When there are multiple types of office files and reference materials in a folder, modifying the access time in Windows file attributes one by one is very inefficient. This article introduces how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch set file system access time, focusing on how to enter the time attribute modification module from the file organization feature, import multiple files, enable only access time in the processing options, and use the fixed time 2026-07-01 00:00:00 for batch updates, suitable for archiving, delivery, testing, and file sorting and organization scenarios.
The access time in file system properties is often used for file management, sorting, archiving checks, and system testing. The issue is that access time is usually scattered within each file's property information, and users cannot batch edit it directly like they can with file names. If a directory contains docx documents, xlsx spreadsheets, pptx presentations, txt text files, md files, json files, and xml files, manual processing can be very tedious.
This article provides a practical method: using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch set file system access time. This software is an office file batch processing tool, designed for file organization, document processing, and batch operations on multiple types of materials, suitable for reducing repetitive file management tasks. This article will illustrate the actual results with before-and-after screenshots, and explain step-by-step, following the software interface, how to import files, set access time, and complete batch processing.
Applicable Scenarios: Which Office Needs are Suited for a Fixed Access Time
"Fixed access time" refers to setting the access time of a batch of files uniformly to the same date and time. Its applicable scenarios are very clear. For example, when a company wants to archive the final materials of a project, hoping the access time for all delivered files is unified to the archive date; when preparing sample files with consistent time attributes for training or presentations; when testing a file management system to verify if it can correctly read a fixed access time; and after data migration, to avoid confusion from the varying access times of files from different sources, a unified organization may also be needed.
These needs typically have two characteristics: first, the number of files is more than one; second, the file types can be numerous. The example in the screenshot includes formats like txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx, and others. Since access time is a Windows file system property, the processing logic is not limited to a single document format. As long as files are added to the processing list and the software can process their system properties, they can be placed in the same batch for unified setting.
Result Preview: Access Time Before Processing Still Shows the Old Time
Before processing, the user opens the properties window of 2.docx in Windows Explorer. This file is located in the D:\test directory, and its file type is Microsoft Word Document (.docx). In the "General" page of the properties window, three fields can be seen: Created, Modified, and Accessed. The red box highlights the access time, with its current value being September 6, 2016, 3:01:45.
If only this single file needed modification, manually checking properties might be acceptable; but in actual office work, it is often an entire folder that needs a unified time. Processing files one by one in that case consumes significant time and makes it difficult to ensure each file is handled correctly. Therefore, the value of batch setting access time lies in transforming repetitive operations into a single centralized setup.
Result Preview: Access Time Changes to the Fixed Target Time After Processing
After processing, viewing the properties window of 2.docx again shows that the access time has been updated to July 1, 2026, 0:00:00. The position of the red box in the screenshot is consistent with the pre-processing view for easy comparison. More notably, the creation time and modification time still display as September 6, 2016, 3:01:45, indicating this operation only affected the access time field.
This comparison result demonstrates that by correctly setting options in the software, one can selectively modify file system time attributes. This is very practical for data directories where preserving the original creation and modification times is necessary.
Operation Step 1: Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool and Locate the Function
First, open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . According to the screenshot, the software's top-left corner displays the product name, with function category navigation on the left side. After entering the "File Organization" category, multiple function cards can be seen in the main area. The one to use this time is "Modify Time in File System Properties", described as batch modifying the creation time, modification time, and access time in the operating system properties of any file.
The reason for choosing this function is that access time is a file attribute maintained by the operating system, not internal content of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents. Therefore, even when processing docx, xlsx, pptx files, one should enter through "File Organization" rather than going into the separate Word tool, Excel tool, or PowerPoint tool. This ensures the processing target is the time property at the file system level.
Operation Step 2: Build the File List for Processing and Verify Records
After entering the function, the first step is "Select records to process". The top-right corner of the interface provides buttons like "Add Files", "Import Files from Folder", "Clear", "More", etc. Depending on the file source, you can add them individually or import them in batch from a folder. For the scenario in this article where multiple file types are concentrated in the D:\test directory, importing from a folder is more efficient.
After importing, the software displays the file list in a table format. The screenshot shows 10 records, with table columns including No., Name, Path, Extension, Created Time, Modified Time, and Actions. Users can here confirm whether 1.txt, 2.docx, 3.md, 4.md, 5.xlsx, 6.json, 7.xml, 8.pptx, 9.txt, 10.docx are all in the list. The Path column shows the full location of each file, the Extension column helps identify file types, and the Created Time and Modified Time columns allow grasping the original time information before processing.
The purpose of this step is not to modify immediately, but to first confirm the processing scope. Batch tools are highly efficient, but only if the file list is correct. If files that do not need processing were imported, they should be removed using the delete icon in each row's action column before proceeding to the next step. After confirming the "Record count: 10" at the bottom matches expectations, click "Next Step".
Operation Step 3: Set Processing Options, Select Access Time and Fixed Time
The second step involves "Set Processing Options". The page displays three switches: Created Time, Modified Time, and Access Time. As the goal of this article is to batch set access time, only "Access Time" needs to be enabled. In the screenshot, the Access Time switch is on, while Created Time and Modified Time are off. This setting avoids affecting other time fields.
In the access time setting area, the type can be selected. The screenshot shows "Fixed Time" and "Random Time", with "Fixed Time" currently chosen. The value in the fixed time input box is 2026-07-01 00:00:00, indicating the software will uniformly set the access time of the selected files to this date and time. For archiving and delivery scenarios, a fixed time is easier to manage than a random time and more convenient for subsequent verification.
There is also an important note on the page: Since the operating system does not update file access time in real-time and it may be affected by antivirus software or other applications, modification could fail; please refer to the actual results. This means the access time field may vary under different system environments. During actual operation, it is recommended to open the properties windows of a few typical files after processing to check, especially common office files like docx, xlsx, pptx, and data files like txt, json, xml.
Operation Step 4: Proceed to Subsequent Flow and Complete Batch Update
After completing the access time settings, click "Next Step" at the bottom. From the progress bar, it can be seen that the subsequent steps are "Set Save Location" and "Start Processing". Before continuing, it is advisable to re-confirm three key pieces of information: is the file list correct, is only Access Time enabled, and is the fixed time 2026-07-01 00:00:00 or the time you actually need.
When entering the start processing phase, the software will batch update the system property access time for the files in the list. Compared to manually viewing file properties one by one, the advantage of batch processing is clear: import once, set uniformly for multiple files, with a reviewable process, suitable for handling folders with mixed formats. For users who frequently organize data, maintain project files, or prepare test data, such tools can save significant time.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. Will batch setting the access time change the file extension? No. The function in the screenshot modifies the time in file system properties, not file renaming or extension conversion. File types like docx, xlsx, pptx, txt will not change due to access time modification.
2. Can creation time, modification time, and access time be controlled separately? From the settings interface, it can be seen that the three time items have separate switches. The example in this article only enabled Access Time, indicating users can select the time items to process according to their needs. If you only want to change access time, do not enable creation time and modification time.
3. Why doesn't the date column shown in Explorer before processing exactly match the time in the properties window? The Explorer list columns might display names like Date Created, Date Modified, etc., while the properties window shows Created Time, Modified Time, and Access Time more completely. When verifying access time, the "Accessed" field in the file properties window should be used as the standard.
4. What if the access time modification fails? The interface cautions that access time might be affected by the operating system, antivirus software, or other applications. If encountering inconsistent results, you can first test with a small sample, close applications that might be using the file, ensure the file is not locked by another program, and then re-process.
5. Can an entire folder be processed at once? The screenshot provides an "Import Files from Folder" button, suitable for importing files from a folder into the list. After importing, it is still recommended to review the table records to ensure only target files are processed.
Summary: Batch Processing Fixed Access Time Makes Multi-type File Management More Controllable
The key to batch setting file system access time lies in two actions: first, accurately import the target files; second, in the processing options, enable only Access Time and set a fixed value. With HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can centralize repetitive operations originally spread across multiple file property windows, which is especially suitable for office directories containing a mix of file types like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, txt, md, json, xml.
If you find yourself repeatedly opening file property windows for purposes like file archiving, material delivery, sample testing, or time attribute organization, it is recommended to follow the steps in this article and use the batch processing method. Verify the effect with a small number of files first, then execute the processing on the complete folder, which can significantly improve office efficiency while keeping the results controllable.