Touch - Windows Touch Utility

A Windows implementation of the UNIX touch utility that updates file and folder timestamps.

Description

This utility sets the LastAccessed, DateModified, and Created timestamps of files (and optionally folders) to the current time. It's useful for updating file modification times without actually modifying the file contents.

Building

Requirements

• Visual Studio 2022 (or compatible version)
• Windows SDK

Build Instructions

1. Open touch.sln in Visual Studio
2. Select Release configuration (this is the default)
3. Build the solution (F7 or Build → Build Solution)
4. The executable touch.exe will be created in the same folder as the solution file

Alternatively, build from the command line:

msbuild touch.sln /p:Configuration=Release

Usage

touch [options] [filespec]

Options

• -r - Recursively process subdirectories
• -v - Verbose mode (show old/new timestamps)
• -f - Touch folders as well as files

Examples

Touch all .exe files in current directory:

touch *.exe

Touch all .txt files recursively:

touch -r *.txt

Touch a file with verbose output:

touch -v readme.md

Touch all files and folders in current directory:

touch -f *

Touch all files and folders recursively:

touch -r -f

Touch all .log files and folders recursively with verbose output:

touch -r -v -f *.log

Notes

• Running touch without any arguments displays usage information
• The default filespec (if not specified) is * (all files)
• Timestamps are set to the current system time
• Requires appropriate permissions to modify file/folder timestamps

License

This is free software. Use it as you wish.