File date changing

[Steve53]

Hi 

I have seen a number of posts about DropBox changing file dates to "date modified" which appears to be the date the file was uploaded to DropBox.  This is weird because if you are just uploading and downloading files from one computer to another you want the original date to be retained. The date of  the uploading is mostly irrelevant. For searching based on date the file was created/last edited is what I need to maintain my records by date created/edited. This happens when I use the app of the web and add files to a DropBox folder the date it was added is saved as the modified date. It gets stranger because when I download to another computer I can restore the original file date if SmartSync is on and set to local but this worked for Excel files but not for PDFs! BTW I am using Windows 10 on both computers. I could not work out behaviour from previous posts. thanks for any help

[Jay]

Hi @Steve53, thanks for messaging today!

Are you referring to the date modified as it appears on the Dropbox site, or how it appeared in Explorer/Finder?

In general, if a file is uploaded directly to the Dropbox site, the modification and creation date are for that moment. Likewise, downloading a file from the website onto your computer has both the creation and modification date to be for the moment.

If an old file is moved into a syncing Dropbox folder, and is then edited later, then the creation date is of the old file, and the modification date is whenever it is edited. These two dates are synced to any machine where the app is installed.

If you need any more details, feel free to message back!

[Steve53]

Hi Jay

I am referring to the modified date on DropBox and that this date is retained in the properties of the file thereafter!

"In general, if a file is uploaded directly to the Dropbox site, the modification and creation date are for that moment. Likewise, downloading a file from the website onto your computer has both the creation and modification date to be for the moment."

This is crazy behaviour. If I used a flash drive to move files between computers the date properties would not be changed.

Where does DropBox give itself the right to change the properties of my files without my permission!

I wil be looking for an alternative to DropBox ASAP!

[Jay]

Using a flash drive is the same as transferring from one hard drive to another, where the original data exists as-is.

The way the modification date changes on Dropbox is more similar to downloading files sent to you via an attachment in an email. Even though the file could be much older, the file creation and modification date would be for the same moment of download.

[C-A]

Hi Jay, this happens to me almost twice a year and is very disappointing. It seems occurs when dropbox makes by itself some sync process, but is like starting all from zero cause modified date in finder are like creation date

[Hannah]

Hey @C-A, thanks for reaching out to us here.

You mentioned that this happens to you almost twice a year; so this is not consistent behavior?

Does it otherwise work as normal?

Any additional info on the behavior you're seeing would be really helpful.

[Fam BJ]

Dropbox even changes folder dates on local folders that I am copying to/from to my Dropbox folder. 

This messes up all history in my original folder structure, and it cannot be recreated.

I really don't see why Dropbox allows itself to fiddle with my local archive!

This is a dealbreaker for me.