Creation Time	The time at which the file or folder was created.
Last Access Time	The time at which the file or folder was last accessed.
Last Write Time	The time at which the file was last modified. For folders, it is the time at which a file contained in the folder was last modified.