asked on

How to delete old files from a folder.

I'd like to request a batch file that will periodically run and delete all jpg, tiff, png files older thatn x days from a folder (and it's subfolders). Can this be done with no risk to files that do not meet the criterion? Folder is getting huge with old unnecessary files, but deleting 1 by 1 would be a monumental task. Environment is Windows Server 2003.
Thank you for your advice in this.

Phiwi Moyo

I am not a batch file geek, i found this on my old folder, hope someone might help you twick it to your needs.

@echo off
SET OLDERTHAN=%1
IF NOT DEFINED OLDERTHAN GOTO SYNTAX

for /f "tokens=2" %%i in ('date /t') do set thedate=%%i

set mm=%thedate:~0,2%
set dd=%thedate:~3,2%
set yyyy=%thedate:~6,4%

set /A dd=%dd% - %OLDERTHAN%
set /A mm=%mm% + 0

if /I %dd% GTR 0 goto DONE
set /A mm=%mm% - 1
if /I %mm% GTR 0 goto ADJUSTDAY
set /A mm=12
set /A yyyy=%yyyy% - 1

:ADJUSTDAY
if %mm%==1 goto SET31
if %mm%==2 goto LEAPCHK
if %mm%==3 goto SET31
if %mm%==4 goto SET30
if %mm%==5 goto SET31
if %mm%==6 goto SET30
if %mm%==7 goto SET31
if %mm%==8 goto SET31
if %mm%==9 goto SET30
if %mm%==10 goto SET31
if %mm%==11 goto SET30
if %mm%==12 goto SET31

goto ERROR

:SET31
set /A dd=31 + %dd%
goto DONE

:SET30
set /A dd=30 + %dd%
goto DONE

:LEAPCHK
set /A tt=%yyyy% %% 4
if not %tt%==0 goto SET28
set /A tt=%yyyy% %% 100
if not %tt%==0 goto SET29
set /A tt=%yyyy% %% 400
if %tt%==0 goto SET29

:SET28
set /A dd=28 + %dd%
goto DONE

:SET29
set /A dd=29 + %dd%

:DONE
if /i %dd% LSS 10 set dd=0%dd%
if /I %mm% LSS 10 set mm=0%mm%
for %%i in (*.*) do (
set FileName=%%i
call :PROCESSFILE %%~ti
)

set mm=
set yyyy=
set dd=
set thedate=
goto EXIT

:SYNTAX
ECHO.
ECHO USAGE:
ECHO DELOLD X
ECHO   Where X is the number of days previous to Today.
ECHO.
ECHO EX: "DELOLD 5" Deletes files older than 5 days.
GOTO EXIT

:PROCESSFILE
set temp=%1
set fyyyy=20%temp:~6%
set fmm=%temp:~0,2%
set fdd=%temp:~3,2%
if /I %fyyyy% GTR 2069 set fyyyy=19%temp:~6%


:: +*************************************+
:: | This is where the files are deleted |
:: | Change the ECHO command to DEL to   |
:: | delete. ECHO is used for test.      |
:: +*************************************+
if /I %yyyy%/%mm%/%dd% GEQ %fyyyy%/%fmm%/%fdd% (
ECHO %FileName%
)

set temp=
set fyyyy=
set fmm=
set fdd=

:EXIT

:: ----------END-DELOLD.BAT-------------

Open in new window

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CrashDummy_MS

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

connectex

Here's a free VBScript to do what you want: http://www.wisesoft.co.uk/scripts/vbscript_delete_files_by_age_and_file_extension.aspx.

-Matt-

ReneGe

@CrashDummy_MS
I just tried your command line, and it works fantastic. Thanks

@Santasi24
I did not test your batch file however, Because environment settings may be different, from within your script, I'd adapt the following to your script then CALL it.

:GetDateTime
REM READ DATE
FOR /F "skip=1 tokens=1-6" %%A IN ('WMIC Path Win32_LocalTime Get Day^,Hour^,Minute^,Month^,Second^,Year /Format:table') DO (
	IF %%A GTR 0 (
	SET DayVal=%%A
	SET HourVal=%%B
	SET MinVal=%%C
	SET MonthVal=%%D
	SET SecVal=%%E
	SET YearVal=%%F
	)
)
	
EXIT /b

Open in new window