Killing files - Printable Version

Killing files - Printable Version

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Killing files - PhilOfPerth - 06-05-2025

I have a folder called RecallHist containing several files with names like "ABC4, ABC6, POP1, POP6, AB1, BD3
and I need to delete those that start with POP (for example).
I've written this code, but the selection$ string is not correct - file is not found.

Code: (Select All)
Name$ = "POP"

Print "Name$ is "; Name$

NewHist:

k = _KeyHit

_Limit 30

If k <> 21248 Then GoTo NewHist '                wait for Delete key

selection$ = "RecallHist/" + Name$ + "?" '    <----------------------------------- this line is wrong - file is not being found

Print "selection$ is "; selection$

If _FileExists(selection$) Then

    Kill selection$ '                            delete files in RecallHist that start with POP plus any other char

    Print "Killed"; selection$ '                  deleted history files for this name

Else

    Print "History still intact" '                not deleted

End If

How do I place a Wildcard in the string?

RE: Killing files - ahenry3068 - 06-05-2025

(06-05-2025, 04:16 AM)PhilOfPerth Wrote: I have a folder called RecallHist containing several files with names like "ABC4, ABC6, POP1, POP6, AB1, BD3
and I need to delete those that start with POP (for example).
I've written this code, but the selection$ string is not correct - file is not found.

Code: (Select All)
Name$ = "POP" Print "Name$ is "; Name$ NewHist: k = _KeyHit _Limit 30 If k <> 21248 Then GoTo NewHist ' wait for Delete key selection$ = "RecallHist/" + Name$ + "?" ' <----------------------------------- this line is wrong - file is not being found Print "selection$ is "; selection$ If _FileExists(selection$) Then Kill selection$ ' delete files in RecallHist that start with POP plus any other char Print "Killed"; selection$ ' deleted history files for this name Else Print "History still intact" ' not deleted End If

How do I place a Wildcard in the string?

I use this

$IF WINDOWS THEN
KILLCMD$ = "DEL "
$ELSE
KILLCMD$ = "rm "
$END IF

Name$ = "POP*"

SHELL _HIDE KILLCMD$ + Name$

I don't believe Wild cards work with the Internal Kill command

RE: Killing files - SMcNeill - 06-05-2025

A question mark is a wildcard for one character. A star is a wildcard for any number of characters.

DIR a? would work with:
a0
a1
a2

But not:
a01
a02
a03

DIR a* would work with any file that begins with a(anything after).

The * symbol is probably the one you're wanting to use here.

RE: Killing files - bplus - 06-05-2025

or more QBistically and less DOS like:

If Ucase$(Left$(filename$, 3)) = "POP" Then Kill filename$

RE: Killing files - RhoSigma - 06-05-2025

Jesus Christ boys, where do you live?

KILL "path/POP*" and be done with it.

RE: Killing files - OldMoses - 06-05-2025

(06-05-2025, 09:30 AM)RhoSigma Wrote: Jesus Christ boys, where do you live?

KILL "path/POP*" and be done with it.

This one gets my vote, one's path to pop stardom is easily killed... Wink

RE: Killing files - ahenry3068 - 06-05-2025

One reason I use the SHELL method with the Operating system command is that I can also use it to nuke whole directory trees with one Command
WHERE Necessary.

I do believe I was incorrect about the built in KILL command not taking wildcards though.

RE: Killing files - PhilOfPerth - 06-05-2025

(06-05-2025, 09:30 AM)RhoSigma Wrote: Jesus Christ boys, where do you live?

KILL "path/POP*" and be done with it.

The problem with both of these is that the character after POP varies for each file. Kill "path/POP* doesn't accept the * - it doesn't like the * and returns File Not Found.

(06-05-2025, 08:43 AM)bplus Wrote: or more QBistically and less DOS like:

If Ucase$(Left$(filename$, 3)) = "POP" Then Kill filename$

Sorry bplus, I missed your suggestion. I'll give that a go now. Thanks

RE: Killing files - Kernelpanic - 06-05-2025

It's even easier, folks! Tongue

RE: Killing files - RhoSigma - 06-05-2025

Phil, I hope you did replace "path" in my example with your actual folder specification eg.

KILL "C:\Phil\RecallHist\POP*"

or

KILL "C:\Phil\RecallHist\POP*.txt" to delete only text files starting with POP