Re^3: (OT) indexing pdf archive content in a multiuser environment- how do i know when the content changed?

The only time the mtime AND ctime will be the same but the contents has changed is if the file has changed within the same time (the same second, or whatever is the resolution the file system uses) as the last check. You can safely ignore anything that hasn't changed for 2 checks.

update: slightly stronger wording: ctime AND mtime

"What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"

Comment on Re^3: (OT) indexing pdf archive content in a multiuser environment- how do i know when the content changed?

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Re^4: (OT) indexing pdf archive content in a multiuser environment- how do i know when the content changed? by jdporter (Paladin) on May 26, 2007 at 01:50 UTC
Except that it's possible for a user to intentially subvert a scheme based on such checks by using touch.	[reply]
Re^5: (OT) indexing pdf archive content in a multiuser environment- how do i know when the content changed? by Joost (Canon) on May 26, 2007 at 02:34 UTC
Well, yeah, but this scheme isn't trying to protect against intentional subversion. It will work when everyone is playing fair. Also, my copy of Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment (2nd edition) implies you can't change the mtime without setting the ctime to the current time. update: AFAIK you can't actually set the ctime to anything but the current time at all. "What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"	[reply]