FOLDER SIZE REPORTING

FolderSizes introduces a powerful feature called calculated date/time fields that provides deeper insights into your folder contents. This innovative capability solves a fundamental limitation in how Windows handles folder timestamps.

The Problem with Standard Windows Timestamps

Windows maintains three primary timestamps for folders:

• Last modified
• Created
• Last accessed

However, these timestamps don’t always accurately reflect the actual contents of folders. Here’s why:

Windows only updates folder timestamps when:

• Files are added to or removed from a folder
• The folder itself is renamed or moved

Windows does NOT update folder timestamps when:

• Files inside the folder are modified
• Files in subfolders are changed
• Files are renamed without changing location

This creates a significant gap in understanding when the contents of a folder were truly last modified.

How Calculated Date/Time Fields Work

FolderSizes addresses this limitation by analyzing the timestamps of everything contained within each folder—including all files and subfolders—to calculate a more meaningful timestamp.

The Modified (calculated) date shows the most recent modification timestamp of any item within the entire folder hierarchy. This provides a much more accurate picture of when the folder’s contents were last changed.

Seeing the Difference in Action

To view calculated timestamps in FolderSizes:

1. Launch FolderSizes
2. Right-click on the column headers in the main window
3. Ensure the Modified (calculated) column is enabled
4. For comparison, position this column next to the standard Modified column

When analyzing folders, you’ll often notice significant differences between these values. The calculated date is typically more recent because it reflects changes to file contents that Windows folder timestamps miss.

Why This Matters

Calculated date/time fields deliver several important benefits:

• Accurate content tracking: Know when folder contents were truly last modified
• Better sorting capabilities: Sort folders by their actual recent activity
• Improved file management: Identify outdated content more reliably
• Enhanced archiving decisions: Make better choices about what to archive based on actual usage

Real-World Applications

This feature proves invaluable when:

• Looking for recently modified project files across complex folder structures
• Identifying which folders contain outdated content
• Determining which areas of your file system are most actively used
• Making data-driven decisions about archival and cleanup

By providing timestamps that truly reflect folder contents, FolderSizes gives you a more accurate understanding of your data landscape.