0

Looking over the manual, I can't figure out how to set the date format.

I am using the following to locate folders that are in 'dd-mm-yyyy' name, but realise that it may not be working due to the date format.

Is there any way to set the date format of '-mtime'?

find "${backup_dest}" \
    -maxdepth 1 -type d -mtime +3 \
    -name '[0-9][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]-[0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]' \
    -execdir mv {} $folder_trash_path/{}-"${site[$i]}" ';'
8
  • Your find command is searching for directories, but your question description refers to files. Which is it? Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 11:55
  • @roaima Sorry, its folders. I have changed this in the question. Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 11:57
  • is -maxdepth 1 throwing you off? (are the directories in question in the $backup_dest directory, or below it?) Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 12:26
  • @JeffSchaller The folders are directly inside the $backup_dest folder. Here is an example: /Users/myname/Desktop/backups/websites/testsite.co.uk/19-06-2018 - The $backup_dest would be: /Users/myname/Desktop/backups/websites/testsite.co.uk Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 12:31
  • Just want to point out that the example you just gave is today’s date, and would not pass “-mtime +3” Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 12:35

1 Answer 1

0

Old find(1) implementatons and the POSIX standard only allow -mtime parameters that are plain numbers and that refer to a time offset that counts in days.

Modern find(1) implementations permit something like: -mtime -3y2m4d referring to all files that have been modified during the past 3 years + 2 months + 4 days.

If you like to refer to a specific time, then you may only use -newer together with a time stamp reference file that could be created with the touch program.

2
  • 1
    It seems to be BSD find that implements units, GNU find doesn't have that yet (BUT IT SHOULD!) Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 19:34
  • @deltaray These units are an obvious idea that I already had around 1988 and sfind, which is based on libfind also supports it. BTW: GNU find was the last find implementation that started to implement -exec ... {} +, so GNU find may not be the leading edge regarding to useful features. Commented Nov 23, 2020 at 20:25

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.