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Timestamp on uploaded content not showing the time the actual file was created.

Hello ---- I add some photo from my phone (via windows) to my db folder ---- It turns out that the date/time of the files were not of the time the photos were taken but when I download them from my phone --- I manualy use the windows file explorer to correct the date / time, but it seems that that info was not sent to dropbox.com (cloud) so it seems that files are sent to the cloud only if the content change, and since changing the file timestamp the file was not upload with the new meta-data --- so is this how dropbox works? Thanks

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Megan

Hi @Frank P E., let's look right into this!

Feel free to have a look into an older thread right here.

Also, do you connect your mobile to your device using a cable, in order to upload the content?

Let me know!

Frank P E.

no, in this case the photos were save to the cloud via google photos. Once in the cloud, I used my widows computer to download them. google photos will create a zip file if you select more then 1 photo, then download the zip file. when the zip file is unloaded to the hard drive on the computer the time stamp of the jpg files is not when they were taken, but the time the zip file was created. but since the file name of the photos is the date and time when it was taken, I was able use that info to change the timestamp of the files --- in Linux / Unix it the touch command. The issue is onece the file is "touched" it seem that the dropbox windows app is not senting that info to the cloud -- my guess is that since the file content did not change there was no need to "move" any data --- btw, on windows (NTFS) file timestamps are stored in GMT in units of 100 nanseconds from 1601

Walter

Hey @Frank P E., can you clarify if you're using the desktop app to sync those changes back to Dropbox or if you're doing it via the website only?

Also, when you say that the photos were saved to the cloud via google photos, can you please elaborate a bit as it's not quite clear?

Frank P E.

I am using my win 10 desktop --- db clent is installed

I use chrome browser to open google photos, selected a few files (jpg's) and download the zip file created by google photos

I then created a (sub) folder in the dropbox folder

I unziped the photo file from the zip file into the just created folder

fixed the dates of the jpg file in the folder on the windows computer --- no data was changed -- the the meta data of file

I then when to dropbox.com and looked at the noted files, and updated timestamp were not on the files at dropbox.com

Здравко

@Frank P E. wrote:
... it seems that files are sent to the cloud only if the content change, and since changing the file timestamp the file was not upload with the new meta-data --- so is this how dropbox works? Thanks

Hi @Frank P E.,

I 'll add "when content uploaded/created" to "only if the content change". In this context, Yes, You are right. That's how Dropbox works (and not only the application). 🤷 Changing any metadata without even a piece of content or name change is impossible.

As a workaround move the files you're talking about for a moment out of Dropbox folder get them back immediately or rename for a moment. 😉 What gets up? In future do change all metadata you want outside Dropbox folder and once everything gets complete move the content into the Dropbox folder.

Hope this helps.

Frank P E.

yes, after is issue --- "touching" meta-data in a work folder and then moving it in to dropbox folder --- thanks