Write batch file to delete all but latest X files of each type

I am trying to create a batch file which should be run once a day, which is supposed to delete all backup files other than the latest, lets say 2 of each type. So I am having files such as:

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-11_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_110000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

etc.

So my script looks as follows currently

@ECHO off



SET frequency=%*

for %%x in (%frequency%) do (

  for /f "*-%%x*" %%a in ('dir /ad /b /o-d^|more +2') do echo @file

)

but I am getting the error *-%x*" was unexpected at this time.

What the script should achieve is that once it is run each day I should have the latest 2 backup files of each type(DAILY, HOURLY). Right now I am just trying to print the files that need to be kept.

So what I should be left with is

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

1

I think you are misunderstanding quite a few things here...

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 13 '18 at 14:34

3

The only fault I see is that you misplaced the "*-%%x*" it now looks like a for /r. Put it into the dir command. And I'd favor the "skip=2" over the more +2 as the latter is another .exe to load versus the internal for command.

– LotPings
Nov 13 '18 at 15:15

2

After for /F (and also after for /R) you cannot use a meta-variable like %%x (neither can you use delayed expansion there), only normal %-variables work here...

– aschipfl
Nov 13 '18 at 16:42

add a comment |

I am trying to create a batch file which should be run once a day, which is supposed to delete all backup files other than the latest, lets say 2 of each type. So I am having files such as:

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-11_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_110000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

etc.

So my script looks as follows currently

@ECHO off



SET frequency=%*

for %%x in (%frequency%) do (

  for /f "*-%%x*" %%a in ('dir /ad /b /o-d^|more +2') do echo @file

)

but I am getting the error *-%x*" was unexpected at this time.

What the script should achieve is that once it is run each day I should have the latest 2 backup files of each type(DAILY, HOURLY). Right now I am just trying to print the files that need to be kept.

So what I should be left with is

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

1

I think you are misunderstanding quite a few things here...

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 13 '18 at 14:34

3

The only fault I see is that you misplaced the "*-%%x*" it now looks like a for /r. Put it into the dir command. And I'd favor the "skip=2" over the more +2 as the latter is another .exe to load versus the internal for command.

– LotPings
Nov 13 '18 at 15:15

2

After for /F (and also after for /R) you cannot use a meta-variable like %%x (neither can you use delayed expansion there), only normal %-variables work here...

– aschipfl
Nov 13 '18 at 16:42

add a comment |

I am trying to create a batch file which should be run once a day, which is supposed to delete all backup files other than the latest, lets say 2 of each type. So I am having files such as:

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-11_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_110000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

etc.

So my script looks as follows currently

@ECHO off



SET frequency=%*

for %%x in (%frequency%) do (

  for /f "*-%%x*" %%a in ('dir /ad /b /o-d^|more +2') do echo @file

)

but I am getting the error *-%x*" was unexpected at this time.

What the script should achieve is that once it is run each day I should have the latest 2 backup files of each type(DAILY, HOURLY). Right now I am just trying to print the files that need to be kept.

So what I should be left with is

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

I am trying to create a batch file which should be run once a day, which is supposed to delete all backup files other than the latest, lets say 2 of each type. So I am having files such as:

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-11_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_110000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

etc.

So my script looks as follows currently

@ECHO off



SET frequency=%*

for %%x in (%frequency%) do (

  for /f "*-%%x*" %%a in ('dir /ad /b /o-d^|more +2') do echo @file

)

but I am getting the error *-%x*" was unexpected at this time.

What the script should achieve is that once it is run each day I should have the latest 2 backup files of each type(DAILY, HOURLY). Right now I am just trying to print the files that need to be kept.

So what I should be left with is

backup-DAILY-2018-11-13_000000.bak

backup-DAILY-2018-11-12_000000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_130000.bak

backup-HOURLY-2018-11-13_150000.bak

batch-file

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

asked Nov 13 '18 at 14:28

Yantes

12211

1

I think you are misunderstanding quite a few things here...

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 13 '18 at 14:34

3

The only fault I see is that you misplaced the "*-%%x*" it now looks like a for /r. Put it into the dir command. And I'd favor the "skip=2" over the more +2 as the latter is another .exe to load versus the internal for command.

– LotPings
Nov 13 '18 at 15:15

2

After for /F (and also after for /R) you cannot use a meta-variable like %%x (neither can you use delayed expansion there), only normal %-variables work here...

– aschipfl
Nov 13 '18 at 16:42

add a comment |

1

I think you are misunderstanding quite a few things here...

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 13 '18 at 14:34

3

The only fault I see is that you misplaced the "*-%%x*" it now looks like a for /r. Put it into the dir command. And I'd favor the "skip=2" over the more +2 as the latter is another .exe to load versus the internal for command.

– LotPings
Nov 13 '18 at 15:15

2

After for /F (and also after for /R) you cannot use a meta-variable like %%x (neither can you use delayed expansion there), only normal %-variables work here...

– aschipfl
Nov 13 '18 at 16:42

I think you are misunderstanding quite a few things here...

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 13 '18 at 14:34

The only fault I see is that you misplaced the "*-%%x*" it now looks like a for /r. Put it into the dir command. And I'd favor the "skip=2" over the more +2 as the latter is another .exe to load versus the internal for command.

– LotPings
Nov 13 '18 at 15:15

After for /F (and also after for /R) you cannot use a meta-variable like %%x (neither can you use delayed expansion there), only normal %-variables work here...

– aschipfl
Nov 13 '18 at 16:42

add a comment |

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

I am not sure what it is you are trying to achieve with the frequency, but nevertheless, I will focus on what you actualy want to achieve:

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *DAILY*') do echo "%%i"

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *HOURLY*') do echo "%%i"

So what happens is, we sort by date in reverse order, we then skip the first 2 files (being latest) and delete the rest, we just run 2 seperate loops for each type, hourly and daily. It can be incorporated into a single for loop, but I think this is simple enough.

Obviously replace echo with del once you confirm it does what you want..

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

add a comment |

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1 Answer
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oldest

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I am not sure what it is you are trying to achieve with the frequency, but nevertheless, I will focus on what you actualy want to achieve:

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *DAILY*') do echo "%%i"

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *HOURLY*') do echo "%%i"

Obviously replace echo with del once you confirm it does what you want..

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

add a comment |

I am not sure what it is you are trying to achieve with the frequency, but nevertheless, I will focus on what you actualy want to achieve:

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *DAILY*') do echo "%%i"

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *HOURLY*') do echo "%%i"

Obviously replace echo with del once you confirm it does what you want..

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

add a comment |

I am not sure what it is you are trying to achieve with the frequency, but nevertheless, I will focus on what you actualy want to achieve:

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *DAILY*') do echo "%%i"

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *HOURLY*') do echo "%%i"

Obviously replace echo with del once you confirm it does what you want..

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

I am not sure what it is you are trying to achieve with the frequency, but nevertheless, I will focus on what you actualy want to achieve:

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *DAILY*') do echo "%%i"

for /F "skip=2 eol=: delims=" %%i in ('dir /b /o-d *HOURLY*') do echo "%%i"

Obviously replace echo with del once you confirm it does what you want..

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

answered Nov 13 '18 at 14:41

Gerhard Barnard

6,96731131

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

add a comment |

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

Thanks a lot this seems to work, I will run it a few times to make sure and of course replace the echo with del. I am a newbi in scripting, so I think I was pretty confused with how it all was working together. Like that the dir command is executed first and then the rest upon the results from that, and I could not find what /b /o-d meant, I was looking in the documentation for the for cmd whereas I should have looked in the documentation for the dir cmd instead. But it is more clear for me now so thank a lot.

– Yantes
Nov 14 '18 at 7:26

No problems, just shout if you need help.

– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 14 '18 at 7:28

add a comment |

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