, ,

---

The modifyfileattributes statement modifies one or more attributes of a file (or folder).

---

Parameters

This statement has three parameters:

path – is a path to the file or folder to be modified, including the file name (see Files and Folders for more information about file paths).

attribute – the attribute to be modified (see below). You can use multiple attribute/value pairs, or you can combine all of the attribute/value pairs into a dictionary and pass that into this parameter (in that case omit the value parameter).

value – the value of the option to be modified.

---

Description

This statement modifies one or more attributes of a file (or folder). For example you can change the creation or modification date, the permissions, etc. You can modify one attribute or several. For example, this code will change the creation and modification date of the Flower.jpg file to today at midnight.

modifyfileattributes "~/Pictures/Flower.jpg",
    "CREATED",superdate(today(),0),"MODIFIED",superdate(today(),0)

An alternate method is to combine all of the options into a single dictionary, like this:

modifyfileattributes "~/Pictures/Flower.jpg",
    initializedictionary(
        "CREATED",superdate(today(),0),
        "MODIFIED",superdate(today(),0)
    )

A possible advantage of using a dictionary is that you can package up all the options in advance in a variable.

File Attributes

The primary attributes that can be modified are:

• CREATED - creation date and time (see SuperDates).
• MODIFIED - modification date and time (see SuperDates).
• OWNER - name of the file’s owner.
• OWNERID - user ID number (integer) of the file’s owner.
• GROUP - name of the group the file belongs to.
• GROUPID - group ID number (integer) of the group the file belongs to.
• PERMISSIONS - an integer containing the File System Permissions

There are three additional attributes that quite frankly, we don’t understand. However, these are attributes supported by macOS, so they are included.

• HIDDENEXTENSION - a boolean value.
• BUSY - a boolean value.
• IMMUTABLE - a boolean value.

---

See Also

• aliaspath( -- returns the path an alias points to (or an error if the specified file isn't an alias).
• archivecontents( -- lists the contents of a compressed archive in *.zip*, *.tar.gz* or *.tar.bz2* format.
• bookmarkpath( -- converts saved bookmark data (from the filebookmark( function) into a standard file path.
• bundleresourcepath( -- returns the file path and name of a specified item in the Panorama application bundle.
• choosefiledialog -- displays a modal dialog allowing selection of files or folders.
• choosefolderdialog -- pauses and displays the standard “choose folder” dialog.
• commonpath( -- returns the path for common folders (desktop, library, documents, pictures, etc.).
• compress -- compresses a file or an entire folder.
• copyfile -- copies a file (or folder).
• copyfolder -- copies an entire folder full of files (and subfolders, if any).
• copynewerfile -- copies a file to another name or location. However, the file is only copied if it is newer than the old file, otherwise the destination is not touched.
• copynewerfile( -- copies a file to another name or location. However, the file is only copied if it is newer than the old file, otherwise the destination is not touched.
• copynewerfolder -- copies an entire folder full of files, but only copies newer files.
• dbfolder( -- returns the folder path of the folder the current database is located in.
• dbname( -- returns the name of the current database.
• dbpath( -- returns the HFS path of the folder the current database is located in.
• dbsubfolder( -- returns the path of a subfolder within the same folder as the current database.
• dropfromfinder -- processes any files or folders that have been dropped on a form from the finder.
• dropimagesfromfinder -- processes images that have been dropped on a form from the Finder. The images may be added to new records in the database or put in the current record.
• enclosingfolder( -- takes a full path and filename and returns the name of the folder that contains the file.
• enclosingpath( -- takes a full path and filename and returns the path of the folder that contains the file.
• fileappend -- appends new data to an existing disk file.
• fileattributes( -- returns attributes of the specified file or folder (date, owner, permissions, etc.).
• filebookmark( -- converts a file or folder path into a binary data value that persistently links to the file, even if it is later moved or renamed.
• filecatalog( -- builds a text array listing the files in a folder, including any subfolders of that folder.
• filedate( -- returns the modification date of a file.
• filedisplayname( -- returns the display name for the specified file or folder.
• fileerase -- erases a disk file or a folder, removing it from the hard disk.
• fileexists( -- returns true if a file exists, false if it does not.
• fileexistspath( -- tests to see if a file exists.
• fileextension( -- extracts the extension (if any) from a partial or complete path and filename.
• filefolder( -- returns the folder ID of the folder that contains the specified file.
• fileidnumber( -- returns the id number for the specified file or folder.
• fileinfo( -- returns information about a file (or folder) on the disk, including the size, creation and modification date and time, type, creator and lock status.
• fileload( -- reads the entire contents of any file on disk.
• fileloadpartial( -- reads a portion of the contents of any file on disk.
• filename( -- extracts the filename from a complete path and filename.
• filepath( -- extracts the path from a combined path and filename.
• filerename -- renames and/or moves a file or folder.
• Files and Folders -- organization of files and folders
• filesave -- saves data directly into a disk file.
• filesize( -- determines the size of any file on disk.
• filesuperdate( -- returns the modification date and time of a file.
• filetime( -- returns the modification time of a file.
• filetypecreator( -- returns the type and creator code of the specified file (if any).
• folder( -- creates a *Folder ID* that unambiguously describes the location of a folder on the hard disk.
• foldercontains( -- checks to see if a folder contains a specified file. See also the pathcontains( function.
• foldercontents( -- returns a list of all of the contents of a folder.
• foldercount( -- returns the total number of files within a folder (including any subfolders).
• folderexists( -- returns true if a folder exists, false if it does not.
• folderpath( -- converts a Folder ID into the HFS path of that folder.
• foldersepchar( -- returns the separator character used between folders.
• foldersize( -- calculates the size of a folder (in bytes).
• fullpath( -- converts a filename or relative path (starting with the : or / symbol) into a full HFS path, including the disk name.
• hfspath( -- converts a UNIX path into an HFS path.
• homepath( -- returns the HFS path of a subfolder of the current users home folder.
• homesubfolder( -- returns the folder id of a subfolder of the current user's home folder.
• hostedfiles( -- returns a list of open databases associated with a specified host (server).
• info("applicationsfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Applications folder.
• info("applicationsupportfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Application Support folder (inside the Library folder).
• info("cachefolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Cache folder (in the Library folder).
• info("desktopfolder") -- returns the path to the user's desktop folder.
• info("documentsfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Documents folder.
• info("downloadsfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Downloads folder.
• info("dropfiles") -- returns a list of files dragged onto a *Drag Receiver* form object (see Drag and Drop).
• info("foldersepchar") -- returns the separator character used between folders.
• info("libraryfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Library folder.
• info("moviesfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Movies folder.
• info("musicfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Music folder.
• info("panoramafolder") -- returns the location of the folder containing the currently running copy of Panorama.
• info("picturesfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Pictures folder.
• info("publicfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's Public folder.
• info("tempfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's temporary folder (for files you plan to use only for a short time).
• info("userfolder") -- returns the path to the current user's home folder.
• info("volumes") -- returns a list of all of the currently mounted volumes (disks) on the computer.
• listfiles( -- builds a text array listing the files in a folder.
• listpanoramafiles( -- returns a list of panorama database files in the specified folder.
• listtextfiles( -- returns a list of text files in the specified folder.
• makefolder -- creates a new folder, and if necessary, also creates any enclosing folders needed to create the specified new folder.
• makepackage -- creates a new package, and if necessary, also creates any enclosing folders needed to create the specified new package.
• openanything -- opens a document or application.
• openfiledialog -- pauses and displays the standard “open file” dialog.
• openwith -- opens a document with a specific application.
• openwithterminal -- opens an application in a new Terminal.app window (useful for debugging).
• pathcontains( -- checks to see if a folder contains a specified file (or folder).
• pathcontents( -- lists the contents of a folder (specified by a path)
• pathexists( -- checks to see if a path exists.
• pathseparator( -- returns the type of separator character used in a file path (either / or :).
• posixpath( -- converts a path and filename into a POSIX path that can be used as a parameter to a shell command.
• revealinfinder -- reveals a file or folder in the Finder.
• revealmultipleinfinder -- reveals one or more files or folders in the Finder.
• savedialog -- displays a modal dialog that allows a user to specify the name and location of a new file.
• savefiledialog -- pauses a procedure and displays the standard “save file” dialog.
• subfolder( -- returns the folder id of a subfolder of a specified folder
• subpath( -- returns the HFS path of a subfolder of a specified folder.
• tempfolder( -- returns the path to the current user's temporary folder (for files you plan to use only for a short time).
• tildepath( -- converts a path in the current user's folder to tilde (~) notation.
• typecreatorcode( -- returns the 8 character TYPE and CREATOR codes for a filename (if any).
• uncompress -- uncompresses a `.zip`, `.tar.gz` or `.tar.bz2` file into a file or an entire folder.
• unixpath( -- converts an HFS path into a UNIX path.
• unixshellpath( -- converts a path and filename into a POSIX path that can be embedded within the shellscript statement.
• zipcompress -- compresses a file or an entire folder into a zip file (using ditto shell tool).
• zipuncompress -- uncompresses a file or an entire folder from a zip file (using ditto shell tool).

---

History

Version	Status	Notes
10.2	New	New in this version.