This article introduces how to use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch modify the modification time in file system attributes, suitable for scenarios that require unified organization of modification dates for various files such as txt, docx, xlsx, pptx, md, json, xml, and more. The article combines before-and-after processing effect images and software operation screenshots to explain the steps from entering the function, importing files, setting a fixed modification time, to the inspection method after completion, helping users reduce repetitive operations of modifying file attributes one by one and improving processing efficiency during file archiving, data organization, and project delivery.
In daily office work, data archiving, project delivery, or file migration processes, many users encounter a seemingly simple but very time-consuming problem: the system "Modification Date" of a batch of files is inconsistent and needs to be uniformly adjusted to the same time. For example, a project folder contains files like txt, docx, xlsx, pptx, md, json, xml simultaneously, and their modification times are scattered across different years and dates. If you open each file's properties to manually process them, it is not only inefficient but also prone to omissions. This article addresses the problem of "batch modifying the modification time in file system attributes" and demonstrates how to use the office software " HeSoft Doc Batch Tool " to complete the unified setting of modification times for various file formats at once.
It should be noted that the common column name in Windows File Explorer is "Modification Date," which can often be understood as the file's "Modification Time" in file system attributes. The batch modification of file modification dates discussed in this article refers to batch adjusting the modification time recorded in file system attributes, not modifying the body content of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents, nor changing file names.
Applicable Scenarios: Situations Requiring Batch Modification of File Modification Times
Batch modifying file modification times is not limited to a single file format. As long as files have attributes like creation time, modification time, and access time in the system, there may be a need for unified consolidation. As seen in the example screenshots in this article, the files to be processed include various types such as 1.txt, 2.docx, 3.md, 4.md, 5.xlsx, 6.json, 7.xml, 8.pptx, 9.txt, and 10.docx. This kind of mixed folder is very common in office scenarios, such as project material packages, course attachments, bid materials, software configuration files, and exported report files.
Common usage scenarios include: First, when archiving project files, you might want to unify the modification dates of all final version files to the delivery date for easier future retrieval and auditing; Second, after migrating data to a new computer or hard drive, file times may appear inconsistent and need batch standardization; Third, when organizing historical documents, you might need to make files like doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, txt, md display by the same modification time in Explorer; Fourth, after batch generating or copying files, the system time may not meet internal archiving requirements and needs a quick fix; Fifth, in testing, training, or demo environments, you may need to adjust the modification dates of a batch of sample files to a specified time to keep screenshots, tutorials, and actual file states consistent.
If there are only two or three files, manually checking properties might be acceptable. But when files reach dozens, hundreds, or are even scattered across multiple folders, repetitive operations significantly slow down the work pace. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , as a batch processing software focused on office efficiency, has its core value in turning such repetitive labor into a standardized process, allowing users to complete tasks in batches by importing files, setting rules, and executing processes.
Preview of Results: Changes in Modification Dates Before and After Processing
Before Processing: Modification Dates of Different Files Are Scattered and Inconsistent
The image below shows the File Explorer effect before processing. As can be seen, the file list contains formats like txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx, and the times displayed in the "Modification Date" column on the right are not consistent. For example, some files are dated 2016, some 2021, and others have records from 2024 or 2025. For folders that need unified archiving or organizing by delivery time, this state is not standardized enough.
The trouble with this situation is: the file formats are different, the modification times are different, and if you right-click each file to view properties and adjust them, not only are the steps numerous, but the default Windows interface is not suitable for large-scale batch modifications. Especially when files like docx, xlsx, pptx, txt are mixed together, users need a tool that can uniformly process system properties according to the file list.
After Processing: All File Modification Dates Unified to the Specified Time
The image below shows the result after batch processing with HeSoft Doc Batch Tool . As can be seen, the "Modification Date" of these files in File Explorer has been uniformly displayed as 2026/6/12 15:35. Although File Explorer usually only displays up to the minute, the time set in the software can include more complete hours, minutes, and seconds information, and the final display will be presented according to the system's display rules.
From the comparison before and after processing, it can be seen that batch modifying the modification time in file system attributes can quickly organize a batch of files in different formats into a unified time state. For users who need to deliver a complete set of materials, organize backup files, or standardize folder display order, this type of batch processing is more stable and efficient than manual operation.
Operation Steps: Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to Batch Modify Modification Times
Step 1: Enter the Time Attribute Modification Function under "File Management"
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select "File Management" from the left function navigation. As seen in the screenshot, the software's left side provides categories like Home, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Management, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, Video Tools, Audio Tools, etc. The function we will use in this article is the "Modify Time in File System Properties" function under the "File Management" category.
In the main interface, the function card is displayed as "Modify time in file system attributes," with explanatory text prompting that it can batch modify the creation time, modification time, and access time in the operating system properties of any file. After clicking this function card, you will enter the batch processing workflow. The purpose of this step is to first select the correct processing tool, avoiding confusion between file content editing, file name modification functions, and file system property modification.
Step 2: Add the Files Needing Processing and Confirm the File List
After entering the function page, the top of the software displays the current function name "Modify time in file system attributes." The page workflow is divided into multiple steps, including "Select records to process," "Set processing options," "Set save location," and "Start processing." In the first step, you can add files manually via the "Add Files" button at the top right, or batch import files from within a folder using "Import files from folder."
In the screenshot, 10 files have been imported. The table lists information such as serial number, name, path, extension, creation time, modification time, and operations. Example file paths are D:\test\1.txt, D:\test\2.docx, etc., and extensions include txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx. Through this list, users can check before actual processing whether the files are imported correctly and confirm whether any files not requiring modification have been included.
If files are imported by mistake, you can remove them using the delete icon on the right side of each row; if there are many files, you can also use the "Filter" and "Sort" buttons in the interface to assist in viewing. The expected result of this step is that all files needing batch modification of system modification time appear in the list, and the record count matches expectations. The bottom of the screenshot shows "Record count: 10," indicating there are 10 files currently pending processing.
Step 3: Set Processing Options, Enable Only "Modification Time"
After confirming the file list, click "Next" at the bottom to enter the "Set processing options" page. This page is key to the operation because file system attributes typically contain different fields like creation time, modification time, and access time. If you only want to batch modify the "Modification Date" displayed in File Explorer, you should focus on setting the "Modification Time."
As seen in the screenshot, there are three option areas on the page: "Creation Time," "Modification Time," and "Access Time." The switch for "Modification Time" is enabled, while "Creation Time" and "Access Time" are disabled. The purpose of this setting is very clear: only batch modify the file's modification time, without changing the file creation time and access time, reducing the risk of accidentally altering other system properties.
Below the "Modification Time" area, you can choose the type. In the screenshot, "Fixed time" is selected, and the time input box is set to 2026-06-12 15:35:07. Choosing a fixed time means all files in the imported list will be uniformly set to the same modification time. The option "Random time" can also be seen nearby, but the goal of this example is to unify the modification date, so using a fixed time is more appropriate.
After completing this step, the expected result is that the software now knows which system time field to modify and what time to set it to. For scenarios requiring a unified delivery date or archive time, it is recommended to prioritize using a fixed time; if it is just for testing or generating samples with different times, other types can be considered based on actual needs.
Step 4: Continue to Next Step, Complete Save Location and Start Processing as per Workflow
After setting the modification time, click "Next" at the bottom of the page. Following the interface workflow, the subsequent stages involve "Set save location" and "Start processing." Since the current task is to modify the time in the file system attributes, the user should continue confirming the processing method according to the software page prompts and execute the processing in the final step. It is important to emphasize that the file list and time settings should be confirmed as correct before batch processing, especially when involving formal documents, client delivery files, or historical archives. It is recommended to first verify the effect with a small sample of files.
Once you enter the final processing step, follow the interface prompts to start processing. During processing, do not arbitrarily move or delete the files being processed, nor occupy these files with other programs simultaneously, to avoid affecting the writing of system attributes. Upon completion, return to Windows File Explorer and refresh the folder to check if the "Modification Date" column has changed to the set time.
Step 5: Review the Processing Results in File Explorer
After processing is complete, it is recommended to return to the file's directory and review using the "Modification Date" column in File Explorer. In this article's example, all 10 processed files displayed as 2026/6/12 15:35, indicating that the batch modification of file modification times has taken effect.
If File Explorer does not update immediately, try refreshing the current folder, or switch directories and then re-enter to view. Since the system display format may only show up to the minute, the seconds set in the software might not be fully displayed in the File Explorer list; this is a normal phenomenon. As long as the date and minute-level time meet expectations, it generally indicates that the modification time has been successfully unified.
Frequently Asked Questions and Notes
1. Does batch modification change the file content time or the system attribute time?
This article demonstrates modifying the modification time in the file system attributes, which is the time displayed in the "Modification Date" column of File Explorer. It is not equivalent to modifying the body of a Word document, the content of an Excel spreadsheet, or the slides in a PowerPoint presentation. For instance, the main content of docx, xlsx, and pptx files will not change due to this operation; what changes is the file time attribute recorded by the operating system.
2. Can files of different formats be processed simultaneously?
Yes. As can be seen from the file list in the screenshot, txt, docx, md, xlsx, json, xml, pptx, and other files were all imported into the same batch task. For common office file formats like doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, txt, pdf, md, as long as they exist as normal files in the system, they can undergo time processing according to file system attributes. In actual operation, refer to the files successfully imported and displayed in the list by the software.
3. Why does File Explorer only display up to the minute after processing?
Windows File Explorer's list view typically displays date and time according to the system's regional settings, sometimes showing only up to the minute, whereas the software's setting interface can show more complete seconds. For example, the screenshot sets the time to 2026-06-12 15:35:07, and after processing, File Explorer displays 2026/6/12 15:35, which is caused by different display precision and does not mean the setting was invalid.
4. Is it necessary to back up files before batch processing?
Although this operation mainly modifies the file's system time attributes and does not directly edit the file body content, for important materials, it is still recommended to copy a sample for testing first. Especially when there are many files involved, or they pertain to formal archiving or compliance requirements, verifying with a small number of files before batch execution can reduce the cost of misoperation.
5. How should one choose between creation time, modification time, and access time?
If the goal is to adjust the "Modification Date" column in File Explorer, generally enabling "Modification Time" is sufficient. If you also need to synchronously adjust the creation time or access time, you can enable the relevant options in the software. However, do not modify all fields simultaneously for convenience unless you are absolutely certain these fields all need to be unified. In this article's example, only "Modification Time" was enabled precisely to make the operational intent clearer.
Summary: Using Batch Processing Tools to Reduce Repetitive Labor in File Time Organization
Batch modifying the modification time in file system attributes is suitable for scenarios like bulk file archiving, project material organization, sample file preparation, and standardization of deliverable files. With HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , users do not need to open file properties one by one, nor do they need to separately process different format files like docx, xlsx, pptx, txt, md, json, xml. They simply enter the "Modify time in file system attributes" function, import files, enable "Modification Time," set a fixed time, and then start processing according to the workflow.
From the before-and-after effects shown in this article, it can be seen that file modification times originally scattered across different dates can be unified to a specified date and time in one go. For users who frequently handle large batches of office files, this type of batch operation can significantly reduce repetitive labor and improve file organization efficiency. It is recommended that you prepare a test folder first, verify the effect following this article's steps, and then apply it to the complete material directory after confirming there are no errors.