shell script for delete old files

krishnarao · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2006

i want to delete all the files in my directory except the latest one. i need to do this from shell script.
say i have
a.txt - latest file
b.txt,
c.txt..
it should delete all the files except a.txt?

vino · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2006

Code:

file=$(ls -tr | tail -1)
find . ! -newer "$file" -maxdepth 1 -exec rm {} \;

satyajit007 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-13-2009

It's not working sir..Any other option...

angheloko · #4 (**permalink**) 01-13-2009

modifying vino's script a little

Code:

x=`ls -lt | grep ^- | head -1 | awk '{print $NF}'`
find . ! -name . -prune -type f ! -name "$x" -exec rm {} \;

orailker · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2009

Hi satyajit007,
Put the following 2 lines in your script file and make your script file executable with "chmod +x script_file" and then run your script file.

new_file=`ls -ltr|grep -v drw|tail -1`
find . -type f ! -newer $new_file -maxdepth 1 -exec rm {} \;

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