Directory Listing Using Wildcards

[BigE]

I thought this would be an easy subject to find help on, but my searches have turned up little.

I want to get a listing of files in a directory using a wildcard.

For example I only want to list the files that have their name prefixed with "BigE_". My intent is to delete them.

Using a path with a wildcard for the partial filename such as "/usr/local/home/BigE_*" does not work with the unlink() command, nor does it seem to work with dir directory class when generating a listing. I get an error saying no such file or directory exists. If I leave out the wild card and just have "/usr/local/home/" I get the all files in the directory. I know I could list the entire directory and check each file for the designated prefix. That just seems silly.

I admit to coming from a DOS background so perhaps wildcard searches work differently in Linux.

Can a listing be done with a wildcard?

Thanks,

E

[phpprogrammer]

Dear Friend,

<?php
$dir = "/usr/local/home/";

// Open a known directory, and proceed to read its contents
if (is_dir($dir))
{
if ($dh = opendir($dir))
{
while (($file = readdir($dh)) !== false) {

if(substr($file,0,4)=="BigE_*"))
{

unlink($file);
}

    }
    closedir($dh);
}

}
?>

[BigE]

Yes, as I said I know I can read the entire directory and check each file name for the prefix, but I was hoping there was a more sensible way. You really can't get a listing based on a wild card?

Regards,

E