Delete files from list 1

[fabien]

Hi!

I have a file which contains a list of files to be deleted.

What simple command should I use with that file as input to delete all the files listed in one go?

I tried rm -f `cat /tmp/filename` but that does not work

Many thanks,

 

[columb]

Echoing usually replaces CR with space so try

rm -f $(echo $(cat /tmp/filename))

Columb Healy
Living with a seeker after the truth is infinitely preferable to living with one who thinks they've found it.

 

[fabien]

this does not work I get a variable syntax error

 

[PHV]

but that does not work
Can you please be more descriptive ?
Some guesses:
rm -f $(</tmp/filename)

while read f
do rm -f "$f"
done</tmp/filename

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[hoinz]

fabien,
I remember having successfully done it the way you describe.
Do you get any error messages?
Do you use absolute or relative path names?

An alternative would be:
for i in `cat /tmp/filename`
do
rm $i
done

hth

 

[columb]

I've tested my version

rm -f $(echo $(cat /tmp/filename))

and it works a treat using ksh on AIX 5.1

What OS and shell are you using?

Columb Healy
Living with a seeker after the truth is infinitely preferable to living with one who thinks they've found it.

 

[hoinz]

another idea:
Could the problem be inside your file /tmp/filename ?
filenames containing wildcards, special characters, blanks and the like?
hth

 

[fabien]

Columb,

I tried ksh on Sun Solaris and it worked like you said. I was using csh. What would be the csh version then?

Cheers!

 

[hoinz]

$() construct doesn't exit in csh;
the backtick equivalent of columb's idea:
rm -f `echo \`cat /tmp/filename\``
hth

 

[Chacalinc]

awk ' { system("rm -f $0") } ' /tmp/filename