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How to move Files Based on Date on Linux

Managing files based on their modification date is a common task in Unix-like systems such as Linux and macOS. The find command, combined with the mv command, allows users to efficiently move files based on specific date criteria. In this article, we'll explore how to move files that were modified within a certain timeframe or on a specific date.

Move Files Modified in the Last N Days

To move files that were modified in the last N days, we can use the -mtime option with the find command. The following example demonstrates how to move files modified in the last 7 days:

find /path/to/source -type f -mtime -7 -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;

Explanation:

• /path/to/source: Replace this with the source directory containing the files.
• -type f: Specifies that we are looking for regular files.
• -mtime -7: Filters files modified within the last 7 days.
• -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;: Executes the mv command to move each found file to the specified destination directory.

Move Files Modified Before N Days Ago

To move files that were modified more than N days ago, we use the + sign with the -mtime option. The following example demonstrates how to move files modified more than 30 days ago:

find /path/to/source -type f -mtime +30 -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;

Explanation:

• /path/to/source: Source directory.
• -type f: Regular files.
• -mtime +30: Filters files modified more than 30 days ago.

Move Files Modified on a Specific Date

To move files modified on a specific date, we use the -newermt option. The following example demonstrates how to move files modified on January 1, 2023:

find /path/to/source -type f -newermt 2023-01-01 -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;

Explanation:

• /path/to/source: Source directory.
• -type f: Regular files.
• -newermt 2023-01-01: Filters files modified on January 1, 2023.

Ensure you replace /path/to/source with the actual source directory and /path/to/destination with the destination directory.

Between dates

If you want to move files based on a specific year, you can use the find command with the -newermt option. Specify the beginning and end of the year as the time range. Here's an example:

find /path/to/source -type f -newermt 2023-01-01 ! -newermt 2024-01-01 -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;

This command will move files modified within the year 2023. Replace /path/to/source with the source directory containing the files and /path/to/destination with the destination directory where you want to move the files.

Explanation: - -type f: Filters regular files. - -newermt 2023-01-01: Specifies the modification time to be after January 1, 2023. - ! -newermt 2024-01-01: Specifies the modification time to be before January 1, 2024. - -exec mv {} /path/to/destination \;: Executes the mv command to move each found file to the specified destination directory.

Adjust the date range according to the specific year you are interested in. This command ensures that only files modified within the specified year are moved to the destination directory.

Caution: It's essential to double-check and test these commands in a safe environment before running them in a production setting. File operations can have irreversible effects.

By leveraging the power of the find command, users can efficiently organise and manage files based on their modification dates, providing greater control over file system organisation.

Last updated: 2023-01-01

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