Sorting an array by file date

[erik7426]

Is it possible to sort an array by the file modified date?

If not, here is what I am trying to do:

I have a few files. Usually there are two but sometimes there are three. The filenames are NOT static. I need to compare the date modified stamp on each file and delete all but the oldest one. Just to be clear we're talking hours and minutes differences between the files.

So, basically out of these files...

FILE-A 07/31/2008 2:15 AM

FILE-B 07/31/2008 2:00 AM

FILE-C 07/31/2008 3:00 AM

FILE-B would be the one I would want to keep.

[Paulie]

_DateDiff()

[Gigglestick]

Perhaps use a two-dimensional array with _ArraySort?

[erik7426]

Perhaps use a two-dimensional array with _ArraySort?

I'm new to arrays. What would the code look like to build an array that contained the files in a folder and the date/time stamp for each file?

Thanks for the help.

[Paulie]

Is the date/time stamp in the filename? or are you pulling it from the "created" or "modified" file properties?

[erik7426]

Is the date/time stamp in the filename? or are you pulling it from the "created" or "modified" file properties?

It is not part of the file name. I am pulling it using FileGetTime().

[weaponx]

#include <file.au3>

$current_timestamp = @YEAR & @MON & @MDAY & @HOUR & @MIN & @SEC

$oldest_timestamp = $current_timestamp
$oldest_filename = ""
$oldest_index = -1

;Retrieve list of files
$aFiles = _FileListToArray($sPath[, $sFilter = "*"[, $iFlag = 0]])

;Find oldest file
For $X = 1 to $aFiles[0]
    $file_timestamp = FileGetTime($aFiles[$X], 1)
    If $file_timestamp < $oldest_timestamp Then
        $oldest_timestamp = $file_timestamp
        $oldest_filename = $aFiles[$X]
        $oldest_index = $X
    EndIf
Next

;Delete everything but the oldest file
For $X = 1 to $aFiles[0]
    If $X <> $oldest_index Then FileDelete($aFiles[$X])
Next

[PsaltyDS]

It is not part of the file name. I am pulling it using FileGetTime().

Try something like this:

#cs
    FILE-A 07/31/2008 2:15 AM
    FILE-B 07/31/2008 2:00 AM
    FILE-C 07/31/2008 3:00 AM
#ce

Global $avFiles[4] = [3, "FILE-A", "FILE-B", "FILE-C"]
Global $iOldestTime = 99999999999999; YYYYMMDDhhmmss
Global $iOldestIndex = 0; Array index of oldest file
; Find the oldest file
For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
    $iFileTime = Number(FileGetTime($avFiles[$n], 0, 1))
    If $iFileTime < $iOldestTime Then
        $iOldestTime = $iFileTime
        $sOldestFile = $n
    EndIf
Next
; Delete all but the oldest file
If $iOldestIndex Then
    For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
        If $n <> $iOldestIndex Then FileDelete($avFiles[$n])
    Next
Else
    MsgBox(16, "Error", "Failed to find an oldest file.")
EndIf

[weaponx]

That penguin is always following me.

[erik7426]

Try something like this:

#cs
    FILE-A 07/31/2008 2:15 AM
    FILE-B 07/31/2008 2:00 AM
    FILE-C 07/31/2008 3:00 AM
#ce

Global $avFiles[4] = [3, "FILE-A", "FILE-B", "FILE-C"]
Global $iOldestTime = 99999999999999; YYYYMMDDhhmmss
Global $iOldestIndex = 0; Array index of oldest file
; Find the oldest file
For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
    $iFileTime = Number(FileGetTime($avFiles[$n], 0, 1))
    If $iFileTime < $iOldestTime Then
        $iOldestTime = $iFileTime
        $sOldestFile = $n
    EndIf
Next
; Delete all but the oldest file
If $iOldestIndex Then
    For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
        If $n <> $iOldestIndex Then FileDelete($avFiles[$n])
    Next
Else
    MsgBox(16, "Error", "Failed to find an oldest file.")
EndIf

Thanks for the help. I had to modify it slightly to get it to work. Here is what I ended up with...

$avFiles = _FileListToArray("C:\temp123\S10098", "*PNBCD001*")
Global $iOldestTime = 99999999999999; YYYYMMDDhhmmss
Global $iOldestIndex = 0; Array index of oldest file
; Find the oldest file
For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
    $iFileTime = Number(FileGetTime($avFiles[$n], 0, 1))
    If $iFileTime < $iOldestTime Then
        $iOldestTime = $iFileTime
       ;$sOldestFile = $n
        $iOldestIndex = $n
    EndIf
Next
; Delete all but the oldest file
If $iOldestIndex > 0 Then
    For $n = 1 To $avFiles[0]
        If $n <> $iOldestIndex Then FileDelete($avFiles[$n])
    Next
Else
    MsgBox(16, "Error", "Failed to find an oldest file.")
EndIf

[PsaltyDS]

I had to modify it slightly to get it to work.

Doh!

Here is what I ended up with...

Glad it helped.