How to skip number of lines that changed in run time in cmd?

Question

I have many folders and i need to delete from any folder the oldest files in it, the number of files that i need to delete changed any iteration so i tried to do a for loop that in any iteration do date sort, after the oldest file at the top of the file i do "skip=variable" this variable changed any iteration and it's not work.

Is someone have any idea how to solve it in batch file? Thanks!

So you append "skip=variable" to the files you want to skip and it isn't skipping them? Is that the issue? — Neil, Feb 09 '16 at 08:40
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims= " %%i in ( C:\folder\varibales_file.txt ) do (set numOfFiles=%%j & pushd %%i & ( for /f "skip=numOfFiles " %%F in ('dir C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i /b /o-d') do ( rd /s /q C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i\%%F))&popd) — Reutm, Feb 09 '16 at 08:42
`for /f "skip=numOfFiles " `should be `for /f "skip=!numOfFiles!" ` (and you'd need [delayed expansion](http://stackoverflow.com/a/30284028/2152082) — Stephan, Feb 09 '16 at 09:06
hi Stephan thanks, i try it too, when i do it there is an error "The system cannot find the file " — Reutm, Feb 09 '16 at 09:19

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 09 '16 at 16:43

1

The options of for /F command ("skip... delims... tokens", etc) can not be changed after the for /F command was parsed. You need to change the value of "skip=!numOfFiles!" in a different subroutine, so the for /F command be parsed each time it is executed:

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims= " %%i in ( C:\folder\varibales_file.txt ) do (
   set numOfFiles=%%j
   pushd %%i
   call :Sub !numOfFiles!
   popd
)
goto :EOF


:Sub numOfFiles
for /f "skip=%1 delims=" %%F in ('dir "C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i" /b /o-d') do (
   rd /s /q "C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i\%%F"
)

answered Feb 09 '16 at 16:43

Aacini

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hi,thanks for your answer, i tried what you said, but it's not work, i got an error: "The system on the command is incorrect" here is the code: @echo off Setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion net use \\haifa-nas\build_results\CleanupLogs\reut_cleanup FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims= " %%i in ( C:\folder\varibales_file.txt) do ( set numOfBuild=%%j pushd %%i call :Sub !numOfBuild! popd ) goto :EOF :sub numOfBuild for /f "skip=%1 delims=" %%F in ('dir C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i /b /o-d') do ( rd /s /q C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i\%%F ) – Reutm Feb 09 '16 at 20:53
i've sent it in a few lines but it's appears as one line – Reutm Feb 09 '16 at 20:57
I am afraid I don't understand you... You must insert my code in a .BAT file and then execute the file! – Aacini Feb 09 '16 at 21:19
ok i've had a problem with a spesific folder, now it's work :) Thanks!! – Reutm Feb 09 '16 at 23:03

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 09 '16 at 09:36

I did the following changes to your "one-line-code":

reformatting into a proper and readable batchfile
using numOfOFiles as delayed variable (you did it as a string which couldn't work)
enclosed all paths/filenames in quotes to proper work with spaces in direcotries or filenames
added delims= for the same reason
remove ECHO if the output satisfies you.

(corected code only, didn't check if it does, what you want)

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims= " %%i in (C:\folder\varibales_file.txt) do (
  set numOfFiles=%%j
  pushd %%i 
  for /f "skip=!numOfFiles! delims=" %%F in ('dir "C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i" /b /o-d') do (
    ECHO rd /s /q "C:\folder_path_to_delete\%%i\%%F"
  popd
)

are you sure, you want to use rd (Remove Directory), not del (DELete file)?

Thanks,i tried it and there is an error "The system cannot find the file ..." although the file exist — Reutm, Feb 09 '16 at 09:49

How to skip number of lines that changed in run time in cmd?

2 Answers2