How can I find and DELETE directories uding -exec rm?

[malarie]

Hi there,

I want to erase old backup files on my laptop every 15 days using a cronjob.

Here is my command:


find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 -exec rm {} \;

This does not work, because i have to pass arguments to the command. (rm -r or rmdir -r)

How do I pass an option to the command that is called by -exec?


I know i can find -type f -exec rm{} \; then run the same command with type d -exec rmdir but im curious to know if we can pass arguments to a command called by -exec.

Thanks much

[warp99]

find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 | xargs rm -r

If you need root you can place sudo in-front of the xargs command.

[pizmooz]

Here are some examples of find usage here (http://www.wagoneers.com/UNIX/FIND/find-usage.html). There is probably something going on with the parameter expansion that is tripping you up. for instance:

find / -exec echo {} \; works

find / -exec 'echo {} ;' does not work

find / -exec 'echo' '{}' ';' works

Also find is recursive automatically, I am guessing you know that and want to use rm -r to remove the directories. It would probably simplify things to use tar to backup, then you will only have to worry about one file when you rotate the backups.

[malarie]

find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 | xargs rm -r

If you need root you can place sudo in-front of the xargs command.

The command piped to xargs does not work:
find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 | xargs rm -r
rm: missing operand
Try `rm --help' for more information.


I made it work, its really not elegant, but i did a
#!/bin/bash

find /var/backup -type f -mtime+15 -exec rm {} \;
sleep 5
find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 -exec rm {} \;

[warp99]

The command piped to xargs does not work:
find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 | xargs rm -r
rm: missing operand
Try `rm --help' for more information

It does work, the reason you received the missing operand error is because the find command did not locate any files of that type. Prove of concept:


:~/Public$ mkdir 1 2 3 4 5
:~/Public$ ls
1 2 3 4 5
:~/Public$ find ./ -type d | xargs rm -r
rm: cannot remove directory `./'
:~/Public$ ls

[malarie]

-1 for me.

I was expecting no return at all because i already erased the files when testing the script.

Merci

[geirha]

find /var/backup -type d -mtime +15 -delete

Though, that will only remove empty dirs, so you might want


find /var/backup -depth -type d -mtime +15 -exec rm -r {} +
# or
find /var/backup -depth -type d -mtime +15 -print0 | xargs -0 -- rm -r

Never ever use find|xargs with out -print0 and -0