Thread: Save every fifth file

Hi !
Never done any scripting in Linux , so here is my problem.

I need to have a script that saves every fifth file in a directory, but deletes the other ones.

A bonus would be if the calling of the script would 'set' the value of which files that I want to save (fifth , tenth , second ......)

Sounds like an easy one for you here

I hope I'm not helping with school homework problem

here is the script:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
OUT="/tmp/list.$$"
c=0
pos=$1 # file position 
dir=$2  # directory name
[ $# -ne 2 ] && exit 1 || :
find ${dir} -type f -print > $OUT
while read line
do
   (( c++ ))
   if [ $c -eq $pos ];
   then
	echo "Deleting $line at $c pos..."
        echo "/bin/rm $line"
	c=0 # reset
   fi
done < $OUT

/bin/rm $OUT

Call script as follows for 5th position and /tmp dir:

Code:

./script.sh 5 /tmp

For 10th position and /tmp/d2 dir

Code:

./script.sh 5 /tmp/d2

Read scripting book if you need further information regarding all commands used in this script.

Good luck!

Nice one !

I had to change it a little bit so it saves every fifth , not deletes every fifth as it did in your script

One problem that I still have is that when it creates the list it processes , the list is not sorted correct.

Is there anyway to use the SORT command when using the FIND command in your script ?

\Mats

It works...
I also added so that only files that starts with Sqr is processed.
ThanX rockdalinux !!!

here is the script as of now :

#!/bin/bash
OUT="/tmp/list.$$"
c=0
pos=$1 # file position
dir=$2 # directory name
[ $# -ne 2 ] && exit 1 || :
find ${dir} -name Sqr\* -type f | sort -o $OUT
while read line
do
(( c++ ))
if [ $c -eq $pos ];
then
echo "Keeping $line at $c pos..."
# echo "/bin/rm $line"
c=0 # reset
else
echo "Deleting $line at $c pos..."
echo "/bin/rm $line"
/bin/rm $line
fi
done < $OUT
/bin/rm $OUT