Java - File setLastModified() Method

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Description

The java.io.File.setLastModified(long time) method sets the last modified date of the file indicated by abstract pathname.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for java.io.File.setLastModified(long time) method −

public boolean setLastModified(long time)

Parameters

time − The new last-modified time in milliseconds since the epoch.

Return Value

This method returns true if the operation succeeded, else false.

Exception

SecurityException − If a security manager exists and its method denies write access to either the old or new pathnames.

Example 1

The following example shows the usage of Java File setLastModified() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using a file path which is present in the given location. Now, we've created a date object using year, month and day value and using setLastModified(), we're setting the last modified date and then printed it.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.Date;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      boolean bool = false;
      int year, month, day;
      long millisec;
      Date dt;
      
      try {
         // create new File object
         f = new File("F:/test.txt");
         
         // date components
         year = 2013; 
         month = 04; 
         day = 15;
         
         // date in string
         String s = year+"/"+month+"/"+day;
         
         // date format
         SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy/mm/dd");
         
         // parse string to date object
         dt = sdf.parse(s);
         
         // calculate milliseconds
         millisec = dt.getTime();
         
         // returns true if file exists
         bool = f.exists();
         
         // if file exists
         if(bool) {
         
            // set last modified time
            bool = f.setLastModified(millisec);
            
            // print
            System.out.println("lastModified() succeeded?: "+bool);
            
            // last modified time
            millisec = f.lastModified();
            
            // calculate date object
            dt = new Date(millisec);
            
            // prints
            System.out.print("File was last modified on: "+dt);
         }
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

lastModified() succeeded?: true
File was last modified on: Tue Jan 15 00:04:00 IST 2013

Example 2

The following example shows the usage of Java File setLastModified() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using a file path which is present in the current location. Now, we've created a date object using year, month and day value and using setLastModified(), we're setting the last modified date and then printed it.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.Date;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      boolean bool = false;
      int year, month, day;
      long millisec;
      Date dt;
      
      try {
         // create new File object
         f = new File("test.txt");
         
         // date components
         year = 2013; 
         month = 04; 
         day = 15;
         
         // date in string
         String s = year+"/"+month+"/"+day;
         
         // date format
         SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy/mm/dd");
         
         // parse string to date object
         dt = sdf.parse(s);
         
         // calculate milliseconds
         millisec = dt.getTime();
         
         // returns true if file exists
         bool = f.exists();
         
         // if file exists
         if(bool) {
         
            // set last modified time
            bool = f.setLastModified(millisec);
            
            // print
            System.out.println("lastModified() succeeded?: "+bool);
            
            // last modified time
            millisec = f.lastModified();
            
            // calculate date object
            dt = new Date(millisec);
            
            // prints
            System.out.print("File was last modified on: "+dt);
         }
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

lastModified() succeeded?: true
File was last modified on: Tue Jan 15 00:04:00 IST 2013