Python to extract file date attributes
Question: I'm using Python on Windows7 to parse new names for records we have...My goal
is to include a date token as "..._YYYYMMDD.pdf" as described below.

From looking at the files in windows explorer 'details' view, I have confirmed
that the following gives me the `"Date Modified."` Since I'm working with
copies of the original files, the returned value is also the same as the
`"date created."`

    
    
    import time
    
    print "created: %s" % time.ctime(os.path.getctime('23614 TO 23814 DOWNSTREAM.pdf'))
    

which returns

    
    
    >>>created: Tue Jun 24 13:19:12 2014
    

HOWEVER...

I need the "Date" attribute (the oldest time stamp on the file) since this
matches the TRUE date of creation of the report. Any idea how to get the
'date' attribute I'm looking for and not the "date created" and not "date
modified"?

I'm too new to the forum to answer my own question, but here it is:

Thanks to Christian for sending me in the right direction. The following gives
me the right date:

> > > print "created: %s" % time.ctime(os.stat('23614 TO 23814
> DOWNSTREAM.pdf')[-2])
>
> 'created: Mon Oct 31 13:51:14 2011'

as opposed to the following which is the date the copy was created:

> > > print "created: %s" % time.ctime(os.path.getctime('23614 TO 23814
> DOWNSTREAM.pdf'))
>
> created: Tue Jun 24 13:19:12 2014

Now I just have to figure out how to format it the right way!


Answer: Do you intend to run it on Windows or a Unix system? You will rely on an
underlying call to the OS and behavior is different.

On Windows, I believe that you will get the time of creation with your code.

