Like a Version 1.0

Have an automated backup regime that archives important files if they haven't been modified recently? Need to keep a master document at the top of a date-ordered file list? No problem, this'll fix it.

The date stamps that show when a file was last opened and last modified can be useful indicators for whether a document is 'fresh or dusty.' However, applying this logic wholesale can lead to problems: important master documents can mistakenly be classed as old and therefore not needed. Sorting files by date order can also be a useful way of grouping related items together, unless some items are actually older.

You don't need to actually open a document to update this date stamp information, and you don't even need the original creator software either. The command-line 'touch' instruction can set this for you, provided you are comfortable with terminal windows, file paths, numeric date strings and so on.

Don't panic! Because few people enjoy this, Like a Version lets you pick a date – or let it pick the current date for you – and apply that to any file in a couple of clicks.

The creation date is preserved in files, so you can still see which came first. The last modified date is what's normally shown when browsing files, while the last opened date is used by some tools. Live a Version updates both of these.

How to use Like a Version

Click the Choose File button and pick the file you want to update.

If you want to set a specific date other than right now, click Custom Date and then Choose Date. (If today's date is fine just go straight to step 3.)

Click Update File and your document's last modified and last opened dates will be updated.

What's with the odd name?

It's a very bad pun. I apologise. This uses the Unix command-line 'touch' utility, so it makes the files "like a version, touched for the very first time..." Yes, I'm sorry...

First-time launch

Mac users may need to open this app the first time by right-clicking/control-clicking and selecting 'Open'. Windows users may see a one-time warning about allowing unauthorised applications to run. In both cases this only happens once.

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Virus warning from Avast anti-virus software?

Every year or so a version of Avast's security software for Windows reports finding a virus inside the software zip archive. This is a known 'false positive' alert. It has been fixed in recent Avast updates, although this could crop up again. To be 100% clear: the virus report by Avast software is a false positive; the zip archive is clean – and it has actually never been near a PC until it is downloaded to one! Updating the Avast virus definitions (and using another anti-virus tool) cures the problem.

Tips? Only if you want to

This software is free to use, of course, although tips help me pay for my development costs. If you like it please tag me in your Facebook panorama post to show me what you're doing. Bug reports and questions are also welcome. You can find me on Twitter (@thatkeith) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thatkeithmartin) or see the Contact page for direct contact details.

— Keith Martin

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