Cron Job - delete zip files from a specific directory

Question

I am trying o delete all zip and rar files from a specific directory. I have set the cron to run a PHP file called cron.php, which is is located in a Joomla module directory. For test purposes, I have set the cron job time to 5 minutes.

I also put a zip file in the directory called test.zip

Command:

php /home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/cron.php

PHP: Note: "MYSITE" is the subdomain the site is located

<?php
$dir = "/home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/package";
$files = scandir($dir);

foreach ($files as $file) {                   
   if(preg_match("/\.(zip|rar)$/", $file)){
        unlink($file);
   }                    
} 
?>

However every 5 minutes, the error log keeps on throwing the following errors:

PHP Warning:  unlink(test.zip) [<a href='function.unlink'>function.unlink</a>]: No such file or directory in /home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/cron.php on line 18

Not sure why this error is occurring as the file does exist. Any ideas?

Probably because the file it's trying to unlink doesn't exist (incorrect path), can you try dumping $file — Pez Cuckow, Oct 02 '12 at 15:42
This crazy, making a cron job to let php delete files. How about the shell? — JvdBerg, Oct 02 '12 at 15:45
@JvdBerg - I only chose php cause I thought it might be easier. However if you can point me in the right direction for a shell command only then that would be great. thanks — Lodder, Oct 02 '12 at 15:46
`rm ` filename can be a mask also. If you fidlle with it it is doable in a single line command. For rm see http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l/blcmdl1_rm.htm — JvdBerg, Oct 02 '12 at 15:51
something like: `find /home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/package/*.zip -name -exec rm -rf () \;` — JvdBerg, Oct 02 '12 at 15:56
Think the problem is your working directory. unlink($dir . $file); — Trev, Oct 02 '12 at 16:00

Pez Cuckow · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-02T15:54:57.643

7

I believe the problem is that the current directory is treated as where the PHP script is run from.

So the files are in:

/home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/package

but the command (once $file is resolved) to delete is:

unlink('test.zip');

As the file is being run from somewhere else (say ~):

PHP is trying to unlink ~/test.zip

Consider doing

unlink($dir.'/'.$file)

edited Oct 02 '12 at 15:54

answered Oct 02 '12 at 15:45

Pez Cuckow

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Thankyou! silly of me to forget to add the path in the unlink() command – Lodder Oct 02 '12 at 15:56

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 02 '12 at 15:46

1

you are passing only file names here mate

unlink('/home/MYUSER/public_html/MYSITE/modules/mod_module_gen/package/'.$file);

answered Oct 02 '12 at 15:46

Surace

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 02 '12 at 15:46

scandir returns an array of filenames in $dir, but doesn't include the path itself.... you're trying to unset the filename; but unless $dir is your current working directory it is only by happenstance that it might work if there was a file of the same name in your cwd.

Cron Job - delete zip files from a specific directory

3 Answers3