Delete files after x amount of time

PHP
1

Hi guys,

Im a newb here, so bear with me! Still learning the ropes.

I want to delete all files from my server that are 6 hours old since being uploaded to the site. I believe i need a cron job? I currently have this script in its framework…

Code: [Select]
<?php

//time interval for deletion to occur…
$x = 30;

//timestamp
$current_time = time();

//the file you wish to delete
$file_name = ‘file.txt’;

//timestamp
$file_creation_time = filemtime($filename);

//extract difference
$difference = $current_time - $file_creation_time;

//if difference = $x…then delete file
if ($difference == $x) {
unlink($file_name);
}

Would that work automatically or would it need a cron to run it?

And how could i test it, that bit worries me.

Many thanks.

2

Well for starters, your script as it stands is set to erase files that are exactly 30 seconds old.

if ($difference == $x) {

>= , maybe?

$x should be 21600, because time is measured in seconds. (60 seconds * 60 minutes * 6 hours = 21,600)

When you cron it, you will be able to specify how often it runs.
It will need a cron to run it. (I dont trust scripts that run infinite loops, personally)

3

Thanks lion, and you are right, i forgot from when i was just experimenting!

<?php

//time interval for deletion to occur...
$x = 14400;  //4 hours

//timestamp
$current_time = time();

//the file you wish to delete
$file_name = 'file.txt';

//timestamp
$file_creation_time = filemtime($filename);

//extract difference
$difference = $current_time - $file_creation_time;

//if difference = $x...then delete file
if ($difference >= $x) {
unlink($file_name);
}?>

Cron task, would it look like this? Im on CentOS.

#<minute> <hour> <day> <month> <dow> <command>
/* 4 * * * /link/to/command/php/file

Thanks in advanced.

4

the cron should look something like

  • 4 * * * php /path/to/yourfile.php

Which will run the script every 4 hours.

It should also be pointed out that this script targets one file only.

5

Sorry i messed up my reply, was meant to have some works in it!

How could i get it to target every file older than 4 hours in a particular directory?

6

am i waiting for moderation to allow my post?

7

? I dont understand that.

8

no, i thought i was!

What it is, is that i have an Uploads directory, and inside that is lots of randomly generated folders, each with an uploaded file in each. How could i get my script to delete each file within each random folder that is older than 4 hours?

9

[FPHP]glob[/FPHP] the Uploads directory, to get the file names (hint: Salathe pointed out a way to check multiple folders with glob in this thread), and then [FPHP]foreach[/FPHP] of the results, do your check.

10

Starlion, this site wont post what i reply for some reason. Ive pasted it here

http://textbin.com/384i5

11

Your code is again looking only for a single file -
$files = glob(‘$destination.“/”.$name.{exe}’, GLOB_BRACE);
looks for one specific file - Uploads/<random>/<filename>.exe - which incidentally wont work, because <filename> contains the extension as well, so you’re be looking for done.exe.exe

What exactly are you trying to do with this script? Be specific.

12

What i want the deletion script to do: I have a basic upload site and i want to delete all files that have been uploaded every 4 hours. I want to delete the files that have been uploaded rather than the directories they get placed in. I.e

/Uploads/randomdirectory/file.exe < - - - - I want to delete file.exe rather than /randomdirectory/file.exe together.

Many thanks Sir.

13

So first thing is: Your upload script and your delete script are entirely seperate pages.

The deletionscript should glob Uploads//.exe (assuming you only want to delete exe’s) into an array - you called it $files in your paste there, which is fine.

now [FPHP]foreach[/FPHP] member of $files, get the filemtime, figure out your difference, and if it’s older than 4 hours, delete said member. endforeach.

(bit of pseudocode there for ya)

14

Hi Starlion, i’ve been trying since your last post.

Would there be any way of you doing it for me? I would be willing to pay you or support this site. It’s something that has sprung up on me today as a result of a DMCA complaint and imin no position to deal with it with my skills.

15

Well, prefer the ‘teach a man to fish’ approach.

Post your code, and i’ll try adjusting it.

16

Why would you use PHP for this ?

Just stick this in a bash script

find /path/to/your/upload/directory -type f -mmin +240 -exec rm {} \\;

(source: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/bash-script-to-remove-files-older-than-3-days-462290/, modified to use -mmin instead of -mtime. 4 * 60 = 240)

:slight_smile:

17

Thanks again, really helps me.

<?php

//Script will delete files that are 4 hours old or older.

//Find all files that are .exe’s in the Uploads directory.

$files = glob(‘Uploads/.{exe}’, GLOB_BRACE);

foreach ($files as ??) {

$x = 14400;

//timestamp
$current_time = time();

//file timestamp
$file_creation_time = filemtime($files);

//extract difference
$difference = $current_time - $file_creation_time;

//if difference = $x…then delete file
if ($difference >= $x) {

unlink($filename (//do i put $files or $destination.$name here?));

}

else {

//do nothing?

}

?>

18

Thanks Scallio, i saw something like that around, but i had an issue.

The directories within Uploads that have the files in them, are randomly named. Would there by a way of incorporating that? I dont want to delete the directories if possible.

And how could that code above be made to run every x, just by plugging it into crontab -e ?

19

Scallio: The brief given says not to delete the subdirectories, that the files are inside subdirectories, and only to delete .exes.


<?php
//Script will delete files that are 4 hours old or older.

//Find all files that are .exe's in the Uploads directory's subdirs.
$files = glob('Uploads/*/*.exe');

foreach ($files as $file) {

$x = 14400;

//timestamp
$current_time = time();

//file timestamp
$file_creation_time = filemtime($file);

//extract difference
$difference = $current_time - $file_creation_time;

//if difference = $x...then delete file
if ($difference >= $x) {

unlink($file);

}//EndIf
}//EndForeach

?>
20

StarLion, i could kiss you. Seems to work a charm. Will try and find a way to test, maybe by setting delete time to 1 min and do it that way.

Appreciate it very much.

Thanks for your help Scallio.