Batch Script to move all but newest 3 files

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So just as the title says I’m looking to make a batch file that moves all but the newest 3 files from a folder to an External drive.

Some background, I’m using Audacity (starting today) to record weekly meetings and I would like to keep only the most recent 3 recordings on my internal hard drive (for space reasons).
I’m using Win7-32 bit (as it says in my siggy below)

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You might look at VBScript and the FileSystemObject. I don’t have any sample code for this exact issue, but I’m attaching a script that scans a directory tree for files modified the previous day, builds a list of them, them submits the list to 7-zip to archive them. Although my list is not sorted by date and time, you might be able to piggyback on some of the date comparison code. Maybe.

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You might look at VBScript and the FileSystemObject. I don’t have any sample code for this exact issue, but I’m attaching a script that scans a directory tree for files modified the previous day, builds a list of them, them submits the list to 7-zip to archive them. Although my list is not sorted by date and time, you might be able to piggyback on some of the date comparison code. Maybe.

Thanks. I’m afraid I’ll have to do a bit of research to understand everything in this (I’ve only done some very basic batch scripting myself) but, it could prove a valuable reference.

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I don’t have time to program this until later today, but the principle is to use the parameters of DIR to sort files in descending order of ‘file modified’ timestamp, and, in the copying subroutine, just ignore the first three (newest) files and copy all the rest. If you are familiar with BATch lines like

Code:

for /f %%a in ('dir c:source /o-d /b') do call :maybemove "%%a"

then you’ve almost done the work yourself!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Right, here you are!

Code:

@echo off
setlocal
:: change the next two statements to match what you want
set srcdir=c:source
set tgtdir=c:target
if not exist %tgtdir%*.* md %tgtdir%
set ctr=0
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in ('dir "%srcdir%" /o-d /b') do call :maybemove "%%a"
set /a ctr-=3
echo %~n0: %ctr% files were moved from %srcdir% to %tgtdir%
endlocal
goto :eof
::--------------------

:maybemove
:: increment counter and bypass the three newest files
set /a ctr+=1
if %ctr% leq 3 goto :eof
:: remove the double-quotes from the front and back of the filename
set fn=%~1
:: perform the move
ECHO move /y "%srcdir%%fn%" "%tgtdir%"
goto :eof

Try it; when you are happy that it appears to do what you want, remove the ‘ECHO’ from in front of the ‘move’ statement to get it to actually do the work.

Beware that BATch files are very susceptible to problems with so-called ‘poison characters’ in filenames, examples being ‘&’ and ‘%’, so you may wish to inspect your filenames and modify them to avoid such.

I haven’t made any provision for the presence of any subdirectories in your source directory, and assume there are none.

Finally, I would prefer to use XCOPY followed by DEL if the XCOPY errorlevel was zero, rather than MOVE, mainly because MOVE is more fussy. It should be OK here, though.

Hope this fits your requirements!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Right, here you are!

Code:

@echo off
setlocal
:: change the next two statements to match what you want
set srcdir=c:source
set tgtdir=c:target
if not exist %tgtdir%*.* md %tgtdir%
set ctr=0
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in ('dir "%srcdir%" /o-d /b') do call :maybemove "%%a"
set /a ctr-=3
echo %~n0: %ctr% files were moved from %srcdir% to %tgtdir%
endlocal
goto :eof
::--------------------

:maybemove
:: increment counter and bypass the three newest files
set /a ctr+=1
if %ctr% leq 3 goto :eof
:: remove the double-quotes from the front and back of the filename
set fn=%~1
:: perform the move
ECHO move /y "%srcdir%%fn%" "%tgtdir%"
goto :eof

Try it; when you are happy that it appears to do what you want, remove the ‘ECHO’ from in front of the ‘move’ statement to get it to actually do the work.

Beware that BATch files are very susceptible to problems with so-called ‘poison characters’ in filenames, examples being ‘&’ and ‘%’, so you may wish to inspect your filenames and modify them to avoid such.

I haven’t made any provision for the presence of any subdirectories in your source directory, and assume there are none.

Finally, I would prefer to use XCOPY followed by DEL if the XCOPY errorlevel was zero, rather than MOVE, mainly because MOVE is more fussy. It should be OK here, though.

Hope this fits your requirements!

Thanks, I’ll run a test with it later tonight (probably). The file names are going to be dates without slashes so numbers like 10072010 for recording taken on the tenth month, seventh day of the year 2010. In time I may modify this for similar operations. I failed to realize just how advanced a program you can make with batch files. I’ve been taking Java classes lately and have also done some P-Basic in the past (this is a lot closer to P-Basic of course) so when I read this it actually makes a lot of sense. I know in Java if I just used a user inputted string to select a directory I would have errors because of special characters meaning different things (for instance if I wanted the directory C:hihello in java I’d have to input it as C:\hi\hello or it would try to do whatever h means twice).

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Here it is on one line if you want to play on the Command line.

Code:

for /f "skip=3 tokens=*" %X in ('dir "C:source}.*" /b /o:-d') do move /y "C:source%X" "E:destination"

Change the “skip” number if you want more or less than 3 files.

cheers, Paul

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Here it is on one line if you want to play on the Command line.

Code:

for /f "skip=3 tokens=*" %X in ('dir "C:source}.*" /b /o:-d') do move /y "C:source%X" "E:destination"

Change the “skip” number if you want more or less than 3 files.

A one-liner in the tradition of APL, but you really should have tested it to get out the typo(s)!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Test? What’s that? ;-))

cheers, Paul

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I ran a test and the program seems to work. I actually like the bigger batch file in this case because though it may take a couple more KB’s (if that) I can more easily follow it. I’ve learned over the few years I’ve been programming that smaller isn’t always better, sometimes having something bigger that’s easier to follow is a far better choice. This is especially true if you think you’ll be recycling the code for other uses or in the case of more advanced programming it’s common to update programs for either more functionality or better compatibility.

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To be fair to Paul, incorporating his skip=3 parameter (if I had thought about it at the time) would have made my code slightly simpler…!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Just go for the jugular, fair is for wooses!!

cheers, Paul

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Hi All,

Greetings !

The discussion above was quite helpful. I feel ashamed that I am copying the work you good people are doing. But anyways, it is helping me. I can only say Thank You !

I was just wondering, if we need to move files with a particular extension ( here a notepad – .txt ), what changes should I make to your code ? [Where do I place the .txt]

@echo off
setlocal
:: change the next two statements to match what you want
set srcdir=c:source
set tgtdir=c:target
if not exist %tgtdir%*.* md %tgtdir%
set ctr=0
for /f “tokens=*” %%a in (‘dir “%srcdir%” /o-d /b’) do call :maybemove “%%a”
set /a ctr-=3
echo %~n0: %ctr% files were moved from %srcdir% to %tgtdir%
endlocal
goto :eof
::——————–

:maybemove
:: increment counter and bypass the three newest files
set /a ctr+=1
if %ctr% leq 3 goto :eof
:: remove the double-quotes from the front and back of the filename
set fn=%~1
:: perform the move
move /y “%srcdir%%fn%” “%tgtdir%”
goto :eof

Regards,

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You need to add the file filter to the “dir” statement.
for /f “tokens=*” %%a in (‘dir “%srcdir%*.txt” /o-d /b’) do call :maybemove “%%a”

If you want to put code at the start of the batch file to allow you to easily change the filter copy the “set srcdir” bits and add it to the “dir” command – I’ll let you have a go and help if you have questions.

cheers, Paul

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Thanks so much. Worked perfectly !

Regards

Vik

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I have another query. How to move files from one location, to two locations?

I have written a batch, but it moves to only the first location (target1), and not the second.

@echo off
move /-y “c:source*.wav” “c:target1”
move /-y “c:source*.wav” “c:target2”

Please help. Appreciate your reply.

Regards,

Vik

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When you move things from the source to target1 they are no longer in the source directory so cannot be moved again!

You will need to use a copy operation.

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copy /-y “c:source*.wav” “c:target1”
move /-y “c:source*.wav” “c:target2”

cheers, Paul

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G.R.,

Here’s a generalized solution using PowerShell. I think you’ll agree that it is much more understandable and since you can pass parameters much more flexible.

Please note this is a long post because I wanted to show the actual results. You can just jump over the results if you trust my testing. 😆

Note: I’m probably going to continue development of this code and will definatley add help.
I’ll post updates to this thread as replies.

Code:

Param (
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)]
    [String] $Filter = "*.txt",     #Default file filter
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)] 
    [String] $FilePath = "G:Test", #Default directory
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)] 
       [Int] $FileCnt = 3,          #Default No. of files to keep
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)]
    [String] $Dest,                 #Where to Move Files
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)]
    [Switch] $Delete ,              #If Present Delete otherwise Move
 [Parameter (Mandatory=$False)]
    [Switch] $TestDebug
)

Clear-Host

$FileList = Get-ChildItem -path $FilePath -Filter $Filter | 
            Sort LastWriteTime 

If (-not(Test-Path Variable:global:FileList))  { Exit }

$LastIndex = $FileList.Count - $FileCnt - 1
 
If ($TestDebug) {
  "-----------  Debug/Test Information   --------------"
  $FileList | Select Lastwritetime, name | Format-Table
  "Files in list: $($filelist.count) - Files to keep: $FileCnt"
  "Last Index Number: $($LastIndex)`n"
}

If ($FileList.Count -gt $FileCnt) {

  If ($Delete) {
    $Operation = "Deleted"
  }
  Else {
    $Operation = "Moved"
    If ($Dest -eq "") {
      $Dest = Read-Host "Please Provide Destination Directory!"
      If (-not(Test-Path $Dest)) {Exit}  #User did not supply a valid dest!
    }
  }

  ForEach ($File in $FileList[0..$LastIndex]) {

     If ($TestDebug) {
       "File to be $Operation : $($File.LastWriteTime)  $($File.Name)"
     }
     Else {
       If ($Delete) {
         $File.Delete()
       }
       Else {
         Move-Item -Path "$($File.FullName)" -Destination "$Dest" 
       }
     }

  } #End ForEach ($File...

  If ($TestDebug) {
    "`n        - Files Remaining on Disk -"
    $FileList[($LastIndex + 1)..($FileList.Count - 1)] | 
       Sort LastWriteTime | Select LastWriteTime, Name | 
       Format-Table
    "---------- End Debug/Test Information --------------"
  } #End If($TestDebug)

} #End If $FileList...

Sample Runs:

Starting Directory Data:

Code:

 Volume in drive G is Data
 Volume Serial Number is D2F3-1FE0

 Directory of g:Test

04/12/2016  07:28 PM              .
04/12/2016  07:28 PM              ..
11/07/2010  10:07 PM             1,772 add-signature.ps1
12/06/2013  09:24 AM             2,551 BEKTaskLists.ps1
08/13/2011  10:02 PM             1,788 ChassisType2.ps1
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/01/2016  09:03 AM            79,732 CMsPCInfo.txt
[/COLOR]04/10/2016  06:55 PM             8,447 CorpCommData.xlsx
03/20/2016  09:26 AM                63 domains.csv
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/11/2016  03:15 PM             1,690 Dr Meter Scale.txt
03/25/2016  01:19 PM               103 NetComputers.txt
[/COLOR]04/12/2016  06:34 PM              Results
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/09/2016  03:08 PM               440 RoboFormDataHere.txt
[/COLOR]12/16/2015  09:16 PM              SnapShots
08/03/2015  06:40 AM              Test TSM
04/12/2016  07:28 PM              TestFiles
[COLOR="#0000FF"]02/22/2012  02:30 PM               870 VBA - Word - Attach Excel file as Data source for current document..txt
01/05/2012  08:31 PM             1,108 VBA - Word - Highlight words in one doc in another.txt
10/25/2011  11:11 AM               558 VBA - Word - Insert shape and give it a Name.txt
08/16/2013  03:38 PM             1,166 VBA - Word - Print Only Pages containing specified phrase.txt
11/15/2011  11:05 AM             1,541 VBA - Word - Return to last selected location.txt
07/21/2011  09:11 AM               498 VBA Adding to LIST feature 2007-10.txt
[/COLOR]03/18/2016  02:16 PM              WDPassTest
[COLOR="#0000FF"]03/30/2016  02:36 PM             9,844 WSL Useful Post Links.txt
[/COLOR]              16 File(s)        112,171 bytes
               7 Dir(s)  458,538,995,712 bytes free

Run with TestDebug switch:
PS> .Delete-FilesExceptLastN.ps1 -FileCnt 5 -TestDebug -Dest “G:TestResults”

Note: Above uses the Default Source Directory!

Code:

-----------  Debug/Test Information   --------------

LastWriteTime          Name                                                    
-------------          ----                                                    
7/21/2011 9:11:25 AM   VBA Adding to LIST feature 2007-10.txt                  
10/25/2011 11:11:03 AM VBA - Word - Insert shape and give it a Name.txt        
11/15/2011 10:05:12 AM VBA - Word - Return to last selected location.txt       
1/5/2012 7:31:28 PM    VBA - Word - Highlight words in one doc in another.txt  
2/22/2012 1:30:33 PM   VBA - Word - Attach Excel file as Data source for cur...
8/16/2013 3:38:53 PM   VBA - Word - Print Only Pages containing specified ph...
3/25/2016 1:19:49 PM   NetComputers.txt                                        
3/30/2016 2:36:21 PM   WSL Useful Post Links.txt                               
4/1/2016 9:03:30 AM    CMsPCInfo.txt                                           
4/9/2016 3:08:18 PM    RoboFormDataHere.txt                                    
4/11/2016 3:15:13 PM   Dr Meter Scale.txt                                      


Files in list: 11 - Files to keep: 5
Last Index Number: 5

File to be Moved : 07/21/2011 09:11:25  VBA Adding to LIST feature 2007-10.txt
File to be Moved : 10/25/2011 11:11:03  VBA - Word - Insert shape and give it a 
Name.txt
File to be Moved : 11/15/2011 10:05:12  VBA - Word - Return to last selected loc
ation.txt
File to be Moved : 01/05/2012 19:31:28  VBA - Word - Highlight words in one doc 
in another.txt
File to be Moved : 02/22/2012 13:30:33  VBA - Word - Attach Excel file as Data s
ource for current document..txt
File to be Moved : 08/16/2013 15:38:53  VBA - Word - Print Only Pages containing
 specified phrase.txt

        - Files Remaining on Disk -

LastWriteTime        Name                     
-------------        ----                     
3/25/2016 1:19:49 PM NetComputers.txt         
3/30/2016 2:36:21 PM WSL Useful Post Links.txt
4/1/2016 9:03:30 AM  CMsPCInfo.txt            
4/9/2016 3:08:18 PM  RoboFormDataHere.txt     
4/11/2016 3:15:13 PM Dr Meter Scale.txt       

---------- End Debug/Test Information --------------

Source Directory after run:

Code:

 Volume in drive G is Data
 Volume Serial Number is D2F3-1FE0

 Directory of g:Test

04/12/2016  07:39 PM              .
04/12/2016  07:39 PM              ..
11/07/2010  10:07 PM             1,772 add-signature.ps1
12/06/2013  09:24 AM             2,551 BEKTaskLists.ps1
08/13/2011  10:02 PM             1,788 ChassisType2.ps1
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/01/2016  09:03 AM            79,732 CMsPCInfo.txt
[/COLOR]04/10/2016  06:55 PM             8,447 CorpCommData.xlsx
03/20/2016  09:26 AM                63 domains.csv
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/11/2016  03:15 PM             1,690 Dr Meter Scale.txt
03/25/2016  01:19 PM               103 NetComputers.txt
[/COLOR]04/12/2016  07:39 PM              Results
[COLOR="#0000FF"]04/09/2016  03:08 PM               440 RoboFormDataHere.txt
[/COLOR]12/16/2015  09:16 PM              SnapShots
08/03/2015  06:40 AM              Test TSM
04/12/2016  07:28 PM              TestFiles
03/18/2016  02:16 PM              WDPassTest
[COLOR="#0000FF"]03/30/2016  02:36 PM             9,844 WSL Useful Post Links.txt
[/COLOR]              10 File(s)        106,430 bytes
               7 Dir(s)  458,538,987,520 bytes free

Destination Directory:

Code:

 Volume in drive G is Data
 Volume Serial Number is D2F3-1FE0

 Directory of g:TestResults

04/12/2016  07:41 PM              .
04/12/2016  07:41 PM              ..
[COLOR="#0000FF"]02/22/2012  02:30 PM               870 VBA - Word - Attach Excel file as Data source for current document..txt
01/05/2012  08:31 PM             1,108 VBA - Word - Highlight words in one doc in another.txt
10/25/2011  11:11 AM               558 VBA - Word - Insert shape and give it a Name.txt
08/16/2013  03:38 PM             1,166 VBA - Word - Print Only Pages containing specified phrase.txt
11/15/2011  11:05 AM             1,541 VBA - Word - Return to last selected location.txt
07/21/2011  09:11 AM               498 VBA Adding to LIST feature 2007-10.txt
[/COLOR]               6 File(s)          5,741 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  458,538,983,424 bytes free

HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Hey Y’all,

As promised here is the “almost” completed project. I’m still working on directory recursion!

This version will move files as the default but will delete them with the -Delete switch.
You can set the number of files to keep.
You can have the program tell you what it would do w/o actually changing anything.

For full operating instructions enter:

get-help .MovDel-FilesExceptLastNDev.ps1 -Full

at the PowerShell prompt if you have unzipped the file to your default PS directory. If not replace the . with the complete drivepath to the file.

Zipped Program File: 44245-MovDel-FilesExceptLastN

As always comments on the code/functionality are welcome in my PowerShell learning quest.

HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Thanks a million !

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