Re: keeping the two latest files on a folder

[Håkon Alstadheim <hakon@alstadheim.priv.no>]

Andrew Sackville-West skrev:
> On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 06:46:31PM -0400, Chris Jones wrote:
>   
> > On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 03:35:19PM EDT, Håkon Alstadheim wrote:
> >     
> > > Israel Garcia skrev:
> > >       
> > > > Hi List,
> > > >
> > > > It's a simple  question but difficult to me :-).
> > > >
> > > > How can I delete all files on a folder /xxxx but keeping only the two
> > > > latest (newest)  files?
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >         
> > > untested, run it with 'echo' in front first to test:
> > > rm $(ls -rt | sed '1,2d')
> > >       
> > sed rocks...!
> >     
>
>
> indeed. wow. 
>
> A
>   
Due to all the positive feed-back, I actually tested the "ls -rt"-bit, 
and sure enough, the 'r' makes ls list the newest files _last_, so you 
DON'T want 'r'. This makes the correct command:

rm $(ls -t | sed '1,2d')


You should _still_ test it first using 'echo ', to make sure there are no subdirectories in there, and on general principles. Adapt to whatever you have in the directory.