How can I set the last modified time of a file from python?

python unix last-modified
jdeuce picture jdeuce · Jul 5, 2012 · Viewed 41.2k times · Source

I have a python script that downloads a file over FTP using ftplib.

My current download code looks just like the example in the ftp lib docs:

ftp.retrbinary('RETR README', open('README', 'wb').write)

Now I have a requirement that the file downloaded over FTP needs to have the same last modified time as the file on the FTP server itself. Assuming I could parse out the time from ftp.retrlines('list'), how can I set the modified time on the downloaded file?

I'm on a unix based OS if that matters.

Answer

Charlie picture Charlie · Aug 3, 2016

Use os.utime:

import os

os.utime(path_to_file, (access_time, modification_time))

More elaborate example: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/os_utime.htm

Related questions

How can I use a Python script in the command line without cd-ing to its directory? Is it the PYTHONPATH?

How can I make any use of PYTHONPATH? When I try to run a script in the path the file is not found. When I cd to the directory holding the script the script runs. So what good is the …

Read More
How can I get the IP address from NIC in Python?

When an error occurs in a Python script on Unix , an email is sent. I have been asked to add {Testing Environment} to the subject line of the email if the IP address is 192.168.100.37 which is the testing server. This …

Read More
What is the simplest way to SSH using Python?

How can I simply SSH to a remote server from a local Python (3.0) script, supply a login/password, execute a command and print the output to the Python console? I would rather not use any large external library or install …

Read More