Simple file exterminator

[Nastycut]

I am trying to construct a simple script for file maintenance. When the script executes it will delete all other .jpg entries except 500 latest additions.

Here’s my idea how the script should work:

1. Get total number of .jpg files, if smaller than 500 die
2. Sort files based on their creation date [Descending] (oldest comes first)
3. Subtract total number of files – 500, call resulting number variable X
4. Build a counter from 1 to X
5. Go through each file and delete until at X
6. Job done

It would be enormously helpful (and enlightening) if some good soul would find time to write me an example how to do this with .PHP. I am very excited about the .php but just realized I can browse through different tutorials for days and still not get it right. This is why I am asking help from more experienced coders.

Thanks

[ClarkF1]

The best way to learn is to do it yourself.

Find a good PHP or online tutorial and even the manual at php.net which is extremely useful and make a start. Then come and ask us if you get really stuck.

This is relatively straight forward for an experienced coder and it seems like a good exercise for a beginner.

[greenie2600]

Yup. It's great that you want to learn. But you're not going to learn anything if we do it for you.

Your algorithm is sound; you just need to translate from English to PHP. Start by learning the basic PHP syntax - how to handle variables, function calls, and control structures (such as for, which you'll be needing for this project).

Do read everything in these pages, but don't worry if you don't understand it all. Some of it deals with features or special situations that you'll rarely encounter, and is only included in the manual for the sake of completeness.

Then make ample use of php.net's function reference. If you don't know what specific function you need, find the appropriate category, and poke through the functions in that category until you find it. For example, the filesystem functions will be useful here.