Copy the last modified file in a directory to another directory

[addictedtofunk]

I want to copy a *.zip file that was last modified in a directory to another directory. How would i do this?

[The Kandie Man]

Use the helpfile and look at FileGetTime(). Also look at FileFindFirstFile(), FileFindNextFile (), FileClose(), and lastly while loops. Here is an example on how to use them, straight from the help file:

; Shows the filenames of all files in the current directory.
$search = FileFindFirstFile("*.*")  

; Check if the search was successful
If $search = -1 Then
    MsgBox(0, "Error", "No files/directories matched the search pattern")
    Exit
EndIf

While 1
    $file = FileFindNextFile($search) 
    If @error Then ExitLoop
    
    MsgBox(4096, "File:", $file)
WEnd

; Close the search handle
FileClose($search)

Now all you have to do is feed the $file variable into the FileGetTime() function and then compare it to other values. I suggest you use an array to store the name of the file and the time $timestamp[0][0] = [name of the file] and then use something like $timestamp[0][1] = [time] to store the time. Use a > or a < statement to compare it to the array. If the time is newer than the value in the array, change the value in the array and proceed to the next file. When it completes searching in the directory, it should then stop and the remaining values in the array will be what you need to use. Then simply use the FileCopy() or FileMove() function to move the file from that directory to a directory you choose.

[addictedtofunk]

Use the helpfile and look at FileGetTime(). Also look at FileFindFirstFile(), FileFindNextFile (), FileClose(), and lastly while loops. Here is an example on how to use them, straight from the help file:

; Shows the filenames of all files in the current directory.
$search = FileFindFirstFile("*.*")  

; Check if the search was successful
If $search = -1 Then
    MsgBox(0, "Error", "No files/directories matched the search pattern")
    Exit
EndIf

While 1
    $file = FileFindNextFile($search) 
    If @error Then ExitLoop
    
    MsgBox(4096, "File:", $file)
WEnd

; Close the search handle
FileClose($search)

Now all you have to do is feed the $file variable into the FileGetTime() function and then compare it to other values. I suggest you use an array to store the name of the file and the time $timestamp[0][0] = [name of the file] and then use something like $timestamp[0][1] = [time] to store the time. Use a > or a < statement to compare it to the array. If the time is newer than the value in the array, change the value in the array and proceed to the next file. When it completes searching in the directory, it should then stop and the remaining values in the array will be what you need to use. Then simply use the FileCopy() or FileMove() function to move the file from that directory to a directory you choose.

Sorry but i am a bit a nwebie to this, i have read up on all thse things and still dont really know what to do, can you start me off or explain in more detail.

[jinxter]

you could also use the dir parameter /O:-S /D ...

c:>dir *.* /O:-S /D>dir.txt

the first file found is the newest. Just read first line in dir.txt and move accordingly.

[addictedtofunk]

you could also use the dir parameter /O:-S /D ...

c:>dir *.* /O:-S /D>dir.txt

the first file found is the newest. Just read first line in dir.txt and move accordingly.

Unable to parse line???

[jinxter]

sorry, I was just showing how to do it in a dosbox, with c:> being the prompt.

try this in autoit instead.

RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c dir *.* /D /O:-S>dir.txt","", @SW_HIDE)

explanation:

/D makes dir just show the filenames (without the date and such)

/O sorts the dir in according to sortorder S (by size, smallest first) the minus sign reverse the sorting order.

Edited October 20, 2006 by jinxter

[addictedtofunk]

sorry, I was just showing how to do it in a dosbox, with c:> being the prompt.

try this in autoit instead.

RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c dir *.* /D /O:-S>dir.txt","", @SW_HIDE)

explanation:

/D makes dir just show the filenames (without the date and such)

/O sorts the dir in according to sortorder S (by size, smallest first) the minus sign reverse the sorting order.

Ok so that worked but the txt file has columns in it so the first line has multiple files in it, how do i single out the first one?

[jinxter]

add a /B for bare format...

RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c dir *.* /B /D /O:-S>dir.txt","", @SW_HIDE)

It somehow was a bit different from the output to the cmd-window.

If you want to single out the first entry in a tabbed row I would search the firts line for a tab and use that in a StringLeft (), or perhaps use a StringSplit().

Hope it'll help some

Edited October 23, 2006 by jinxter