Giggz
asked on
batch script to delete some files
i'm simply looking to create a batch script that can "delete files 30days old or older" ONLY in specified folders.
i want the script to search the whole drive including unlimited levels of subdirectories for folders named WHATEVER_I_WANT.
there will be hundreds of the same folder name in different directories/subdirectories
then the script will delete ONLY the files that are 30+ days that are inside the WHATEVER_I_WANT folders.
i would like to be able to run the script on all versions of windows: xp, vista, 7, 8, 10, server 2003, server 2008, server 2012, soon to be server 2016.
i want the script to search the whole drive including unlimited levels of subdirectories for folders named WHATEVER_I_WANT.
there will be hundreds of the same folder name in different directories/subdirectories
then the script will delete ONLY the files that are 30+ days that are inside the WHATEVER_I_WANT folders.
i would like to be able to run the script on all versions of windows: xp, vista, 7, 8, 10, server 2003, server 2008, server 2012, soon to be server 2016.
One important question: what should happen with files that are in a subfolder of a "WHATEVER_I_WANT" folder, but not direct children (like "C:\Temp\WHATEVER_I_WANT\S
the script below will only process files that are direct children of a folder named WHATEVER_I_WANT (so anything like "C:\Temp\WHATEVER_I_WANT\S
Now, IIRC, forfiles.exe isn't part of Windows XP, and I couldn't find a reliable download source for an XP version, so the following script uses robocopy.exe from the W2k3 Resource Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17657) to determine whether the required file age is reached. Just drop the exe in the script's folder (you can use 7-zip to extract first the exe, then robocopy.exe from the msi if you don't want to install the complete kit). Note that there won't be any "real" copying going on; the /L switch will only list files that qualify.
The script is in test mode and will only display the files it would normally delete. Remove the REM in line 15 to run it for real.
NVIT,
your script will not only process files in folders named "WHATEVER_I_WANT", it will process files in all folders that have "WHATEVER_I_WANT" as a substring of their name, so something like "WHATEVER_I_WANT_BUT_DO_NO
the script below will only process files that are direct children of a folder named WHATEVER_I_WANT (so anything like "C:\Temp\WHATEVER_I_WANT\S
Now, IIRC, forfiles.exe isn't part of Windows XP, and I couldn't find a reliable download source for an XP version, so the following script uses robocopy.exe from the W2k3 Resource Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17657) to determine whether the required file age is reached. Just drop the exe in the script's folder (you can use 7-zip to extract first the exe, then robocopy.exe from the msi if you don't want to install the complete kit). Note that there won't be any "real" copying going on; the /L switch will only list files that qualify.
The script is in test mode and will only display the files it would normally delete. Remove the REM in line 15 to run it for real.
@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set SearchRoot=C:\
set SearchFolder=WHATEVER_I_WANT
set FileMask=*.*
set FileAge=30
pushd %~dp0
echo Searching for folder '%SearchFolder%' in '%SearchRoot%' ...
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /s /b /a:d "%SearchRoot%" ^| findstr.exe /r /c:"\\%SearchFolder%$"') do (
echo Processing '%%a' ...
for /f "delims=" %%d in ('robocopy.exe "%%a" "C:\Dummy" %FileMask% /L /njh /njs /ndl /nc /ns /minage:%FileAge%') do (
call :TrimWS %%d
echo - '!Trimmed!'
REM del /f "!Trimmed!!
)
)
popd
echo Done.
goto :eof
:TrimWS
set Trimmed=%*
goto :eofNVIT,
your script will not only process files in folders named "WHATEVER_I_WANT", it will process files in all folders that have "WHATEVER_I_WANT" as a substring of their name, so something like "WHATEVER_I_WANT_BUT_DO_NO
ASKER
hi oBdA,
you're awsome man, thx. sorry for not being fully clear on all the details, here it is:
the folder WHATEVER_I_WANT has no subfolders, only files with different extensions, none executables.
it will be a problem to search folders with the name WHATEVER_I_WANT_BUT_DO_NOT
as for XP, it's really not that big of a deal, as i will be replacing the whole hardware in the next few weeks/months. so it's not as critical for those machines.
thx
you're awsome man, thx. sorry for not being fully clear on all the details, here it is:
the folder WHATEVER_I_WANT has no subfolders, only files with different extensions, none executables.
it will be a problem to search folders with the name WHATEVER_I_WANT_BUT_DO_NOT
as for XP, it's really not that big of a deal, as i will be replacing the whole hardware in the next few weeks/months. so it's not as critical for those machines.
thx
Well, my script above will only process folders with the exact name of "WHATEVER_I_WANT".
If you don't need to run the script on XP/W2k3, you can just ignore the part about putting robocopy.exe into the script's folder - Vista/W2k8 and later finally have robocopy.exe as part of the OS.
If you don't need to run the script on XP/W2k3, you can just ignore the part about putting robocopy.exe into the script's folder - Vista/W2k8 and later finally have robocopy.exe as part of the OS.
Here is a small VBS solution that doesn't need any additional files to support it, see how it goes for you.
If you want to run it just for texting, comment out the DELETE line.
If you want to run it just for texting, comment out the DELETE line.
strBaseDir = "c:\"
strDirName = "WHATEVER_I_WANT"
intDaysToKeep = 30
' Create file system object
Set objFSO = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
' Remove old files in specified folder
RemoveOldFiles objFSO.GetFolder(strBaseDir)
Sub RemoveOldFiles(objFolder)
On Error Resume Next
' Does this match the name we are looking for, if so process it
If LCase(objFolder.Name) = LCase(strDirName) Then
' Remove any files older than specified days from this folder
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now) > intDaysToKeep Then
Wscript.Echo "Deleted file: " & objFile.Path
objFile.Delete
End If
Next
End If
' See if we were able to access this folder, if not don't recurse into it
If Err.Number = 0 Then
' Check subfolders
For Each objSubFolder In objFolder.Subfolders
RemoveOldFiles objSubFolder
Next
End If
End SubASKER
oBdA> thanks for the fast reply,
is it possible to change the script to make it look specifically for that exact match of foldername? instead of looking for all folder names that have that name. example if i call my folder name test-folder:
find "test-folder" = valid
skip "my-test-folder" & "test-folder4"
the folder name will never change, and it's specific that it almost never matches another foldername, but can't guarantee that it won't have xyz-foldername or foldername-xyz.
Bill> thank you for the nice script.
which line number should i comment out? line 20 or line 21?
sorry i don't know much about scripts.
thx
is it possible to change the script to make it look specifically for that exact match of foldername? instead of looking for all folder names that have that name. example if i call my folder name test-folder:
find "test-folder" = valid
skip "my-test-folder" & "test-folder4"
the folder name will never change, and it's specific that it almost never matches another foldername, but can't guarantee that it won't have xyz-foldername or foldername-xyz.
Bill> thank you for the nice script.
which line number should i comment out? line 20 or line 21?
sorry i don't know much about scripts.
thx
Line 21 should be commented, just insert a single quote before the existing words to make that line a comment.
~bp
~bp
ASKER
it worked pretty good.
now the next question, how can i have it do it's thing unattended without popping up asking me to confirm each file.
as i'm going to run it on remote computers on a windows schedule. so no one will be available to click anything.
i don't even need it to show the removed list on the screen.
i don't mind having some kind of log of the files that are removed, but limit the log to 100 lines. u think that's possible?
thx
now the next question, how can i have it do it's thing unattended without popping up asking me to confirm each file.
as i'm going to run it on remote computers on a windows schedule. so no one will be available to click anything.
i don't even need it to show the removed list on the screen.
i don't mind having some kind of log of the files that are removed, but limit the log to 100 lines. u think that's possible?
thx
If you are talking about my VBS solution, then just comment out the Wscript.Echo on line 20, and undo the commenting of line 21 to let the Delete occur. It should run silent with that change.
We could add some kind of logging if wanted, and what I'm hearing is you would want to just log the first 100 deletions, and no more? Where would you want these logged?
~bp
We could add some kind of logging if wanted, and what I'm hearing is you would want to just log the first 100 deletions, and no more? Where would you want these logged?
~bp
ASKER
thx Bill, yes i was talking about your script.
this scrip will run daily on the computer, the most deletions it will have in a day would be 2-20 files, it usually will never have more, thats why i suggest having to log the last 100 deletions would be more than sufficient in this case.
make the log in C:\del-log\deleted_files.t
if the del-log folder doesn't exist, create it; if the deleted_files.txt file doesn't exist, create it.
thank you so much for all your help
this scrip will run daily on the computer, the most deletions it will have in a day would be 2-20 files, it usually will never have more, thats why i suggest having to log the last 100 deletions would be more than sufficient in this case.
make the log in C:\del-log\deleted_files.t
if the del-log folder doesn't exist, create it; if the deleted_files.txt file doesn't exist, create it.
thank you so much for all your help
As I said: my script above will only process folders with the exact name of "WHATEVER_I_WANT".
You can just run it as it is, it will only display the folders and files it would process, so you can test whatever folder names you want. It will only start deleting once you remove the REM in line 15.
If you are interested in the details: the findstr.exe /r /c:"\\%SearchFolder%$" in line 10 will take care of it. It searches for the folder name with a regular expression, and will only find the folder name if it is enclosed between a backslash (which needs to be escaped in a RE, so it's there twice), and the end of the line (which is a $ in RE).
Writing that, I just noticed that the exact might be too exact - it includes the case and might skip some folders it should delete (but won't delete too much). This one is now case insensitive:
You can just run it as it is, it will only display the folders and files it would process, so you can test whatever folder names you want. It will only start deleting once you remove the REM in line 15.
If you are interested in the details: the findstr.exe /r /c:"\\%SearchFolder%$" in line 10 will take care of it. It searches for the folder name with a regular expression, and will only find the folder name if it is enclosed between a backslash (which needs to be escaped in a RE, so it's there twice), and the end of the line (which is a $ in RE).
Writing that, I just noticed that the exact might be too exact - it includes the case and might skip some folders it should delete (but won't delete too much). This one is now case insensitive:
@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set SearchRoot=C:\
set SearchFolder=WHATEVER_I_WANT
set FileMask=*.*
set FileAge=30
pushd %~dp0
echo Searching for folder '%SearchFolder%' in '%SearchRoot%' ...
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /s /b /a:d "%SearchRoot%" ^| findstr.exe /i /r /c:"\\%SearchFolder%$"') do (
echo Processing '%%a' ...
for /f "delims=" %%d in ('robocopy.exe "%%a" "C:\Dummy" %FileMask% /L /njh /njs /ndl /nc /ns /minage:%FileAge%') do (
call :TrimWS %%d
echo - '!Trimmed!'
REM del /f "!Trimmed!!
)
)
popd
echo Done.
goto :eof
:TrimWS
set Trimmed=%*
goto :eof@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set SearchRoot=C:\
set SearchFolder=WHATEVER_I_WANT
set FileMask=*.*
set FileAge=30
echo Searching for folder '%SearchFolder%' in '%SearchRoot%' ...
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /s /b /a:d "%SearchRoot%" ^| findstr.exe /i /r /c:"\\%SearchFolder%$"') do (
echo Processing '%%a' ...
forfiles.exe /p "%%a" /m %FileMask% /d -%FileAge% /c "cmd.exe /c ECHO del /f @path"
)
echo Done.
Okay, this should handle the logging, and roll of old log records keeping the last 100 (configurable near the top of the code).
' Text file I/O constants
Const ForReading = 1
Const ForWriting = 2
Const ForAppending = 8
strBaseDir = "c:\"
strDirName = "WHATEVER_I_WANT"
intDaysToKeep = 30
strLogFile = "C:\del-log\deleted_files.txt"
intLogSize = 100
' Create file system object
Set objFSO = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
' Initialize log info for this run
strLogData = ""
' Remove old files in specified folder
RemoveOldFiles objFSO.GetFolder(strBaseDir)
' Truncate and write log file
WriteLogFile strLogFile, strLogData
Sub RemoveOldFiles(objFolder)
On Error Resume Next
' Does this match the name we are looking for, if so process it
If LCase(objFolder.Name) = LCase(strDirName) Then
' Remove any files older than specified days from this folder
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now) > intDaysToKeep Then
strLogData = strLogData & Now & " - Deleted file: " & objFile.Path & vbCrLf
' objFile.Delete
End If
Next
End If
' See if we were able to access this folder, if not don't recurse into it
If Err.Number = 0 Then
' Check subfolders
For Each objSubFolder In objFolder.Subfolders
RemoveOldFiles objSubFolder
Next
End If
End Sub
Sub WriteLogFile(strFile, strData)
' Get any log records from prior run
If objFSO.FileExists(strFile) Then
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForReading)
strKeep = objFile.ReadAll
objFile.Close
Else
strKeep = ""
End If
' Add new log records from this run on
strKeep = strKeep & strData
' Only keep the last intLogSize lines in the log (roll off older lines)
arrKeep = Split(strKeep, vbCrLf)
If UBound(arrKeep) > intLogSize Then
strKeep = ""
For i = (UBound(arrKeep) - intLogSize) To UBound(arrKeep)
If arrKeep(i) <> "" Then
strKeep = strKeep & arrKeep(i) & vbCrLf
End If
Next
End If
' Write log file data to log file
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForWriting, True)
objFile.Write strKeep
objFile.Close
End SubASKER
i didn't test it yet, sorry for the delay, i hadn't been feeling ok to do some work.
again i thank you Bill for helping out on this.
so that final reply with the long script you provided, does it run silent and write the logs of upto 100 deletions?
2 more questions, as i think these are the last things i may need with this script. i have 1 customer who may be getting sub-folders inside that specific folder WHATEVER_I_WANT, would the script also delete the subfolders recursively? i'd like it to do so if there were folders older than 30days old.
last thing, can we make it it send the log file by email if i provide an smtp account info?
like: smtp mail server, username, password, port number, no SSL or any security required, also to provide the subject that it would have, and the "from" email address, and the "to" email address.
thank you again
again i thank you Bill for helping out on this.
so that final reply with the long script you provided, does it run silent and write the logs of upto 100 deletions?
2 more questions, as i think these are the last things i may need with this script. i have 1 customer who may be getting sub-folders inside that specific folder WHATEVER_I_WANT, would the script also delete the subfolders recursively? i'd like it to do so if there were folders older than 30days old.
last thing, can we make it it send the log file by email if i provide an smtp account info?
like: smtp mail server, username, password, port number, no SSL or any security required, also to provide the subject that it would have, and the "from" email address, and the "to" email address.
thank you again
Yes, please test what we have before additional changes can be made.
Yes, should run 'silent' and write to log last 100 records.
Yes, it processes subfolders, please test to make sure it meets your needs.
Yes, it can send an email. Once you have tested the current version and confirmed everything else is in order we can add that easy enough.
~bp
Yes, should run 'silent' and write to log last 100 records.
Yes, it processes subfolders, please test to make sure it meets your needs.
Yes, it can send an email. Once you have tested the current version and confirmed everything else is in order we can add that easy enough.
~bp
ASKER
ok, i will put the script in place, it will run tonight, i will get back to you with updates. thank you again
ASKER
ok i tried to run the script but it gave me an error, you can see attached image
What did you change line 9 to? Did you perhaps reference a folder that doesn't exist, the script won't automatically create that, only the actual text file for the log.
~bp
~bp
ASKER
oh, i didn't change line 9 at all, i left it as is. sorry i assumed it will auto-create the folder because i mentioned it earlier. but np, i will create the folder manually tonight, and run the script again and see what happens.
ill post back
thx
ill post back
thx
ASKER
same error message, i created the folder manually.
i also created a blank txt file with the same name, and i still got the same error msg again.
i also created a blank txt file with the same name, and i still got the same error msg again.
Can you post up the script you are actually running please?
In addition, at a DOS prompt could you do the following command (assuming the same file name is on line 9, adjust the folder name here if needed) and post up the output:
DIR C:\del-log
~bp
In addition, at a DOS prompt could you do the following command (assuming the same file name is on line 9, adjust the folder name here if needed) and post up the output:
DIR C:\del-log
~bp
ASKER
ok here is the exact vbs script i have without any modifications:
' Text file I/O constants
Const ForReading = 1
Const ForWriting = 2
Const ForAppending = 8
strBaseDir = "E:\User Backups\"
strDirName = "DeletedFiles"
intDaysToKeep = 30
strLogFile = "C:\del-log\deleted_files.txt"
intLogSize = 100
' Create file system object
Set objFSO = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
' Initialize log info for this run
strLogData = ""
' Remove old files in specified folder
RemoveOldFiles objFSO.GetFolder(strBaseDir)
' Truncate and write log file
WriteLogFile strLogFile, strLogData
Sub RemoveOldFiles(objFolder)
On Error Resume Next
' Does this match the name we are looking for, if so process it
If LCase(objFolder.Name) = LCase(strDirName) Then
' Remove any files older than specified days from this folder
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now) > intDaysToKeep Then
strLogData = strLogData & Now & " - Deleted file: " & objFile.Path & vbCrLf
' objFile.Delete
End If
Next
End If
' See if we were able to access this folder, if not don't recurse into it
If Err.Number = 0 Then
' Check subfolders
For Each objSubFolder In objFolder.Subfolders
RemoveOldFiles objSubFolder
Next
End If
End Sub
Sub WriteLogFile(strFile, strData)
' Get any log records from prior run
If objFSO.FileExists(strFile) Then
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForReading)
strKeep = objFile.ReadAll
objFile.Close
Else
strKeep = ""
End If
' Add new log records from this run on
strKeep = strKeep & strData
' Only keep the last intLogSize lines in the log (roll off older lines)
arrKeep = Split(strKeep, vbCrLf)
If UBound(arrKeep) > intLogSize Then
strKeep = ""
For i = (UBound(arrKeep) - intLogSize) To UBound(arrKeep)
If arrKeep(i) <> "" Then
strKeep = strKeep & arrKeep(i) & vbCrLf
End If
Next
End If
' Write log file data to log file
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForWriting, True)
objFile.Write strKeep
objFile.Close
End Sub
And the DIR output?
~bp
~bp
ASKER
here you go
C:\>DIR C:\del-log
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 7A8A-665E
Directory of C:\del-log
10/15/2015 08:46 PM <DIR> .
10/15/2015 08:46 PM <DIR> ..
10/15/2015 08:45 PM 0 deleted_files.txt
1 File(s) 0 bytes
2 Dir(s) 528,866,246,656 bytes free
C:\>
The only way I could reproduce that error was when the c:\del-log folder didn't exist.
I have added a couple of edits near the start of the processing to make sure the base directory, and the parent directory of the log file exist. If they don't it will now produce an error message.
In addition I removed the trailing backslash from the strBaseDir folder name, that should not be there.
Try this and see what it says. If you still get the same error then try a different folder for the log file.
I have added a couple of edits near the start of the processing to make sure the base directory, and the parent directory of the log file exist. If they don't it will now produce an error message.
In addition I removed the trailing backslash from the strBaseDir folder name, that should not be there.
Try this and see what it says. If you still get the same error then try a different folder for the log file.
' Text file I/O constants
Const ForReading = 1
Const ForWriting = 2
Const ForAppending = 8
strBaseDir = "E:\User Backups"
strDirName = "DeletedFiles"
intDaysToKeep = 30
strLogFile = "C:\del-log\deleted_files.txt"
intLogSize = 100
' Create file system object
Set objFSO = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
' Do some basic editing on folder names specified
If Not ObjFSO.FolderExists(strBaseDir) Then
Wscript.Echo "*ERROR* Folder to scan does not exist: """ & strBaseDir & """."
Wscript.Quit
End If
If Not ObjFSO.FolderExists(objFSO.GetParentFolderName(strLogFile)) Then
Wscript.Echo "*ERROR* Folder for log file does not exist: """ & objFSO.GetParentFolderName(strLogFile) & """."
Wscript.Quit
End If
' Initialize log info for this run
strLogData = ""
' Remove old files in specified folder
RemoveOldFiles objFSO.GetFolder(strBaseDir)
' Truncate and write log file
WriteLogFile strLogFile, strLogData
Sub RemoveOldFiles(objFolder)
On Error Resume Next
' Does this match the name we are looking for, if so process it
If LCase(objFolder.Name) = LCase(strDirName) Then
' Remove any files older than specified days from this folder
For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
If DateDiff("d", objFile.DateLastModified, Now) > intDaysToKeep Then
strLogData = strLogData & Now & " - Deleted file: " & objFile.Path & vbCrLf
' objFile.Delete
End If
Next
End If
' See if we were able to access this folder, if not don't recurse into it
If Err.Number = 0 Then
' Check subfolders
For Each objSubFolder In objFolder.Subfolders
RemoveOldFiles objSubFolder
Next
End If
End Sub
Sub WriteLogFile(strFile, strData)
' Get any log records from prior run
If objFSO.FileExists(strFile) Then
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForReading)
If objFile.AtEndOfStream Then
strKeep = ""
Else
strKeep = objFile.ReadAll
End If
objFile.Close
Else
strKeep = ""
End If
' Add new log records from this run on
strKeep = strKeep & strData
' Only keep the last intLogSize lines in the log (roll off older lines)
arrKeep = Split(strKeep, vbCrLf)
If UBound(arrKeep) > intLogSize Then
strKeep = ""
For i = (UBound(arrKeep) - intLogSize) To UBound(arrKeep)
If arrKeep(i) <> "" Then
strKeep = strKeep & arrKeep(i) & vbCrLf
End If
Next
End If
' Write log file data to log file
Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFile, ForWriting, True)
objFile.Write strKeep
objFile.Close
End SubASKER
great thx, i will test it tonight, as the machine is being used at this moment, but will be available for me tonight.
ASKER
i just managed to test it, it worked, no errors, and it saved the log in the same exact file i had created previously.
so it must have been the trailing backslash, because the folder and the file were there without any modifications.
so i uncommented line 45, so i can make it do it's thing for real, so far so good with all files in the "DeletedFiles" folder, and all files inside sub-folders that are in "DeletedFiles", but it doesn't delete the subfolders that are older than 30days. would it be possible to have the script check if the sub-folder empty, and if it is, then delete it if it's older than the specified 30days old.
last thing i guess is having it send the log by email.
thx
so it must have been the trailing backslash, because the folder and the file were there without any modifications.
so i uncommented line 45, so i can make it do it's thing for real, so far so good with all files in the "DeletedFiles" folder, and all files inside sub-folders that are in "DeletedFiles", but it doesn't delete the subfolders that are older than 30days. would it be possible to have the script check if the sub-folder empty, and if it is, then delete it if it's older than the specified 30days old.
last thing i guess is having it send the log by email.
thx
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
please accept my sincere apology for the late reply, I had shortage on staff, and i had to cover for 3 people's jobs.
the script you made is perfect, thank you again for the hard work, it's exactly what i'm looking for.
keep up the great work :)
the script you made is perfect, thank you again for the hard work, it's exactly what i'm looking for.
keep up the great work :)
No problem on delay, completely understand. Glad that was helpful and thanks for the feedback.
~bp
~bp
Open a CMD window and run the .bat.
You will see results echoed to screen. Also logged to file.
Note:
- Currently will ECHO qualified files to screen and log file. Remove capitalized ECHO at cmd /c ECHO to run for real.
- Adjust values after SET variables to your needs.
- Deleted filenames are logged to file FNLog
Open in new window