This article introduces how to use office software to batch modify the creation time in file system attributes, applicable to various files such as txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can uniformly set originally scattered and inconsistent creation dates to a specified time, reducing repetitive operations of opening property windows one by one to modify or regenerate files. It is suitable for scenarios like file archiving, data organization, and time correction before project delivery.
In daily office work, many files are not generated all at once: some are copied from old computers, some are organized gradually by different colleagues, and others are a mix of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, txt text files, and json configuration files in the same project directory. The file content may already be organized, but the "Date Created" displayed in Windows File Explorer varies, making subsequent archiving, sorting, delivery, or auditing look very messy. This article aims to solve the problem of "batch modifying the creation time in file system properties."
If the number of files is small, manual processing is barely acceptable; but once there are dozens or hundreds of files, checking properties and adjusting times one by one becomes typical repetitive work. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is a batch file processing software designed for office scenarios. The function shown in the screenshot can import multiple files centrally and uniformly modify their system creation time to a specified time. Below, we will explain the usage method in detail, combining the effects before and after processing with the operation interface.
Applicable Scenarios: When Do You Need to Batch Modify File Creation Times
Batch modifying creation times is not simply about "beautifying dates"; it is useful in many real office workflows. The first type of scenario is data archiving. For example, after a project ends, a directory might contain files like 1.txt, 2.docx, 5.xlsx, 8.pptx, etc., with creation dates spanning multiple years. If you want these materials to reflect a unified archiving time in the file system, you can set the creation time in batch.
The second scenario is time correction after file migration. When files are copied to a new directory from a USB drive, network drive, compressed package, or old computer, some system properties might change, leading to inconsistent creation dates for the same batch of materials in File Explorer. Through batch processing, you can quickly unify these files to a new organization time.
The third scenario is organizing delivery files. For example, when submitting a batch of doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, txt, md, json, and xml files to a client, department, or team, a unified creation time makes the directory neater and facilitates filtering and sorting by time. It is important to note that this article refers to the "Creation Time" in file system properties, not the internal document metadata like author, revision time in Word documents; these two concepts are different.
Effect Preview: Dispersed and Inconsistent Creation Dates Before Processing
In the pre-processing screenshot below, there are multiple file types in the same folder, including txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx, etc. Looking at the "Date Created" column on the right, you can see that the creation time for each file is different, some from 2016, others from 2020, 2021, 2023, and also 2024 and 2025. For a folder that needs unified archiving, this time distribution affects viewing and sorting.
From an office management perspective, non-uniform creation dates cause two problems: first, the file list is visually untidy; second, when sorting by creation date, the same batch of files gets scattered across different years. If these files originally belong to the same organization session or delivery batch, it is necessary to unify the creation time.
Effect Preview: All File Creation Times Unified After Processing
After processing is complete, when you go back to Windows File Explorer to check, you can see that the "Date Created" for the same batch of files has been uniformly displayed as 2026/6/1 15:25. Whether it is 1.txt, 2.docx, or 5.xlsx, 8.pptx, 10.docx, the creation dates are consistent, indicating the batch modification has taken effect.
File Explorer usually only displays up to minutes, so the screenshot shows 15:25; in the software settings interface, you can see the actual set time includes seconds, for example, 2026-06-01 15:25:05. Whether seconds are displayed depends on the system's list view or file properties window display method and does not affect the batch modification result.
Operation Step 1: Enter the Time Attribute Modification Function in File Organizing
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see categories on the left like Homepage, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Organizing, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, etc. Since this time we are processing the creation time in file system properties, you should enter the "File Organizing" category and select "Modify Time in File System Properties."
The purpose of this step is to find the function entry specifically for modifying file system time properties. The function description in the screenshot already hints that this function can be used to batch modify the creation time, modification time, and access time in file operating system properties. This article only demonstrates creation time, but from the interface structure, it's clear it belongs to the same category of system time property processing functions.
Operation Step 2: Add Files to Process and Verify the List
After entering the function page, the interface top displays the current function as "Modify Time in File System Properties." On the upper right, you can see buttons like "Add Files," "Import Files from Folder," "Clear," "More," etc. You can choose based on the actual situation: if only processing a few specific files, you can click "Add Files"; if all files in a folder need processing, you can use "Import Files from Folder."
After files are imported, the software lists the pending records in a table. The screenshot shows 10 records, with columns for Index, Name, Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, etc. Here, it is recommended to focus on verifying three things: first, whether the number of files is correct; second, whether the file paths belong to the target folder; third, whether the extensions fall within this processing scope. For example, the sample includes formats like txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx, indicating the function isn't limited to a specific document type but processes based on file system properties.
If you find files were imported by mistake, you can remove a single record via the delete action on the right side of the table, or use "Clear" to re-import. The interface also provides "Filter" and "Sort" buttons, suitable for checking the list when there are many files. After confirming the pending records are correct, click "Next" at the bottom to enter processing options setup.
Operation Step 3: Enable Creation Time and Set a Fixed Time
The second step is setting processing options. You can see three areas in the interface: "Creation Time," "Modification Time," and "Access Time," each with a toggle switch in front. The goal of this article is to batch modify the creation time, so you need to enable the "Creation Time" switch, while "Modification Time" and "Access Time" can remain off to avoid changing other system properties simultaneously.
Below the Creation Time area, the software provides two types: "Fixed Time" and "Random Time." The screenshot shows "Fixed Time" selected, with "2026-06-01 15:25:05" entered in the time input box. Fixed Time is suitable for uniformly setting the same creation date for the same batch of files; Random Time is more appropriate for situations with special organization rules. The example in this article is for unified archiving, so choosing Fixed Time works.
When setting the time, pay attention to the format and the meaning of the date. It is recommended to first confirm whether the target date, such as year, month, day, hour, and minute, meets the archiving requirements. After input, continue by clicking "Next." The subsequent interface will lead to the save location and start processing flow; follow the software interface prompts to complete confirmation and start processing.
Operation Step 4: Verify Results in the Folder After Processing
After batch processing is complete, it's advisable not just to rely on the software prompt, but also to go back to the original or target folder for verification. Open Windows File Explorer, switch to the details view, and check the "Date Created" column. If all target files show the set date and time, it indicates the file system properties have been updated successfully.
In this article's example, after processing, the creation dates for all 10 files changed to 2026/6/1 15:25, corresponding to the 2026-06-01 15:25:05 set in the software. Due to varying column widths and display rules in File Explorer, seconds might not be shown directly, which is normal. If further confirmation is needed, you can check the detailed time information in the file properties.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. Does this modify the file content?No. This article demonstrates modifying the creation time in file system properties; it does not explain changing the internal content of Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, or text files. For office documents like docx, xlsx, pptx, file content and file system time are information at two different levels.
2. Can files of different formats be processed simultaneously?Yes. From the list in the screenshots, you can see files like txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx were imported and processed together. Since creation time is a file system property, it usually does not need to be processed one by one by document format.
3. Why does it only display down to the minute after processing?The list columns in Windows File Explorer typically display down to the minute, so the seconds set in the software might not be shown in the list. As long as the date and minute are consistent, it generally indicates the processing has taken effect.
4. Is a backup needed before processing?It is recommended to back up important files first. Although this operation mainly modifies system time attributes, not document body content, batch processing has the characteristic of impacting multiple files at once; backing up beforehand can reduce the risk of operational errors.
5. Can files be processed when they are open?If a file is occupied by another program, it might affect attribute writing. It is recommended to close any open Word, Excel, PPT, editor, or preview windows before processing to ensure the files are in a writable state.
Summary: Using Batch Processing to Reduce the Workload of Repetitive Time Modification
The core value of batch modifying file creation times is consolidating repetitive tasks—which originally required checking and processing each file one by one—into a single workflow. Through HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users can import a batch of files in different formats, verify the list, enable "Creation Time," set a fixed date, and then execute the process step-by-step. For tasks like data archiving, project delivery, and organizing after file migration, this batch processing method can significantly reduce manual operation time and lower the probability of missed or incorrect changes.
If you are organizing a folder with messy creation dates, it is recommended to test the workflow with a few files first, confirm the effect, and then batch process the entire directory. This ensures controllable results while completing the unified management of file system properties more efficiently.