BASH: Delete all but certain files

tboss888 · 01-12-2009, 06:55 PM

I have a directory with ~200 files in it. I want to specify certain files to keep in the local directory and trash the rest. Any idea how I would do this?

i.e. a.txt b.txt c.txt d.dat e.dat

So if I wanted to save a.txt and b.txt but delete all other files.

Code:

ls | grep -v a.txt  | xargs rm

This would work for 1 file but not for multiple files.

chrism01 · 01-12-2009, 07:39 PM

ls|grep -v .txt|xargs rm

tboss888 · 01-12-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

ls|grep -v .txt|xargs rm

The problem is that I want to save multiple files with different formats. So a blanket .txt won't work because I want to delete some of the .txt and save some.

billymayday · 01-12-2009, 10:51 PM

Do you have a list of filenames you want to keep?

Is this a one-off?

PTrenholme · 01-12-2009, 11:24 PM

Try grep -v '\(file1\)\|\(file2\)\| ...'

But it might be easier to do it with gawk.

firstfire · 01-13-2009, 05:11 AM

Hi, tboss888.

One way to do this in BASH, is to use extended patten matching. To enable it, run

Code:

shopt -s extglob

Then, if you have a list with shell patterns of files you want to save (a.txt,b.txt in your example), you may use following:

Code:

echo !(`cat files.lst | tr '\n' '|'`) | xargs rm

According to bash(1) operator !(pattern1|pattern2|...) matches anything except one of the given patterns.

bgeddy · 01-13-2009, 05:27 AM

To delete all except file1,file2 and file3:

Code:

shopt -s extglob
rm !(file1|file2|file3)

Edit:Sorry - just noticed I basically repeated what firstfire said..

tboss888 · 01-13-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgeddy

To delete all except file1,file2 and file3:

Code:

shopt -s extglob
rm !(file1|file2|file3)

Edit:Sorry - just noticed I basically repeated what firstfire said..

Thanks! This worked like a charm.