creating a script to delete TONS of files

[Charles Kozierok]

No real way to judge until we see the list or otherwise know what we're dealing with...

 

[Homerboy]

How many files are you keeping? Maybe it'd be simpler to copy out all the files you're keeping then del the entire remaining directory?

We will be keeping way more than deleting.

 

[imagoon]

Dump the paths from SQL to a csv:
Powershell:

Import-CSV "C:\temp.csv" | % { 
$path = $_.csvcolumnname
Remove-item "$path"
}

"csvcolumnname" is whatever you name the column in row 1

If you are working at the directory levels you could wildcard the paths as needed. A couple of examples of data sql is returning might help me give you a better solution.

 

[power_hour]

Do this all the time using vbscript. We do it based on historical values of timestamps; deleting files older than a specific date.

In a nutshell, just write the code in vbscript, save it and run it using a schedule task. Its ridiculously easy to do. Google for the script as its out there. And yeah you can do it a few ways too using Powershell or windows commands in a batch file or even Windows explorer search.

 

[Homerboy]

Initial count of first batch is 461,479. They tightened the purge parameters some, so the "millions" has been reduced. That being said. the 461,479 is only the # of scans. Each scan could contain 1-## actual .tif files. I'm using a wild card on each of the 461,479 so while its 461,479 rows of "del", it could end up being millions of actual *.tif files that get nuked still.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

That's no biggie.

 

[Homerboy]

That's no biggie.

No. not as horrific as it initially was planned to be. But they adjusted their purging rules so it would have been millions otherwise. Still is a hefty delete, and I'll be nervous as I double click the .bat file 🙂

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Then you don't have adequate backups. 🙂

Offer remains if you need help when the time comes. Just drop me a line.

 

[Homerboy]

Then you don't have adequate backups. 🙂

Offer remains if you need help when the time comes. Just drop me a line.

I'm not in charge of backups. And those that are, I don't have the most faith in.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Well, you never run a delete script on a set of files without a backup, unless it is absolutely impossible.

 

[Homerboy]

If I'm told the backups are fine, then I am in the clear. If there is a F-up it is not in my scripts.

 

[Kyanzes]

Make sure you have a backup because even the slightest error in code could end in disaster. Any script/prg would require serious testing before allowing it to comb the folder structure.

Perhaps you should make the test program/script copy the files somewhere and only then delete them.

Later you can always delete the copies.