XnView Software

Bug report - Example:
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Subject: 0.99.7: Update files from catalogs always changes file date

XnView: MP 1.3.1 64bits (Oct 11 2022)
OS: Windows 10 - 64-bit

Given Settings - General - Keep original date/time, all options checked.
Given Settings - Metadata - Export Catalog's Category, all options checked.

Effect: Running 'Update files from catalog' always changes the file date.
Edit Comment, Edit XMP, and Edit IPTC honor the settings.

To reproduce:
1. Browse a folder with image file(s) (JPEG format).
2. Select first image file. Note the file date/time.
3. In Tools - Settings - General - Keep original date/time, check all options.
4. In Tools - Settings - Metadata - Export Catalog's Category, check all options.
5. Using Edit Comment, add a comment. Verify file date/time not changed.
6. Using Edit XMP, add a description. Verify file date/time not changed.
7. Using Edit IPTC, add a caption. Verify file date/time not changed.
8. In View menu, select Update files from catalog. Verify file date/time has changed.
Actual behaviour (bug): file date/time is set to current date/time.:

Expected behaviour: keep original file date/time as settings indicate.
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Thanks to your detailed description I can reproduce the problem.

I can confirm that this is fixed in 1.4 Beta and the file modified date is not changed (if the option is set) when writing out.

However, this fix may have broken SAveAs. I'll create a new bug report but in summary.
1. Click Save As
2. Get warning that if saving in this format existing metadata will be deleted (why? prev version didn't)
3. Press ok and get the same warning again.
4. Press ok again and it says saving, but no new file is created and the name on the open photo is not changed.

This problem is supposed to be fixed in XnView MP 1.4.0. Please check and confirm the bug fix here.

This bug is fixed but it introduced a new one where the .xmp sidecar is created even if the checkbox to Update or Create is unchecked. I'll create a new bug report but this has an easy workaround by setting the individual filetypes to No. It honors that setting.