CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#directory.net-3.5label
heinst
heinst

Reputation: 8786

GetLastWriteTime returning 12/31/1600 7:00:00 PM

I am using the following code to write the Date Modified time of a Directory to a label

string selectedPath = comboBox1.SelectedItem.ToString();
DateTime lastdate = Directory.GetLastWriteTime(selectedPath);
datemodified.Text = lastdate.ToString();

It returns the date 12/31/1600 7:00:00 PM which I have no clue where it is getting that date from. Can anyone help me understand why it is returning that date and how I can fix it? I'm using .NET 3.5

Upvotes: 18

Views: 11648

Answers (6)

Jason Cain
Jason Cain

Reputation: 1

In .net core, you will need to get the absolute path of the file. Add reference to Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting and inject that into your constructor. The ContentRootPath property will be your web root.

Grab your server path

var Files = FIO.Directory.GetFiles("Unzipped");

This will be your actual path

var Path = string.Format(@"{0}\{1}",WebRootPath, Files[0]);

var CreationDate = File.GetLastWriteTime(Path);

Upvotes: 0

Michael Goldshteyn
Michael Goldshteyn

Reputation: 74370

An easy way to test for file not found with the result of GetLastWriteTime()/GetLastWriteTimeUtc() without hardcoding the sentinel epoch date/times that are used to indicate a file/dir not found condition, is as follows:

// ##### Local file time version #####
DateTime fileTimeEpochLocal=DateTime.FromFileTime(0);
// Use File.GetLastWriteTime(pathname) for files
// and Directory.GetLastWriteTime(pathname) for directories
DateTime lastWriteTime=Directory.GetLastWriteTime(selectedPath); 

// Check for a valid last write time
if (lastWriteTime!=fileTimeEpochLocal) // File found
    DoSomethingWith(selectedPath,lastWriteTime);
else // File not found
    HandleFileNotFound(selectedPath);

// ##### UTC file time version #####
DateTime fileTimeEpochUtc=DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc(0);
// Use File.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(pathname) for files
// and Directory.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(pathname) for directories
DateTime lastWriteTimeUtc=Directory.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(selectedPath);

// Check for a valid last write time
if (lastWriteTimeUtc!=fileTimeEpochUtc) // File found
    DoSomethingWith(selectedPath,lastWriteTimeUtc);
else // File not found
    HandleFileNotFound(selectedPath);

Upvotes: 2

Nicolás Hurtado
Nicolás Hurtado

Reputation: 63

Old question, but today I faced this issue. That particular date is also returned when your path is invalid or the file doesn't exists, because there is no built in exception in any of those cases.

Upvotes: 0

Mostafiz
Mostafiz

Reputation: 7352

GetLastWriteTime not always return reliable date time, use this

string selectedPath = comboBox1.SelectedItem.ToString();
DateTime now = DateTime.Now;
TimeSpan localOffset = now - now.ToUniversalTime();
DateTime lastdate = File.GetLastWriteTimeUtc(selectedPath) + localOffset;
datemodified.Text = lastdate.ToString();

Upvotes: 0

Robert Snyder
Robert Snyder

Reputation: 2409

first thought is that of is your time set correctly. Second thought is to right click on that folder and see what it says in properties. Lastly I'd make new test folder and run that bit of GetLastWriteTime tests on it so you know what you are getting back.

Upvotes: 0

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1500525

From the documentation:

If the directory described in the path parameter does not exist, this method returns 12:00 midnight, January 1, 1601 A.D. (C.E.) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), adjusted to local time.

So presumably your time zone is UTC-5 (in January), and the directory doesn't exist...

Upvotes: 44

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