How to search and delete files in Unix/Linux
 

I would like to recursively delete files of type *.txt inside a directory (and its subdirectory and so on). How do I do thaT?

I tried

rm -rf 'find . -name *.txt"

but this doesn't work.

Try:

Funky syntax, but it oughta work.

Try find . -iname *.txt -exec rm -f {} \;


Håkan

Edit: Ahh, you beat me to it. :)

'I would like to recursively delete files of type *.txt inside a directory (and its subdirectory and so on). How do I do thaT?

I tried

rm -rf 'find . -name *.txt"'


You are on the right track. Try it this way:

find /home/user/sampdir -iname "*.txt" -exec rm {} \;

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Steve Stites

A little explanation would be helpful. I get the '-exec rm' part but what are the two switches after that??

{} \;

??

"A little explanation would be helpful. I get the '-exec rm' part but what are the two switches after that??"

{} \;


The {} tells find to drop each file name that is a match to the pattern into the rm command and then execute the rm command. The \; is necessary for bash to understand the syntax. The return is used by bash as "end of command". In this command you need two "end of commands" in a row (or nested "end of commands" ) or bash will get confused. The first "end of command" is the \; and the second is the return.

See:
man find

___________________________________
Be prepared. Create a LifeBoat CD.
http://users.rcn.com/srstites/LifeBo...home.page.html

Steve Stites