A date file is created for every target that is to be generated.
The name of the date file comprises the name of the processed file and the file extension .dat: <file_name>.dat
The timestamp is identical to the timestamp of the corresponding module file or link description.
The date file is used during the MAKE operation to determine whether the local targets correspond to the module files/link descriptions that are currently being used. If the two files do not have the same timestamp, the target is regarded as not up to date and is regenerated.
Date files for include files are stored in the $WRK/datesdirectory within their layer irrespective of the VMAKE version used in the MAKE operation, since include files are not version specific.
Date files for all other module files are stored in the version-specific $WRK/<version>/dates directory, under the relevant subdirectories for the layer in question.
Date files for link descriptions are stored directly in the version-specific $WRK/<version>/dates directory.