Delete multiple files with the same prefix string in java

[Mark Butcher]

Hi there,

Want to delete all files starting with a particular string pattern in a folder using java.
For example, there may be multiple files containing prefix "abc" like :
abc.txt
abc.xls
abc.doc
abc.xlsx

I want to delete all of the above files starting with "abc" irrespective of their extensions.

The only thing I know is to delete one single file as follows :

File somefile = new File("D:/someFolder/abc.txt") ;
if(somefile.exists())
   somefile.delete() ;

Thanks
Mark

[Steve Luke]

Have you looked at the API for File? It has some methods which will help you do what you want.

[Winston Gutkowski]

Mark Butcher wrote:The only thing I know is to delete one single file as follows :...

Actually, that won't just delete files; it'll delete directories as well (or it may do), because a File can be either an actual file OR a directory.

I recommend that you study the File class documentation (java.io.File (←click)) carefully, because all the methods you need are contained in it. A look at the tutorials probably wouldn't go amiss either, because it also covers some of the java.nio.file package features (new with version 7) - in particular the Files class.

HIH

Winston

[Mark Butcher]

Well, I am using java 6 and didnt find anything helpful in this context.

Atleast listing files with a particular prefix string would really help me.

[Bear Bibeault]

So what you want to do is to list (cough, cough) files based upon a filter (nudge, nudge), in this case, all that possess a common prefix.

[Mark Butcher]

Yes.

If I create files prefixing my name as an identifier, lets say Mark1.xls, Mark2.xls,.......
These files belong to me and I can manipulate only those.
Now I want to delete only those files created by me, that is Mark1.xls to MarkN.xls

Thanks.

[Stuart A. Burkett]

Well Steve told you what class to use and Bear has hinted heavily at what methods of that class you should use, so what problems are you still having ?