Deleting data from file by date?

mephitic · 09-22-2004, 09:14 AM

I've got a log file that I use for reporting purposes. Is it possible to run a command and delete data in file older then a certain date? It's starting to get a couple hundred megs and I'd like to remove any data older then say 2 months.

Is this possible? If so how do I go about doing this?

Thanks!
MePH

Boudewijn · 09-22-2004, 09:26 AM

Hmm, I don't know exactly, but isn't it possible to write a script for doing that (it's possible :+ , I'm a programmer) . Something like:

-Determine current date minus 2 months
-Open file, and look for the date string
-Copy everything AFTER that string to a temporary file
-Delete the log
-Copy the temporary file back

mephitic · 09-22-2004, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boudewijn
Hmm, I don't know exactly, but isn't it possible to write a script for doing that (it's possible :+ , I'm a programmer) . Something like:

-Determine current date minus 2 months
-Open file, and look for the date string
-Copy everything AFTER that string to a temporary file
-Delete the log
-Copy the temporary file back

Sounds like in theroy that would work. However I'm far beyond being able to program in Linux

... But if you have some free time and are willing to give it a shot, I'll be more then happy to work with you on it.

Thanks,
MePH

Boudewijn · 09-22-2004, 12:33 PM

Ok,

seems cool to me.
Please add my jabber: boudewijnLinux@jabber.org
or

boudewijnector@hotmail.com (MSN)

We'll do it using a bash script i'd think, and post the code here.