Killing files

[PhilOfPerth]

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?

[ahenry3068]

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

[SMcNeill]

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.

[bplus]

or more QBistically and less DOS like:

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

[RhoSigma]

Jesus Christ boys, where do you live?

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

[OldMoses]

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...

[ahenry3068]

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.

[PhilOfPerth]

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.

---

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

[Kernelpanic]

It's even easier, folks! 

[RhoSigma]

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