Windows API Guide: SHFileOperation Function

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Declare Function SystemTimeToFileTime Lib "kernel32.dll" (lpSystemTime As SYSTEMTIME, lpFileTime As FILETIME) As Long

Platforms: Win 32s, Win 95/98, Win NT

SystemTimeToFileTime converts a time and date stored in a SYSTEMTIME structure to an identical time and date stored in a FILETIME structure. The former structure provides a easier way to access a date and time, whereas the latter is used by Windows to identify times and dates associated with files. The data put into the FILETIME structure identifies the same time and date as the source structure does. The function returns 0 if an error occured, or 1 if successful.

lpSystemTime

The date and time, in SYSTEMTIME format, to convert.

lpFileTime

Receives the date and time converted to FILETIME format.

Example:

' Determine if file C:\MyProgram\datafile.txt was created before ' Jan 5, 1999.  Note how CreateFile's alternate declare must be used under Win 95/98 -- ' see that function's page for more information. Dim hfile As Long  ' receives the handle to the file Dim ctime As FILETIME  ' receives creation date and time of the file Dim atime As FILETIME  ' receives last access date and time of the file Dim wtime As FILETIME  ' receives last write-to date and time of the file Dim jantime As SYSTEMTIME  ' will be set to Jan 5, 1999 Dim janfiletime As FILETIME  ' will receive analogous time as jantime Dim comptimes As Long  ' receives comparison of ctime and janfiletime Dim retval As Long  ' return value ' Get a handle to the file (note how the alternate declare is used): hfile = CreateFileNS("C:\MyProgram\datafile.txt", GENERIC_READ, FILE_SHARE_READ, 0, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE, 0) If hfile = -1 Then  ' if the file could not be opened   Debug.Print "Could not open the file C:\MyProgram\datafile.txt."   End  ' abort the program End If ' Get the various times and dates associated with the file: retval = GetFileTime(hfile, ctime, atime, wtime) ' Load jantime with the date January 5, 1999 at midnight: jantime.wMonth = 1: jantime.wDay = 5: jantime.wYear = 1999 jantime.wHour = 0: jantime.wMinute = 0: jantime.wSecond = 0 ' Convert jantime into FILETIME format so it can be compared with ctime: retval = SystemTimeToFileTime(jantime, janfiletime) ' Compare the two times and display the relation: comptimes = CompareFileTime(ctime, janfiletime) If comptimes = -1 Then Debug.Print "File was created before midnight, January 5, 1999." If comptimes = 0 Then Debug.Print "File was created at midnight, January 5, 1999." If comptimes = 1 Then Debug.Print "File was created after midnight, January 5, 1999." ' Close the file retval = CloseHandle(hfile)

See Also: FileTimeToSystemTime
Category: Time

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