When a shapefile contains either or both of the attribute fields named CREATED_ and UPDATED_, the program will automatically use them to store a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timestamp indicating when a record was created and/or last edited. Appended to the date and time data is the editor's name, or whatever name has been specified in a dialog similar to the one shown above. The above dialog is actually what pops up when a user attempts to edit a record without having already supplied a non-blank name, either earlier in the session or in a previous session in which the "Preserve name across program sessions" box was also checked. Normally, the Name for Signing Timestamps dialog is accessed via the Preferences menu.
Enabling Advanced Features
Like the special location-related fields, the timestamp fields are controlled by the program and can't ordinarily be directly edited. There is, however, a way for the database maintainer to get around this limitation when timestamps need to be repaired, or if it's desired that a record be edited while preserving the existing UPDATED_ timestamp. If the WallsMap executable is invoked with either the -TS_OPT or -TS_OPT-ON command-line option, this dialog will have another check box labeled Suppress TS updates when modifying records and enable advanced features. If you use the second variant of this option, the box will be checked at the start of each program session. Having it checked will not only suppress automatic updating of the UPDATED_ field (except for new records); it will also remove the read-only status of fields specified as being read-only in the shapefile's .tmpshp component. (For more information on the special fields and their formats, see Template File Format.)