Accessed column -- what triggers it to change the date

efine · 2026-07-15T20:11:42+00:00

Could someone provide information about what the column titled "Accessed" keeps track of and what triggers it to change.

efine · 2026-07-15T20:20:30+00:00

Also -- why do some entries not have an accessed date? Is it possible they were entered/accessed before this column was available?

adamsmith · 2026-07-15T21:59:14+00:00

The "Accessed" column/field is filled with the current date/time when an item is added from the web. You can add/modify it at any later point.

Items that weren't imported from the Web don't have accessed dates: that could be manual entry or import of metadata.

If you just want to keep track of when you added (or last modified) items, you want the Date Added/Date Modified columns (which do what their names suggest and can't be changed)

efine · 2026-07-16T00:26:20+00:00

Thanks Adam -- this is helpful. Just for further clarification -- for an item imported from the web -- the accessed date will be the date of import. Do I understand correctly that date will not change if I simply open the item or drag it to another folder? Will it change if I modify the entry in some way -- e.g., add a tag or update a link?
(The reason I am asking is because I plan on importing data from a Zotero export file -- so the Added date will be the date of the import. I am hoping to use the Accessed date as an alternative method of knowing when the item was actually added from the web.)