how to delete files older than 3 months old in a directory using .net?

Question

I would like to know (using c#) how I can delete files in a certain directory older than 3 months, but I guess the date period could be flexible.

Just to be clear - I am looking for files that are older than 90 days, in other words files created less than 90 days ago should be kept, all others deleted.

Answer 1

The GetLastAccessTime property on the System.IO.File class should help.

Answer 2

Basically you can use Directory.Getfiles(Path) to get a list of all the files. After that you loop through the list and call GetLastAccessTim() as Keith suggested.

Answer 3

hi you just need FileInfo -> CreationTime

and than just calculate the time difference.

in the app.config you can save the TimeSpan value of how old the file must be to be deleted

also check out the DateTime Subtract method.

good luck

Answer 4

Here's a snippet of how to get the creation time of files in the directory and find those which have been created 3 months ago (90 days ago to be exact):

    DirectoryInfo source = new DirectoryInfo(sourceDirectoryPath);

    // Get info of each file into the directory
    foreach (FileInfo fi in source.GetFiles())
    {
        var creationTime = fi.CreationTime;

        if(creationTime < (DateTime.Now- new TimeSpan(90, 0, 0, 0)))
        {
            fi.Delete();
        }
    }

Answer 5

Alternatively, you can use the File.GetCreationTime Method if you need to delete files based on creation dates.

Answer 6

Something like this outta do it.

using System.IO; 

string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(dirName);

foreach (string file in files)
{
   FileInfo fi = new FileInfo(file);
   if (fi.LastAccessTime < DateTime.Now.AddMonths(-3))
      fi.Delete();
}

Answer 7

The code could look like this:

bool allFilesDeleted = 
 (from f in Directory.GetFiles(dirName)
 let info = new FileInfo(f)
 where info.LastAccessTime < 3.Months().Ago
 select info.AsSideEffect(i=>i.Delete())
 .All(success=>success);

Update: LOL! Didn't expect such a negative reception, but people don't read anymore...I clearly stated that the code could look like this. What is obviously missing in the .NET Framework is an Extension method "Months()" applicable to int that will return a date 3 months in the past. How this can work is shown here: http://realfiction.net/Content/Entry/77

What is also obviously missing is an extension method to perform a side-effect in LINQ which can look something like this:

public static bool AsSideEffect<T>(this T target, Action<T> action)
{
  try
  {
    action(target);
    return true;
  }
  catch (Exception x)
  {
    return false;
  }
}

which would allow Binding a void method into the iteration of a LINQ expression. OMG guys, it's Monday, give it a rest!

Answer 8

For those that like to over-use LINQ.

(from f in new DirectoryInfo("C:/Temp").GetFiles()
 where f.CreationTime < DateTime.Now.Subtract(TimeSpan.FromDays(90))
 select f
).ToList()
    .ForEach(f => f.Delete());