diff --git a/test/xorriso.1 b/test/xorriso.1
index 4017ccdb..a6ec6064 100644
--- a/test/xorriso.1
+++ b/test/xorriso.1
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Copies files from filesystem into the ISO image.
 .br
 Renames or deletes file objects in the ISO image.
 .br
- > Changes file properties in the ISO image.
+Changes file properties in the ISO image.
 .br
  > Can write result as completely new image to optical media or filesystem objects.
 .br
@@ -312,19 +312,44 @@ See also the note with option -rm.
 Rename the given file objects in the ISO tree to the last
 argument in the list. Use the same rules as with shell command mv.
 .TP
-> \fB\-chown\fR uid iso_rr_path [...]
+\fB\-chown\fR uid iso_rr_path [...]
 Equivalent to shell command chown in the ISO image.
 .TP
-> \fB\-chgrp\fR gid iso_rr_path [...]
+\fB\-chgrp\fR gid iso_rr_path [...]
 Equivalent to shell command chgrp in the ISO image.
 .TP
-> \fB\-chmod\fR mode iso_rr_path [...]
+\fB\-chmod\fR mode iso_rr_path [...]
 Equivalent to shell command chmod in the ISO image.  
 .TP
-> \fB\-alter_date\fR type timestring iso_rr_path [...]
+\fB\-alter_date\fR type timestring iso_rr_path [...]
 Alter the date entries of a file in the ISO image. type is
 one of "a", "m", "b" for access time, modification time,
 both times.
+.br
+timestring may be in the following formats
+(see also section EXAMPLES):
+.br
+As expected by program date:
+ MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]]
+.br
+As produced by program date:
+ [Day] MMM DD hh:mm:ss [TZON] YYYY
+.br
+Relative times counted from current clock time:
+ +|-Number["s"|"h"|"d"|"w"|"m"|"y"]
+.br
+where "s" means seconds, "h" hours, "d" days, "w" weeks, "m" = 30d, y=365.25d.
+.br
+Absolute seconds counted from Jan 1 1970:
+ =Number
+.br
+xorriso's own timestamps:
+ YYYY.MM.DD[.hh[mm[ss]]]
+.br
+scdbackup timestamps:
+ YYMMDD[.hhmm[ss]]
+.br
+where "A0" is year 2000, "B0" is 2010, etc.
 .TP
 \fB\-mkdir\fR iso_rr_path [...]
 Create empty directories if they do not exist yet.
@@ -688,9 +713,32 @@ Use text as this program's name in subsequent messages
 Use text as this program's name and perform -help.
 .br
 .SH EXAMPLES
-
->>> to come
-
+.SS
+>>> more to come
+.br
+.SS
+.B Examples of input timestrings
+.br
+As printed by program date:
+.B 'Thu Nov  8 14:51:13 CET 2007'
+.br
+The same without ignored parts:
+.B 'Nov 8 14:51:13 2007'
+.br
+The same as expected by date:
+.B 110814512007.13
+.br
+Four weeks in the future:
+.B +4w
+.br
+The current time:
+.B +0
+.br
+Three hours ago:
+.B \-3h
+.br
+Seconds since Jan 1 1970:
+.B =1194531416
 .br
 .SH FILES
 .SS 
diff --git a/test/xorriso.c b/test/xorriso.c
index fb0d1bb4..144f890e 100644
--- a/test/xorriso.c
+++ b/test/xorriso.c
@@ -719,6 +719,58 @@ double Sfile_microtime(int flag)
 }
 
 
+int Sfile_decode_datestr(struct tm *reply, char *text, int flag)
+/* YYMMDD[.hhmm[ss]] */
+{
+ int i,l;
+ time_t current_time;
+ struct tm *now;
+
+ current_time= time(0);
+ now= localtime(&current_time);
+ for(i=0;i<sizeof(struct tm);i++)
+   ((char *) reply)[i]= ((char *) now)[i];
+
+ if(text[0]<'0'|| (text[0]>'9' && text[0]<'A') || text[0]>'Z')
+   return(0);
+ l= strlen(text);
+ for(i=1;i<l;i++)
+   if(text[i]<'0'||text[i]>'9')
+     break;
+ if(i!=6)
+   return(0);
+ if(text[i]==0)
+   goto decode;
+ if(text[i]!='.' || (l!=11 && l!=13))
+   return(0);
+ for(i++;i<l;i++)
+   if(text[i]<'0'||text[i]>'9')
+     break;
+ if(i!=l)
+   return(0);
+
+decode:;
+ reply->tm_hour= 0;
+ reply->tm_min= 0;
+ reply->tm_sec= 0;
+ i= 0;
+ if(text[0]>='A') 
+   reply->tm_year= 100+(text[i]-'A')*10+text[1]-'0';
+ else
+   reply->tm_year= 10*(text[0]-'0')+text[1]-'0';
+ reply->tm_mon=  10*(text[2]-'0')+text[3]-'0'-1;
+ reply->tm_mday= 10*(text[4]-'0')+text[5]-'0';
+ if(l==6)
+   return(1);
+ reply->tm_hour= 10*(text[7]-'0')+text[8]-'0';
+ reply->tm_min=  10*(text[9]-'0')+text[10]-'0';
+ if(l==11)
+   return(1);
+ reply->tm_sec=  10*(text[11]-'0')+text[12]-'0';
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
 #endif /*  Xorriso_sfile_externaL */
 
 
@@ -1122,6 +1174,402 @@ double Scanf_io_size(char *text, int flag)
 }
 
 
+int Decode_date_input_format(struct tm *erg, char *text, int flag)
+/* MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]] */
+{
+ int i,l,year;
+ time_t current_time;
+ struct tm *now;
+
+ current_time= time(0);
+ now= localtime(&current_time);
+ for(i=0;i<sizeof(struct tm);i++)
+   ((char *) erg)[i]= ((char *) now)[i];
+
+ l= strlen(text);
+ for(i=0;i<l;i++)
+   if(text[i]<'0'||text[i]>'9')
+     break;
+ if(i!=8 && i!=10 && i!=12)
+   return(0);
+ if(text[i]==0)
+   goto decode;
+ if(text[i]!='.' || l!=15)
+   return(0);
+ i++;
+ if(text[i]<'0'||text[i]>'9')
+   return(0);  
+ i++;
+ if(text[i]<'0'||text[i]>'9')
+   return(0);
+
+decode:; 
+ /* MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]] */
+ i= 0;
+ erg->tm_mon=  10*(text[0]-'0')+text[1]-'0'-1;
+ erg->tm_mday= 10*(text[2]-'0')+text[3]-'0';
+ erg->tm_hour= 10*(text[4]-'0')+text[5]-'0';
+ erg->tm_min=  10*(text[6]-'0')+text[7]-'0';
+ erg->tm_sec= 0;
+ if(l==8)
+   return(1);
+ if(l>10){
+   year= 1000*(text[8]-'0')+100*(text[9]-'0')+10*(text[10]-'0')+(text[11]-'0');
+ }else{
+   year= 1900+10*(text[8]-'0')+(text[9]-'0');
+   if(year<1970)
+     year+= 100;
+ }
+ erg->tm_year= year-1900;
+ if(l<=12)
+   return(1);
+ erg->tm_sec=  10*(text[13]-'0')+text[14]-'0';
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
+int Decode_date_weekday(char *text, int flag)
+{
+ int i;
+ static char days[][4]= {"Sun", "Mon", "Tue", "Wed", "Thu", "Fri", "Sat", ""};
+
+ for(i= 0; days[i][0]!=0; i++)
+   if(strncmp(text,days[i],3)==0)
+     return(i);
+ if((strlen(text)==3 || (strlen(text)==4 && text[3]==',')) &&
+    isalpha(text[0]) && isalpha(text[1]) && isalpha(text[2]))
+   return(7);
+ return(-1);
+}
+
+
+int Decode_date_month(char *text, int flag)
+{
+ int i;
+ static char months[][4]= {"Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun",
+                           "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec", ""};
+
+ for(i= 0; months[i][0]!=0; i++)
+   if(strncmp(text,months[i],3)==0)
+     return(i);
+ return(-1);
+}
+
+
+/* @return -1=not a number, -2=not a day , 1 to 31 day of month */
+int Decode_date_mday(char *text, int flag)
+{
+ int ret, i;
+
+ for(i= 0; text[i]!=0; i++)
+   if(!isdigit(text[i]))
+     return(-1);
+ if(strlen(text)>2 || text[0]==0)
+   return(-2);
+ sscanf(text, "%d", &ret);
+ if(ret<=0 || ret>31)
+   return(-2);
+ return(ret); 
+}
+
+int Decode_date_hms(char *text, struct tm *erg, int flag)
+{
+ int i, hour= -1, minute= -1, second= 0;
+
+ for(i= 0; i<9; i+= 3) {
+   if(i==6&&text[i]==0)
+ break;
+   if(!isdigit(text[i]))
+     return(-1);
+   if(!isdigit(text[i+1]))
+     return(-1);
+   if(text[i+2]!=':' && !(text[i+2]==0 && i>=3))
+     return(-1);
+   if(i==0)
+     sscanf(text+i,"%d",&hour);
+   else if(i==3)
+     sscanf(text+i,"%d",&minute);
+   else
+     sscanf(text+i,"%d",&second);
+ }
+ if(hour<0 || hour>23 || minute<0 || minute>59 || second>59)
+   return(-1);
+ erg->tm_hour= hour;
+ erg->tm_min= minute;
+ erg->tm_sec= second;
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
+/* @return -1=not a number, -2=not a year , >=0 years AD */
+int Decode_date_year(char *text, int flag)
+{
+ int ret, i;
+
+ for(i= 0; text[i]!=0; i++)
+   if(!isdigit(text[i]))
+     return(-1);
+ if(strlen(text)!=4)
+   return(-2);
+ sscanf(text, "%d", &ret);
+ if(ret<0 || ret>3000)
+   return(-2);
+ return(ret); 
+}
+
+
+int Decode_date_timezone(char *text, struct tm *erg, int flag)
+{
+ int i;
+ static char tzs[][5]= {"GMT", "CET", "CEST", "0000", ""};
+
+ for(i= 0; tzs[i][0]!=0; i++)
+   if(strcmp(text,tzs[i])==0) {
+
+     /* ??? >>> what to do with timezone info ? Add to ->tm_hour ? */
+
+     return(1);
+   }
+ if(text[0]=='+' || text[0]=='-') {
+   for(i= 1; text[i]!=0; i++)
+     if(!isdigit(text[i]))
+       return(-1);
+   if(i!=5)
+     return(-1);
+
+   /* ??? >>> what to do with timezone info ? Add to ->tm_hour ? */
+
+   return(1);
+ } else {
+   for(i= 0; text[i]!=0; i++)
+     if(text[i]<'A' || text[i]>'Z')
+       return(-1);
+   if(i!=3 && i!=4)
+     return(-1);
+   return(2);
+ }
+}
+
+
+int Decode_date_output_format(struct tm *erg, char *text, int flag)
+/* Thu Nov  8 09:07:50 CET 2007 */
+/* Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:58:30 +0100 */
+/* Nov  7 23:24 */
+{
+ int ret, i, argc= 0, seen_year= 0, seen_month= 0, seen_day= 0, seen_time= 0;
+ char **argv= NULL;
+ struct tm *now;
+ time_t timep;
+
+ memset(erg, 0, sizeof(*erg));
+ erg->tm_isdst= -1;
+ ret= Sfile_make_argv("xorriso", text, &argc, &argv, 0);
+ if(ret<=0)
+   goto ex;
+ for(i= 1; i<argc; i++) {
+   if(!seen_month) {
+     ret= Decode_date_month(argv[i], 0);
+     if(ret>=0) {
+       seen_month= 1;
+       erg->tm_mon= ret;
+ continue;
+     }
+   }
+   if(!seen_day) {
+     ret= Decode_date_mday(argv[i], 0);
+     if(ret>0) {
+       seen_day= 1;
+       erg->tm_mday= ret;
+ continue;
+     }
+     if(ret==-2) /* first pure number must be day of month */
+       {ret= 0; goto ex;}
+   }
+   if(!seen_time) {
+     ret= Decode_date_hms(argv[i], erg, 0);
+     if(ret>0) {
+       seen_time= 1;
+ continue;
+     }
+   }
+   if(!seen_year) {
+     ret= Decode_date_year(argv[i], 0);
+     if(ret>0) {
+       erg->tm_year= ret-1900;
+       seen_year= 1;
+ continue;
+     }
+   }
+
+   /* ignorants have to stay at the end of the loop */
+
+   ret= Decode_date_timezone(argv[i], erg, 0);
+   if(ret>=0)
+ continue;
+   ret= Decode_date_weekday(argv[i], 0);
+   if(ret>=0)
+ continue; /* ignore weekdays */
+
+   {ret= 0; goto ex;} /* unrecognizable component */
+ }
+
+ if(!(seen_day && seen_month))
+  {ret= 0; goto ex;}
+ if(!seen_year) { /* then use this year */
+   timep= time(NULL);
+   now= localtime(&timep);
+   erg->tm_year= now->tm_year;
+ }   
+ ret= 1;
+ex:
+ Sfile_make_argv("", "", &argc, &argv, 2); /* release storage */
+ return(ret);
+}
+
+
+int Decode_xorriso_timestamp(struct tm *erg, char *code, int flag)
+   /* 2007.11.07.225624 */
+{
+ char buf[20];
+ int year,month,day,hour= 0,minute= 0,second= 0, i, l, mem;
+
+ memset(erg, 0, sizeof(*erg));
+ erg->tm_isdst= -1;
+
+ l= strlen(code);
+ if(l>17 || l<10)
+   return(0);
+ strcpy(buf, code);
+ for(i= 0; buf[i]!=0 && i<4; i++)
+   if(!isdigit(buf[i]))
+     return(0);
+ if(buf[4]!='.')
+   return(0);
+ buf[4]= 0;
+ sscanf(buf, "%d", &year);
+ if(year<1900 || year>3000)
+   return(0);
+ if(!(isdigit(buf[5]) && isdigit(buf[6]) && buf[7]=='.'))
+   return(0);
+ buf[7]= 0;
+ sscanf(buf+5, "%d", &month);
+ if(month<1 || month>12)
+   return(0);
+ if(!(isdigit(buf[8]) && isdigit(buf[9]) && (buf[10]=='.' || buf[10]==0)))
+   return(0);
+ buf[10]= 0;
+ sscanf(buf+8, "%d", &day);
+ if(day<1 || day>31)
+   return(0);
+ if(l==10)
+   goto done;
+ if(!(isdigit(buf[11]) && isdigit(buf[12]) &&
+      (isdigit(buf[13]) || buf[13]==0)))
+   return(0);
+ mem= buf[13];
+ buf[13]= 0;
+ sscanf(buf+11, "%d", &hour);
+ buf[13]= mem;
+ if(hour<0 || hour>23)
+   return(0);
+ if(l==13)
+   goto done;
+ if(!(isdigit(buf[13]) && isdigit(buf[14]) &&
+      (isdigit(buf[15]) || buf[15]==0)))
+   return(0);
+ mem= buf[15];
+ buf[15]= 0;
+ sscanf(buf+13, "%d", &minute);
+ buf[15]= mem;
+ if(minute<0 || minute>59)
+   return(0);
+ if(l==15)
+   goto done;
+ if(!(isdigit(buf[15]) && isdigit(buf[16]) && buf[17]==0))
+   return(0);
+ sscanf(buf+15, "%d", &second);
+ if(second<0 || second>59)
+   return(0);
+
+done:;
+ erg->tm_year= year-1900;
+ erg->tm_mon= month-1;
+ erg->tm_mday= day;
+ erg->tm_hour= hour;
+ erg->tm_min= minute;
+ erg->tm_sec= second;
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
+time_t Decode_timestring(char *code, time_t *date, int flag)
+{
+ char *cpt,scale_chr;
+ double value,seconds;
+ struct tm result_tm;
+ int seconds_valid= 0;
+
+ *date= 0;
+ cpt= code;
+ if(code[0]=='-' || code[0]=='+' || code[0]=='='){
+   if(code[1]==0)
+     return(0);
+   if(!isdigit(code[1]))
+     return(0);
+   value= -1;
+   if(code[0]=='=') {
+     seconds= 0;
+     sscanf(code+1,"%lf",&value);
+   } else {
+     seconds= time(0);
+     sscanf(code,"%lf",&value);
+   }
+   scale_chr= code[strlen(code)-1];
+   if(isalpha(scale_chr))
+     scale_chr= tolower(scale_chr);
+   if     (scale_chr=='s') seconds+= 1.0*value;
+   else if(scale_chr=='h') seconds+= 3600.0*value;
+   else if(scale_chr=='d') seconds+= 86400.0*value;
+   else if(scale_chr=='w') seconds+= 86400.0*7.0*value;
+   else if(scale_chr=='m') seconds+= 86400.0*31.0*value;
+   else if(scale_chr=='y') seconds+= 86400.0*(365.25*value+1.0);
+   else                    seconds+= 1.0*value;
+   seconds_valid= 1;
+   goto completed;
+ } else if(Sfile_decode_datestr(&result_tm,code,0)>0) {
+   /* YYMMDD[.hhmm[ss]] */
+   result_tm.tm_isdst= -1;
+   seconds= mktime(&result_tm);
+   seconds_valid= 1;
+   goto completed;
+ } else if(Decode_date_input_format(&result_tm,code,0)>0) {
+   /* MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]] */
+   result_tm.tm_isdst= -1;
+   seconds= mktime(&result_tm);
+   seconds_valid= 1;
+   goto completed;
+ } else if(Decode_xorriso_timestamp(&result_tm, code, 0)>0) {
+   /* 2007.11.07.225624 */
+   seconds= mktime(&result_tm);
+   seconds_valid= 1;
+   goto completed;
+ } else if(Decode_date_output_format(&result_tm, code, 0)>0) {
+   /* Thu Nov  8 09:07:50 CET 2007 */;
+   /* Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:58:30 +0100 */;
+   /* Nov  7 23:24 */;
+   seconds= mktime(&result_tm);
+   seconds_valid= 1;
+   goto completed;
+ }
+ return(0);
+completed:;
+ if(!seconds_valid)
+   return(0);
+ *date= seconds;
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 
 
@@ -1776,9 +2224,12 @@ int Xorriso_new(struct XorrisO ** xorriso,char *progname, int flag)
  m->global_uid= 0;
  m->volid[0]= 0;
  m->do_global_gid= 0;
+ m->global_gid= 0;
+ m->do_global_mode= 0;
+ m->global_dir_mode= 0555;
+ m->global_file_mode= 0444;
  m->do_overwrite= 2;
  m->do_reassure= 0;
- m->global_gid= 0;
  m->indev[0]= 0;
  m->in_drive_handle= NULL;
  m->in_volset_handle= NULL;
@@ -3265,19 +3716,43 @@ int Xorriso_option_alter_date(struct XorrisO *xorriso,
                                char *time_type, char *timestring,
                                int argc, char **argv, int *idx, int flag)
 {
- int i, end_idx;
+ int i, end_idx, ret, was_failure= 0, t_type= 0;
+ time_t t;
 
  end_idx= Xorriso_end_idx(xorriso, argc, argv, *idx, 0);
 
- fprintf(stderr, ">>> XORRISO : decode timestring %s\n", timestring);
- fprintf(stderr, ">>> LIBISOFS : -alter_date %s %s  ",
-                 time_type, timestring);
- for(i= *idx; i<end_idx; i++)
-   fprintf(stderr, "%s ", argv[i]);
- fprintf(stderr, "\n");
- 
+ if(strcmp(time_type, "a")==0)
+   t_type|= 1;
+ else if(strcmp(time_type, "m")==0)
+   t_type|= 4;
+ else if(strcmp(time_type, "b")==0)
+   t_type|= 5;
+ else {
+   sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "-alter_date: Unrecognized type '%s'",
+           time_type);
+   Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "SORRY", 0);
+   ret= 0; goto ex;
+ }
+ ret= Decode_timestring(timestring, &t, 0);
+ if(ret<=0) {
+   sprintf(xorriso->info_text, "-alter_date: Cannot decode timestring '%s'",
+           timestring);
+   Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "SORRY", 0);
+   ret= 0; goto ex;
+ }
+ for(i= *idx; i<end_idx; i++) {
+   ret= Xorriso_set_time(xorriso, argv[i], t, t_type);
+   if(ret<0)
+     goto ex;
+   if(ret==0)
+     was_failure= 1;
+ }
+ ret= 1;
+ex:;
  (*idx)= end_idx;
- return(1);
+ if(ret<=0)
+   return(ret);
+ return(!was_failure);
 }
 
 
@@ -3502,7 +3977,7 @@ ex:;
 int Xorriso_option_chmodi(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *mode,
                           int argc, char **argv, int *idx, int flag)
 {
- int i, end_idx, ret, who_val= 0;
+ int i, end_idx, ret, who_val= 0, was_failure= 0;
  unsigned int num;
  mode_t mode_and= ~0, mode_or= 0, mode_val;
  char sfe[4*SfileadrL], *mpt, *opt, *vpt;
@@ -3589,12 +4064,17 @@ unrecognizable:;
  ret= 1;
  for(i= *idx; i<end_idx; i++) {
    ret= Xorriso_set_st_mode(xorriso, argv[i], mode_and, mode_or, 0);
-   if(ret<=0)
+   if(ret<0)
  break;   
+   if(ret==0)
+     was_failure= 1;
  }
+ ret= 1;
 ex:;
  (*idx)= end_idx;
- return(ret);
+ if(ret<=0)
+   return(ret);
+ return(!was_failure);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/test/xorriso_timestamp.h b/test/xorriso_timestamp.h
index a236ba0f..6e394588 100644
--- a/test/xorriso_timestamp.h
+++ b/test/xorriso_timestamp.h
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#define Xorriso_timestamP "2007.11.07.225624"
+#define Xorriso_timestamP "2007.11.08.144451"
diff --git a/test/xorrisoburn.c b/test/xorrisoburn.c
index 1e1419c1..d78767a5 100644
--- a/test/xorrisoburn.c
+++ b/test/xorrisoburn.c
@@ -314,11 +314,11 @@ int Xorriso_write_growing(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
  sopts.copy_eltorito= 1;
  sopts.no_cache_inodes= 0;
  sopts.sort_files= 1;
- sopts.default_mode= 0;
- sopts.replace_dir_mode= 0;
- sopts.dir_mode= 0555;
- sopts.replace_file_mode= 0;
- sopts.file_mode= 0444;
+ sopts.default_mode= 1;
+ sopts.replace_dir_mode= xorriso->do_global_mode;
+ sopts.dir_mode= xorriso->global_dir_mode;
+ sopts.replace_file_mode= xorriso->do_global_mode;
+ sopts.file_mode= xorriso->global_file_mode;
  sopts.replace_uid= (xorriso->do_global_uid);
  sopts.uid= xorriso->global_uid;
  sopts.replace_gid= (xorriso->do_global_gid);
@@ -879,6 +879,7 @@ handle_path_node:;
        Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "SORRY", 0);
        return(0);
      }
+     iso_tree_node_set_ctime((struct iso_tree_node *) dir, time(NULL));
 
      /* >>> copy properties from correspondent directory in disk_path
             if there is any */;
@@ -1902,7 +1903,7 @@ much_too_long:;
      tmpt= localtime_r(&mtime, &tms);
      if(tmpt==0)
        sprintf(rpt+strlen(rpt), "%12.f ",(double) mtime);
-     else if(time(0)-mtime < 180*86400)
+     else if(time(NULL)-mtime < 180*86400 && time(NULL)-mtime >= 0)
        sprintf(rpt+strlen(rpt), "%3s %2d %2.2d:%2.2d ",
                months[tms.tm_mon], tms.tm_mday, tms.tm_hour, tms.tm_min);
      else
@@ -2045,7 +2046,7 @@ wdi_is_not_a_dir:;
      tmpt= localtime_r(&mtime, &tms);
      if(tmpt==0)
        sprintf(rpt+strlen(rpt), "%12.f ",(double) mtime);
-     else if(time(0)-mtime < 180*86400)
+     else if(time(NULL)-mtime < 180*86400 && time(NULL)-mtime >= 0)
        sprintf(rpt+strlen(rpt), "%3s %2d %2.2d:%2.2d ",
                months[tms.tm_mon], tms.tm_mday, tms.tm_hour, tms.tm_min);
      else
@@ -2479,6 +2480,7 @@ int Xorriso_set_st_mode(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path,
  mode= iso_tree_node_get_permissions(node);
  mode= (mode & mode_and) | mode_or;
  iso_tree_node_set_permissions(node, mode);
+ iso_tree_node_set_ctime(node, time(NULL));
  sprintf(xorriso->info_text,"Permissions now: %-5.5o  %s",
          mode, Text_shellsafe(path, sfe, 0));
  Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "DEBUG", 0);
@@ -2497,6 +2499,7 @@ int Xorriso_set_uid(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, uid_t uid,
  if(ret<=0)
    return(ret);
  iso_tree_node_set_uid(node, uid);
+ iso_tree_node_set_ctime(node, time(NULL));
  xorriso->volset_change_pending= 1;
  return(1);
 }
@@ -2512,6 +2515,30 @@ int Xorriso_set_gid(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, gid_t gid,
  if(ret<=0)
    return(ret);
  iso_tree_node_set_gid(node, gid);
+ iso_tree_node_set_ctime(node, time(NULL));
+ xorriso->volset_change_pending= 1;
+ return(1);
+}
+
+
+/* @parm flag  bit0= atime, bit1= ctime, bit2= mtime, bit8=no auto ctime */
+int Xorriso_set_time(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, time_t t,
+                    int flag)
+{
+ int ret;
+ struct iso_tree_node *node;
+
+ ret= Xorriso_get_node_by_path(xorriso, in_path, NULL, &node, 0);
+ if(ret<=0)
+   return(ret);
+ if(flag&1)
+   iso_tree_node_set_atime(node, t);
+ if(flag&2)
+   iso_tree_node_set_ctime(node, t);
+ if(flag&4)
+   iso_tree_node_set_mtime(node, t);
+ if(!(flag&(2|256)))
+   iso_tree_node_set_ctime(node, time(NULL));
  xorriso->volset_change_pending= 1;
  return(1);
 }
diff --git a/test/xorrisoburn.h b/test/xorrisoburn.h
index 530098a3..01abe4fb 100644
--- a/test/xorrisoburn.h
+++ b/test/xorrisoburn.h
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ int Xorriso_set_uid(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, uid_t uid,
 int Xorriso_set_gid(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, gid_t gid,
                     int flag);
 
+/* @parm flag  bit0= atime, bit1= ctime, bit2= mtime, bit8=no auto ctime */
+int Xorriso_set_time(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *in_path, time_t t,
+                    int flag);
 
 #endif /* Xorrisoburn_includeD */