Question

I am trying to move a file between directories on the same filesystem. The difficulty I am having is that when I use rename() the file access time is changed for that file on the filesystem.

I tried using shell_exec() with mv, though for some reason when I call mv in this way it copies the file and then deletes the original which takes much longer.

Is there any way to move the file quickly without changing the access time? Or can I change it back after calling rename()?

Answer 1

As a general rule the access time from a file must be changed when a function like rename(), or any other function that access a file, do it.

As for changing the access time of a file. This is only possible using the touch function, like described in the manual:

bool touch ( string $filename [, int $time = time() [, int $atime ]] )

Attempts to set the access and modification times of the file named in the filename parameter to the value given in time. Note that the access time is always modified, regardless of the number of parameters.

As you can see the time parameter is described in the manual as:

touch time

If time is not supplied, the current system time is used.

And here is an example from the same page of setting the access time one hour back from a file:

<?php
    // This is the touch time, we'll set it to one hour in the past.
    $time = time() - 3600;

    // Touch the file
    if (!touch('some_file.txt', $time)) {
        echo 'Whoops, something went wrong...';
    } else {
        echo 'Touched file with success';
    }
?>

However, be aware that the touch function, as described, attempts to change the file. If you have no permission for example the function will return false. (and won’t change the file time)

Cheers