How to batch copy "date modified" from files in directory to other files with identical names (but compressed) in another directory?

Question

I have been compressing my 500++ MP4 videos from 2 years ago with Handbrake, however, as the compressed files are registered as new files, they do not retain their original metadata attributes (date modified, date created, etc).

I'd like to batch copy the metadata from the original files to the compressed ones, especially the date modified. The files have identical names, only located in different directory.

BulkFileChanger can batch modify dates, but it can't copy dates from other files.

What kind of compression does this handbreak use? You can use the command line tool robocopy to copy the files with original dates... — Ricardo Bohner, Jul 25 '21 at 16:34

StarGeek · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-25T16:02:19.840

2

Using the command line program, exiftool, you would use this command
exiftool -TagsFromFile /path/to/sourceFiles/%F -All:All -FileModifyDate -FileCreateDate /Path/to/NewFiles/

This will copy all embedded tags that exiftool can copy as well as the system timestamps from the /path/to/sourceFiles/ directory to files with the exact same name in the /Path/to/NewFiles/ directory.

This command creates backup files. Add -overwrite_original to suppress the creation of backup files.

edited Jul 25 '21 at 16:02

answered Jul 25 '21 at 15:36

StarGeek

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This does not copy the file attributes in the operating system. And the old metadata can make the file unplayable. – harrymc Jul 25 '21 at 15:49
What metadata do you believe will make it unplayable? There are things that exiftool can't copy, but the things that it can will not make it unplayable. – StarGeek Jul 25 '21 at 16:01
Video length and other stuff. In any case, this does not seem to be what the poster is asking. – harrymc Jul 25 '21 at 16:06
Exiftool does not edit the video stream, so it cannot change properties of the streams such as length, size, frame rate, etc. See [here](https://exiftool.org/TagNames/QuickTime.html) for full list of what exiftool can edit in a video file. – StarGeek Jul 25 '21 at 16:11
I tested this with other videos and I got error. What did I do wrong? https://i.imgur.com/OvljQIX.png – deathlock Jul 25 '21 at 16:30
Exiftool can't find the original files in the path you gave. Make sure that the file listed is in the ` BlackSkylands` directory with the exact same name. If the file is in a sub-directory or has a different filename, for example, is an AVI instead of a MP4, then the command will have to be adjusted. – StarGeek Jul 25 '21 at 16:45
@StarGeek ok I missed that. That worked. Thanks! – deathlock Jul 25 '21 at 17:01

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 30 '22 at 20:14

BulkFileChanger can do it now since Version 1.65.

BulkFileChanger - Change file time / attributes

BulkFileChanger now allows you to change and copy the date/time values > stored inside media files ( .mp4 , .mov). You can change/copy 3 date/time values: Item Date, Date Encoded, Date Acquired.

How to batch copy "date modified" from files in directory to other files with identical names (but compressed) in another directory?

2 Answers2