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Finding the oldest file

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# 1  
Old 04-04-2006
Finding the oldest file
Hi:-
I need help with a script I need to modify: - what's the best/easiest way to find out the oldest file in a directory and then move this file to another directory?

Thanks,
# 2  
Old 04-04-2006
Quote:
the oldest file in a directory
in the sense
are u referring to the
usage time of the file (or)
modified time ?

then use,
ls -lurt
or
ls -lrt
# 3  
Old 04-04-2006
Code:
oldest_file=`ls -1 -t /path/to/directory/* | head -1`

# 4  
Old 03-23-2009
Hi JIM,

if you put the command (ls -l -t | head -2) it will return the latest file in the partcular dir

if you want retreive the oldest file in the dir, you can use the below command
$ ls -gt | tail -1

Thanks.
# 5  
Old 03-23-2009
ls -lrt | head -2
# 6  
Old 03-23-2009
mv `ls -tr |tail -1` newdirname
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