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[Solved] Find the newest file in two directories

 
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# 1  
Old 12-05-2013
[Solved] Find the newest file in two directories
Hi i have two directories and files inside them

Directory 1:
Quote:
song.mp3 2013-04-30 16:12:46
work.txt 2011-10-23 10:53:22
Directory 2:
Quote:
song.mp3 2010-05-20 23:23:54
work.txt 2012-01-22 15:42:22
These files are the same but song.mp3 in Directory 1 is newer than song.mp3 in Directory 2, and work.txt in Directory 2 is newer than work.txt in Directory 1.

Now is my question. How i can compare these files and print the newest from both folders:

Quote:
song.mp3 from Directory 1
and
Quote:
work.txt form Directory 2
I've been tried to do this by find command, loop, and other but nothing works. Could someone help me with this ?
# 2  
Old 12-05-2013
So, do the same files exist in both directories?
Are you only looking at two directories to determine which is the most current?

If so, I am thinking to simply 'cut' the first column from file one to get a list of items to search.
Then, process through that list to determine which directory has the most recent file.
# 3  
Old 12-05-2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyg
So, do the same files exist in both directories?
Are you only looking at two directories to determine which is the most current?

If so, I am thinking to simply 'cut' the first column from file one to get a list of items to search.
Then, process through that list to determine which directory has the most recent file.
yeap, there are the same files but different date of modification.

And i don't know what do you mean about cut out first column. Which column do you mean ?
I must compare files from Directory1 and Directory2 and then print the newest.
# 4  
Old 12-05-2013
OK, a couple things for you to play with:

Code:
ls -1

should simply give you a listing of filenames

And, this link
https://www.unix.com/showthread.php?t=109676
may give you some hints into how to put the date of file into a format that will be simpler to compare
This User Gave Thanks to joeyg For This Post:
Falstaff
# 5  
Old 12-06-2013
ok, thanks i have some ideas right now how to solve my problem, i'll tried Smilie

---------- Post updated 06-12-13 at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous update was 05-12-13 at 02:59 PM ----------

ok tried that

Code:
for f1 in directory1/*
do
    for f2 in directory2/*
    do
       if [ $f1 -nt $f2 ]
       then
       echo "File frome directory1 is newer"
       else
       echo "File frome directory2 is newer"
       fi
    done
done

but doesn't work ;/
# 6  
Old 12-06-2013
Why doesnt it work? ...
Because f1 may not be same as f2 to start with...
You need to compare same files ( names at least.. ) which is not the case here...

So start by that: Compare 2 strings - Are they the same?
If so now you can use -nt test
This User Gave Thanks to vbe For This Post:
Falstaff
# 7  
Old 12-06-2013
Aaa yea i see, ok so now i have that

Code:
for f1 in directory1/*
do
    for f2 in directory2/*
    do
       if [ $f1 = $f2 ] && [ $f1 -nt $f2 ]
       then
          echo "$f1 is newer than $f2"
       else
          echo "$f2 is newer than $f1"
       fi
    done
done

but $f1 show for example "directory1/song.mp3" and I need only "song.mp3". Now i must think how i can get only filename without directory. Or it's bad thinking ?
Last edited by vbe; 12-06-2013 at 12:09 PM.. Reason: indent
 
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