ow do I delete all files which were created on a specific date

marsguy · 03-22-2007, 12:05 AM

Hello

I have a simple question!

How do I delete all files which were created on a specific date?

Thanks in advance

johngreenwood · 03-22-2007, 01:21 AM

I do not have an answer for you, but I do have this. Probably not very helpful but here it is anyway.

I made a short script that did this:

Code:

if [ $* = `ls -l | cut -b 28-37` ]
then echo "yes"
else echo "no"

that was basically it, when I ran it in a directory with a file created for a test, using todays date as it appears with the ls -l command, it returned yes. On another file it returned no. BUT, the position of the date is not always in the same location so if it was a script to remove files, it probably wouldn't get them all. Also you would probably have to use a for loop. I don't know, I am very new to this.

Someone will probably show up with an instant way to do it, or a really cool script to do it. I just thought this may help, another command to look at (I think) is sed, which I haven't learned yet.

Good luck.

Tinkster · 03-22-2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marsguy

Hello

I have a simple question!

How do I delete all files which were created on a specific date?

Thanks in advance

Something like this?

Code:

#!/bin/bash
timediff=`echo '('  \`date +"%s"\` - \`date --date="$*" +"%s"\` ')/3600/24'| bc`  
find . -type f -mtime $timediff -exec echo rm -rf {} \;

Save as some file name and invoke like so:

Code:

somefilename "DD Mon YYYY"

When you're sure it finds the right ones remove the
echo behind the exec :}

Cheers,
Tink

JZL240I-U · 03-23-2007, 05:03 AM

With Konqueror (sort by date) and two or three clicks

Tinkster · 03-23-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JZL240I-U

With Konqueror (sort by date) and two or three clicks :p ;)

And konqueror will scan the subdirectories, too?
I have to ask because I don't use it.

Cheers,
Tink

Jordi · 03-23-2007, 02:28 PM

Tinkster's answer it's a good solution.

[off_topic_mode]

The FreeBSD's ls command has an specific option for do that:

-U Use time when file was created for sorting or printing.

It's a pitty than Linux ls has not this useful option.
Maybe we should send some feedback to ls mantainers and developers for request that feature.

[/off_toppic_mode]

Tinkster · 03-23-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordi

Tinkster's answer it's a good solution.

Thanks :}

Quote:

[off_topic_mode]

The FreeBSD's ls command has an specific option for do that:

-U Use time when file was created for sorting or printing.

It's a pitty than Linux ls has not this useful option.
Maybe we should send some feedback to ls mantainers and developers for request that feature.

[/off_toppic_mode]

Code:

ls -ltc

Cheers,
Tink

marsguy · 03-25-2007, 12:39 AM

Thanks everyone for helping me

I really appreciate it

JZL240I-U · 03-26-2007, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkster

And konqueror will scan the subdirectories, too?...

Not normally, no. But it is so versatile, that there might be a mode to achieve that too.

I never tried, because for recursive tasks I use the command line...

mjp053000 · 08-21-2007, 08:15 AM

I have had some success using the following to delete files by date.

#these commands set up the date range

touch -d'2004-01-01 00:00:00' 2004-Jan
touch -d'2004-05-31 23:59:59' 2004-May

#this will actually delete the files

find /some/dir -newer 2004-Jan -not -newer 2004-May -exec rm -rf {} \;

you can also use ls, mv, etc... in place of rm
hope this helps.