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W
w m d
Inspiring
March 8, 2017
Answered

After Effects changing Modified Date of files. Wtf?

  • March 8, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 2402 views

Why does After Effects CC (happens on multiple versions) change the modification date of ALL FILES in a folder when I browse to import files. This means ALL FILES regardless if one or any is selected, imported, previewed.

This is a huge problem because modification date of my files is critical for project organization, management. And I see no reason that After Effects is modifying files that it's not using or modifying. 

I thought this problem went away with an upgrade but no, it's conttinuing.  I'm using Mac OS X 10.7.5  And I am avoiding using After Effects until this bug or whatever goes away.  It's too late now that so many of my files have been disturbed.  This bug or feature is really problematic when file Mod times are important to a user, a script, or a manager.

Maybe there's a setting to tell AE to not screw around with file timestamp properties?  Or is AE actually modifying all files without indicating what or why?

So frutrating, Adobe

William

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer w m d

I should not have said that the Modification time of files is critical to a project. So I understand the replies/solutions are suggesting I change my work flow. Thanks for the suggestion to not rely on time properties of files.

I can work around this issue in the future. It's just a pain sometimes to instantly lose all of the modification date info on hundreds of files in a project folder and its subfolders.  I'll post an answer here if I ever figure out exactly what is making the change to the files. Thanks!

3 replies

W
w m dAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
March 8, 2017

I should not have said that the Modification time of files is critical to a project. So I understand the replies/solutions are suggesting I change my work flow. Thanks for the suggestion to not rely on time properties of files.

I can work around this issue in the future. It's just a pain sometimes to instantly lose all of the modification date info on hundreds of files in a project folder and its subfolders.  I'll post an answer here if I ever figure out exactly what is making the change to the files. Thanks!

W
w m dAuthor
Inspiring
March 8, 2017

Here's a better description of what's happening

Double-click to import files.  Browse to a folder to select files.  Even without selecting or importing I can see the file modification time of ALL FILES in the folder update to the current time and date. The files (sometimes hundreds of them or more) now have a new Modification time.  When I view those files in Finder, Terminal or another app, they have the new Modification time. Which is frustrating and unacceptable. 

Mylenium
Mylenium
Legend
March 8, 2017

This is a huge problem because modification date of my files is critical for project organization, management.

*yikes* Seriously, this makes me wanna cry, stomp my feet with rage and facepalm myself until my forehead turns blue at the same time. It's just very, very, very bad procedure, not to call it sloppy. *oops* Other than that on OS X these dates can get modified by using certain views in the file dialog and Spotlight updating its indices plus a few otehr things, but honestly, you need to think about your workflow and your reliance on a feature that was never meant to be used in this manner....

Mylenium

W
w m dAuthor
Inspiring
March 8, 2017

Thanks Mylenium for the quick reply.  I appreciate it.  I know that being frustrated about it and complaining shouldn't be part of my workflow but it's a major problem when it happens.

I absolutely hate having to choose to not use AE as the solution to this, but it's where I am right now

Szalam
Community Expert
SzalamCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2017

Mylenium is saying that it's not only AE that does that. Sometimes Finder and Spotlight in the OS itself can mess with those timestamps and dates too, so you should not rely on them. He was being frustrated at the fact that you were even using that date as part of your workflow.

Check your AE preferences. Is the Write XMP IDs to Files on Import box checked in your Media & Disk Cache settings?

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