- var_dump: documentation ( source)
<?php
$current = '20130117010101';
$dateString = '20130115000000';
$preserveAfterDate = new DateTime($current);
$preserveAfterDate->setTime(0,0,0);
$preserveAfterDate->sub(new DateInterval('P2D'));
var_dump($preserveAfterDate->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'));
$fileDate = new DateTime($dateString);
var_dump($fileDate->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'));
$difference = $preserveAfterDate->diff($fileDate);
var_dump($difference->format('%r%a'));