CODEWITHSUNDEEP
vb.net
d0m1n1c
d0m1n1c

Reputation: 13

Why is it that the LastWriteTime of a file and the stored Date&Time of that same file don't equal, even if are the same?

I'm trying to notify users there has been a change to a file, by making a picturebox turn lime when the date in the application's settings is not equal to the LastWriteTime of a file. However, when i run the program and the two are equal (to my knowledge) it still says they are not equal. I've added a textbox in order to visualize it, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong...

My code:

fsw_wervelSTX_file = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
    If Not My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite = fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime Then
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Lime
        MsgBox("Time in My.Settings: " & My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite & "  LastWriteTime: " & fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime, MsgBoxStyle.Information)
    Else
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Maroon
        MsgBox("It is the same", MsgBoxStyle.Information)
    End If

There's a screenshot of the MsgBox in the link: MsgBox

The LastWriteTime is stored to My.Settings when the user clicks the button to open the specified file:

Code:

 Private Sub Button11_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button11.Click
    Try
        Process.Start("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Maroon
        fsw_wervelSTX_file = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
        MsgBox(fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime, MsgBoxStyle.Information)
        My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite = fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime
    Catch ex As Exception
        MessageBox.Show("Error opening file: " & ex.Message)
    End Try
End Sub

Thanks in advance.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 345

Answers (2)

d0m1n1c
d0m1n1c

Reputation: 13

Added to load code:

 Dim timecompare As Date

Private Sub IGART_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

            fsw_wervelSTX_file = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
    timecompare = fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")
    If Not My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite = timecompare Then
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Lime
        MsgBox("Time in My.Settings: " & My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite & "  LastWriteTime: " & fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime, MsgBoxStyle.Information)
    Else
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Maroon
        MsgBox("It is the same", MsgBoxStyle.Information)
    End If

Added to button code:

Dim time As Date
Private Sub Button11_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button11.Click
    Try
        Process.Start("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
        PictureBox_wervelSTX.BackColor = Color.Maroon
        fsw_wervelSTX_file = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo("G:\divi\RATH\Applicaties\RSM\Program\Settings\IGART\WervelSTX\log_wervelSTX.txt")
        MsgBox(fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime, MsgBoxStyle.Information)
        My.Settings.fsw_wevelSTX_lastwrite = fsw_wervelSTX_file.LastWriteTime.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")
    Catch ex As Exception
        MessageBox.Show("Error opening file: " & ex.Message)
    End Try
End Sub

Upvotes: 0

RobIII
RobIII

Reputation: 8821

Going from the code you posted I guess it's a serialization thing. The datetime is probably stored in your settings as something like 2016-01-06 12:08:11 (aside the actual date formatting) whereas the actual datetime probably has more/better 'resolution' and contains something like 2016-01-06 12:08:11.123. I'd suggest one of:

  • Storing it in a specific (specified) format and make sure you compare no more than the actual stored 'resolution'
  • Storing the value as ticks or some other specific long/integer value (e.g. UNIX timestamp for example)
  • Allow for some 'margin' when comparing

Which is best is up to you and the requirements / usecases.

There's all sorts of weird things with file datetimes like Why does the timestamp of a file increase by up to 2 seconds when I copy it to a USB thumb drive? but my best guess currently is that you're just comparing two slightly different values.

Upvotes: 2

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