MP 1.9.10: Archive attribute (A) not changed when saving

[jotess]

XnView: MP 1.9.10 64-bit (Jan 15 2026) - Libformat 7.230 (Windows)
OS: Windows 11 Pro 64bit 10.0.26100.7623

When doing changes to an image and saving, the Archive attribute is not changed.
This is not dependent on the settings for "Keep original date/time" in Settings dialogue, section General/File operations.

Effect: When using backup software that checks for the A attribute to determine, which files are to be backed up, the changed files are omitted.

To reproduce:
1. Check Archive attribute in Explorer, if not reset: reset it (uncheck checkbox in Properties dialogue).
2. Do any sort of change to an image. (Lossless transformation like rotating; changing metadata; cropping), save
3. Check Archive attribute in Explorer

Actual behaviour (bug): Archive attribute still reset (unchecked)

Expected behaviour: Archive attribute set (checked). At least, if "Keep original date/time" has not been checked for the sort of change to the image that has been done and therefore the file's Modified timestamp has been set to the time of saving.
My personal preference would be to always set the Archive bit with changes to the file, independently of the date/time preference setting, but others might see that differently. Ideally, this would be another preference to set.

[xnview]

any thoughts of other users?

[user0]

imo it is not required

while apps usually set the Archive attribute on save:
- it is Windows-specific
- normal backup software does not rely on this attribute (using timestamps/journals/content checks instead)