way of restoring original system file creation date when using Renamer

[orichardt]

I am copying/moving files to two other locations using the Renamer tool (two profiles, once copying and once moving), for delivery purposes.
When I do the moving I (of course) retain the system file creation date, but I also need to retain the file creation date on the files I copy.
I cannot find the command to update the system file creation date from  XMP DateCreated or Date Subject Created date in one workflow.
It would make the process smoother if it was possible to copy and then restore system file created date in one workflow.
Is there anything I have overlooked, or could I run e.g. a robocopy command from iMatch to copy and retaining all dates?

[Mario]

The Windows file system automatically sets or updates the creation and last modified time of files. Which is important, since many backup solutions look for these timestamps to recognize modified and new files.

IMatch has no feature to change, set or restore file system timestamps in the Renamer.

If I would ever have to something like this, I would probably persist the original file system timestamp in an Attribute and then run the ExifTool Command Processor or a PowerShell, Python or Robocopy command via an External Tool Favorites, supplying the time stamp from the Attribute.

I have really never thought about this. Leaving file system timestamp management to the Windows file system is probably a better option.

[orichardt]

Hi Mario, thank you for the reply and I understand your comment. Unfortunately when you deliver the same photo into several channels my experience is that the system file created date is easier to work with for non-tag experienced users even when the other dates are synchronized as well. So my request for info certainly comes from a practical issue that I try to address   
Again thank you for the input and I do agree that a powershell/cmd executed from within iMatch post the copy function is the easiest way to get an effective workflow completed.

[Mario]

If you persist the original timestamp in an Attribute (or a metadata tag) you can access it via Variables and provide it to the ExifTool Command Processor (probably the easiest way since it handles multiple selected files) or as a parameter to your external script, and also the file name and whatnot.

Or use the Copy Data App to copy one command for each file into the Windows clipboard, starting with the tool to run, the file name, the timestamp to set etc. and then use this as a command file or to drive whatever app you plan to use.

There are many ways how IMatch can support you with this, even if it does not allow to manipulate file system timestamps directly.

[orichardt]

Hi Mario, thank you for the follow-up and for a great and flexible program. I'll pursue down one of these roads.