Q67381: Deleting Files Based on Creation Date

Article: Q67381
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.20,3.21,3.30,3.30a,4.0,4.01,5.0,5.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 19-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.20, 3.21, 3.30, 3.30a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a 
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SUMMARY
=======

MS-DOS versions before 6.x do not provide a direct means of deleting a file
based upon its creation date. However, you can perform this function by using a
sequence of MS-DOS commands, executed from the directory in which the files to
be deleted reside, as follows:

  md newfiles                     (Creates subdirectory NEWFILES)

  xcopy *.* newfiles /d:date      (Copies all files from current
                                  directory created on or after
                                  date to the subdirectory
                                  NEWFILES*)

  del *.*                         (Deletes all files in current
                                  directory)

  xcopy newfiles                  (Copies files from NEWFILES to
                                  current directory)

  del newfiles                    (Deletes all files in subdirectory
                                  NEWFILES)

  rd newfiles                     (Removes subdirectory NEWFILES)

- Please note that this procedure requires enough free disk space to maintain
  two copies of all of the files in the current directory that will be saved.

With MS-DOS version 6.x the final two steps can be replaced with:

  deltree newfiles

Additional query words: 3.20 3.30 3.30a 4.00 5.00 noupd

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:3.20,3.21,3.30,3.30a,4.0,4.01,5.0,5.0a

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