GetFileTime

The GetFileTime function retrieves the date and time that a file was created, last accessed, and last modified.

BOOL GetFileTime(
  HANDLE hFile,                 // handle to the file
  LPFILETIME lpCreationTime,    // address of creation time
  LPFILETIME lpLastAccessTime,  // address of last access time
  LPFILETIME lpLastWriteTime    // address of last write time
);
 

Parameters

hFile

Handle to the files for which to get dates and times. The file handle must have been created with GENERIC_READ access to the file.

lpCreationTime

Pointer to a FILETIME structure to receive the date and time the file was created. This parameter can be NULL if the application does not require this information.

lpLastAccessTime

Pointer to a FILETIME structure to receive the date and time the file was last accessed. The last access time includes the last time the file was written to, read from, or, in the case of executable files, run. This parameter can be NULL if the application does not require this information.

lpLastWriteTime

Pointer to a FILETIME structure to receive the date and time the file was last written to. This parameter can be NULL if the application does not require this information.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

The FAT and NTFS file systems support the file creation, last access, and last write time values.

Windows 95: The precision of the time for a file in a FAT file system is 2 seconds. The time precision for files in other file systems, such as those connected through a network depends on the file system but may also be limited by the remote device.

QuickInfo

  Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
  Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
  Windows CE: Requires version 1.0 or later.
  Header: Declared in winbase.h.
  Import Library: Use kernel32.lib.

See Also

Time Overview, Time Functions, FILETIME, GetFileSize, GetFileType, SetFileTime