Definition of Archive Attribute in Network Encyclopedia.
What is Archive Attribute?
Archive Attribute is an attribute of files and folders that, when marked or set by the Microsoft Windows NT Backup program, indicates that the file or folder has been backed up.
Then, when the backup program is run again if the archive bit is still set, the file is not backed up because it has not been modified. If the file is modified in the interim, the archive attribute is cleared, indicating that the file needs to be backed up again.
The archive attribute for a file can also be set or cleared manually by opening the file’s property sheet.
If you use the xcopy command to copy files using Windows 95 or Windows 98, the destination files created will always have the archive attribute set.
