Delete files using date criteria - Linux

[BearZDefect]

Linux gurus, I have one for you:

How can I delete all files in a folder (or tree) that match a simple date criteria, such as modified "after xx/xx/xx" or "before xx/xx/xx" at the Linux command shell?

If there isn't a command that can do this directly perhaps there is a standard program that can list the qualifying files, and this list can be used to actually delete with a standard program like rm.

 

[wwillson]

This will work fine, but do not run as root and make darn sure to search only the path you really want to delete files from - you've been warned.

find /path/to/files* -mtime +5 -exec rm {} \;

-mtime is in days "-mtime +5" will match all files older than 5 days.

run "find /path/to/files* -mtime +5" FIRST to see what you're about to delete.

Wayne

 

[Familyguy]

Yep, find -mtime is the ticket. If you're going to trawl through a huge number of files, you might want to use xargs as well.

In any case, "man find" is your friend.

 

[BearZDefect]

wwillson, Familyguy, thank you!

The examples are very helpful.

I hadn't thought of using 'find' for this purpose.
man find has been added to my mental notebook.

My thoughts got stuck with the more primitive programs like ls and derivatives.

 

[javacontour]

You can always mv the files to another location if you want to actually eye-ball them before deleting them, if the idea of having a command decide what gets deleted.

I.E. find /path/to/files* -mtime +5 -exec mv {} /templocation \;

 

[wwillson]

Ah, the UNIX shell is a wonderful world of endless opportunities indeed!