Delete a file in Perl script 2

[RottPaws]

Is there a Perl command that will let me delete files from a script?

I've got a script that uses telnet and generates log files.

If an error occurs in the script, a flag is set and an email is sent to notify me.

If no error occurs in the script, I'd like it to delete the log files, but I haven't been able to find a command to do it.

rm doesn't seem to be available in Perl. delete seems to deal with hash entries.

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Rott Paws

...It's not a bug. It's an undocumented feature!!!

 

[bluedragon2]

`rm file`;

Blue

If I wasn't Blue, I would just be a Dragon...

 

[raklet]

You can have perl make system calls:

system("rm $file"
exec("rm $file"
`rm $file`; #Blues suggestion

Or you can use perl directly:

unlink($file);

 

[RottPaws]

I wasn't able to get Blue's suggestion to work, but the system("rm $file" method did the trick.

Thanks for the quick response!

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Rott Paws

...It's not a bug. It's an undocumented feature!!!

 

[raklet]

About Blue's suggestion. It uses backticks. The symbol is found on the same key as the tilde (~). Note that backticks are not the same as single quotes.

Backticks ` `
Single Quotes ' '

The advantage of using backticks is that you can assign the command to a variable. Any information that would normally be display on STDOUT from calling the system command is now captured to the variable.

$result = `rm file`;

print $result; #prints "file removed" or whatever STDOUT would display

 

[RottPaws]

You nailed it. I was using single quotes (apostrophes, anyone???)

I tried it again with the backticks and it worked perfectly.

Thanks again.

_________
Rott Paws

...It's not a bug. It's an undocumented feature!!!

 

[MikeLacey]

or --- you could be lazy and use the Perl function:

unlink 'a_file';

Mike

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

It's like this; even samurai have teddy bears, and even teddy bears get drunk.

 

[icrf]

Yeah, racklet mentioned that above. I think it's the way to go. It uses a system library call which should be faster than a system shell call, not to mention it's significanly more portable.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...but I'm just a C man trying to see the light

 

[MikeLacey]

tsk -- so he did, sorry guys

Mike

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

It's like this; even samurai have teddy bears, and even teddy bears get drunk.

 

[siberian]

Don't forget also, make sure '$file' is checked for taintedness! Wouldnt it suck if somehow the user input

"/etc/passwd; rm -rf /; echo 'I just screwed you!'"

Etc etc.

Moral? CAREFULLY CONTROL your system() executions. Never ever allow user input to make their way into them.

 

[RottPaws]

Thanks for the warning. It's not an issue in this case because $file is a filename (actually there are 2 files) that's generated by the script so each run creates a unique log file.

_________
Rott Paws

...It's not a bug. It's an undocumented feature!!!