Image file creation date discrepancy between Finder and DTP4

DEVONthink
1

I have many jpg image files that copied onto my hard disk from camera storage media and cell phones. They are cataloged in Photoshop Elements Organizer, where the EXIF data shows the DateTimeOriginal corresponding to the date the photo was taken, as opposed to Date Created which is either the date I copied the photo onto disk, or the date I cataloged it in PSE:

Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.56.45 PM
Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.56.45 PM526×590 78.1 KB

If I copy DateTimeOriginal to Date Created using “A Better Finder Attributes” app, the update appears in the Finder:

Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.27.23 PM
Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.27.23 PM736×526 56.8 KB

But when I index the file into DTP4, “Created” still shows the original date created and not the date shown in the Finder:

Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.27.53 PM
Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 3.27.53 PM540×650 47.8 KB

Why doesn’t DTP show the date that appears in the Finder? Where is it getting the date it displays?

What I would like is to be able to retrieve the metadata tag kMDItemContentCreationDate using the mdls Terminal command through an AppleScript within DTP, and use it to set the DTP “Created” date. I don’t know how to accomplish this. however.

2

And what’s the actual mdls output for that image ?

3

mdls -attr kMDItemContentCreationDate [path] returns:

kMDItemContentCreationDate = 2011-03-03 18:37:44 +0000

4

Is Settings > Files > Import > Dates > Use content creation & modification dates en- or disabled?

5

It is enabled. However, these files are indexed, not imported.

6

The Import settings are applied in both cases. Does disabling the option and reindexing make a difference?

7

That did it! “Update Indexed Items” had no effect, but deleting the folder from the database and indexing it in again did the trick. DEVONthink now shows the “Created” date as displayed in the Finder.

Just to be sure I understand the “Use content creation & modification dates” setting – this applies only to the import or indexing actions, when DTP sets its creation/mod dates for the files? Re-enabling the setting will not affect what DTP displays?

Thank you!

8

That’s right.