I’ve had this script around for some time, and thought I would share it. There are many utilities that will do this, but this one is designed for VBScript, and uses regular expressions for the file pattern. This allows for almost surgical removal of files from a working folder or archive folder. I’ve used this script for some time on several servers I work with, and it’s pretty reliable.

You can also execute the script in the console (with CScript), and it will display a list of available parameters. Enjoy.

You can download the code here.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
' DeleteAgedFiles.vbs -- Remove files by any combination of timestamp aging, file pattern.
' John J Schultz -- 12/12/2005 -- Public Domain.
'
' //B is the switch recommended for production use with wscript to suppress operator messages from
' the script engine (e.g. when launched from a timer).  Due to the number of WScript.Echo statements used,
' Cscript is highly recommended--even when testing.
 
' ----------------------------
' Parameters
Dim bAggressive
Dim bTestRun
Dim bIncludeSubFolders
Dim bSpareRootFolder
Dim bRemoveEmptyFolders
Dim bBatchMode
Dim bUserConfirmationForDelete
Dim bIgnoreZeroLengthFiles
Dim nDateToCheck
Dim nDays
Dim sStartFolder
Dim sFilePattern
Dim nPreserveFileCount
 
' ----------------------------
' Global
Dim dCutOff
Dim iErr, sErr
 
' ###################################################################################
' Support Functions and Subs
Sub LogAnEvent (iType, sMessage)
	Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
	WshShell.LogEvent iType, sMessage
	Set WshShell = Nothing
End Sub
 
Function DateToAnsi (dTime)
   DateToAnsi = _
   Year(dTime) & Right ("0" & Month (dTime), 2) & Right ("0" & Day (dTime), 2) & _
   Hour(dTime) & Right ("0" & Minute (dTime), 2) & Right ("0" & Second (dTime), 2)
End Function
 
Sub QuickSort(ByRef aKey, nLowBound, nHighBound)
	' Single dimension array only.
	Dim vPivot, nLowSwap, nHighSwap, vTemp
 
	If IsEmpty (nLowBound) Then
		nLowBound = LBound (aKey)
	End If
	If IsEmpty (nHighBound) Then
		nHighBound = UBound (aKey)
	End If
 
	' Two items to sort
	If nHighBound - nLowBound = 1 Then
		If aKey(nLowBound) > aKey(nHighBound) Then
			vTemp = aKey(nLowBound)
			aKey(nLowBound) = aKey(nHighBound)
			aKey(nHighBound) = vTemp
		End If
	End If
 
	' Three or more items to sort
 
	vPivot = aKey(int((nLowBound + nHighBound) / 2))
	aKey(int((nLowBound + nHighBound) / 2)) = aKey(nLowBound)
	aKey(nLowBound) = vPivot
 
	nLowSwap = nLowBound + 1
	nHighSwap = nHighBound
 
	Do
		' Find the right nLowSwap
		While nLowSwap < nHighSwap and aKey(nLowSwap) <= vPivot
			nLowSwap = nLowSwap + 1
		Wend
		' Find the right nHighSwap
		While aKey(nHighSwap) > vPivot
			nHighSwap = nHighSwap - 1
		Wend
		' Swap values if out of sort order
		If nLowSwap < nHighSwap Then
			vTemp = aKey(nLowSwap)
			aKey(nLowSwap) = aKey(nHighSwap)
			aKey(nHighSwap) = vTemp
		End If
	Loop While nLowSwap < nHighSwap
 
	aKey(nLowBound) = aKey(nHighSwap)
	aKey(nHighSwap) = vPivot
 
	' Recursive call
	' 2 or more items in first section
	If nLowBound < (nHighSwap - 1) Then Call QuickSort(aKey, nLowBound, nHighSwap - 1)
	' 2 or more items in second section
	If nHighSwap + 1 < nHighBound Then Call QuickSort(aKey, nHighSwap + 1, nHighBound)
 
End Sub
 
Function FolderExists (sFolderName)
	Dim oFS
 
	Set oFS = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
	FolderExists = oFS.FolderExists(sFolderName)
	set oFS = Nothing
End Function
 
Function FileMatchesPattern (sFile, sPattern, bIgnoreCase)
    ' Returns true if the file name matches the regular expression in sPattern.
    Dim oRegEx
 
    Set oRegEx = New RegExp
    With oRegEx
	    .Pattern = sPattern
	    .IgnoreCase = bIgnoreCase
	    FileMatchesPattern = .Test (sFile)   ' Execute search.
    End With
    Set oRegEx = Nothing
End Function
 
Sub RemoveFilesInFolder (sPath, bAtTop)
	' Recursive -- uses modular variables
	Dim objFSO
	Dim objFolder
	Dim objFolders
	Dim objFile
	Dim objFiles
	Dim objItem
	Dim sFileName
	Dim bPardoned
	Dim sWorkPath
	Dim iErr
	Dim aSort
 
	Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
	sWorkPath = sPath
	If Right (sWorkPath, 1) <> "\" Then sWorkPath = sWorkPath & "\"
 
	Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(sPath)
 
	' First recurse to any sub-folders, and remove files from them.
	If bIncludeSubFolders Then
		For Each objItem In objFolder.SubFolders
			Call RemoveFilesInFolder (sWorkPath & objItem.Name, False)
		Next 'objItem
	End If
 
	WScript.Echo
	WScript.Echo "--- " & sPath
 
	' First, enumerate the files and delete them.
	If Not bAtTop Or Not bSpareRootFolder Then
		If objFolder.Files.Count - nPreserveFileCount > 0 Then
			ReDim aSort (objFolder.Files.Count - 1)
			nI = 0
			For Each objItem in objFolder.Files
				If nDateToCheck = 0 Then
					aSort (nI) = DateToAnsi (objItem.DateCreated) & "\" & objItem.Name
 
				ElseIf nDateToCheck = 1 Then
					aSort (nI) = DateToAnsi (objItem.DateLastModified) & "\" & objItem.Name
 
				ElseIf nDateToCheck = 2 Then
					aSort (nI) = DateToAnsi (objItem.DateLastAccessed) & "\" & objItem.Name
 
				End If
				nI = nI + 1
			Next
 
			Call QuickSort (aSort, Empty, Empty)
 
			For nI = 0 To UBound (aSort) - nPreserveFileCount
				sTmp = Split(aSort(nI), "\")(1)
				'WScript.Echo sTmp
				Set objFile = objFSO.GetFile (sWorkPath & sTmp)
 
				If Not FileMatchesPattern (objFile.Name, sFilePattern, True) Then
					bPardoned = True
					'WScript.Echo "Name does not match filter pattern: " & objFile.Name
 
				ElseIf bIgnoreZeroLengthFiles And objFile.Size = 0 Then
					bPardoned = True
					WScript.Echo "Ignoring null-length file: " & objFile.Name
 
				ElseIf Not bAggressive And (objFile.Attributes AND 7) <> 0 Then
					WScript.Echo "Attribute-protected file ignored: " & objFile.Name
					bPardoned = True
 
				ElseIf nDateToCheck = 0 And DateAdd ("d", 0, objFile.DateCreated) > dCutOff Then
					WScript.Echo "Young file kept: " & objFile.Name
					bPardoned = True
 
				ElseIf nDateToCheck = 1 And DateAdd ("d", 0, objFile.DateLastAccessed) > dCutOff Then
					WScript.Echo "Young file kept: " & objFile.Name
					bPardoned = True
 
				ElseIf nDateToCheck = 2 And DateAdd ("d", 0, objFile.DateLastModified > dCutOff) Then
					WScript.Echo "Young file kept: " & objFile.Name
					bPardoned = True
 
				ElseIf bTestRun Then
					WScript.Echo "Qualifies for deletion: " & objFile.Name
					bPardoned = True
 
				Else
					bPardoned = False
 
				End If
 
				If Not bPardoned Then
					Err.Clear
					sFileName = objFile.Name
					On Error Resume Next
					objFile.Delete
					iErr = Err.Number
					On Error Goto 0
					If iErr = 0 Then
						WScript.Echo "Deleted: " & objFile.Name
					Else
						WScript.Echo "Could not delete: " & objFile.Name
					End If
				End If
				Set objFile = Nothing
			Next ' File
		End If
	End If
 
	' Remove the folder if it is empty, and the option to remove empty folders has been selected.
	' NOTE: We don't delete the folder if any files are detected in it--protected or not.
	If (Not bAtTop Or bSpareRootFolder) And bRemoveEmptyFolders Then
 
		bPardoned = False
		For Each objItem In objFolder.Files
			bPardoned = True
			Exit For
		Next
		For Each objItem In objFolder.SubFolders
			bPardoned = True
			Exit For
		Next
 
		If Not bPardoned Then
			Err.Clear
			On Error Resume Next
			objFolder.Delete
			iErr = Err.Number
			On Error Goto 0
			If iErr = 0 Then
				WScript.Echo "Killed empty folder..."
			Else
				WScript.Echo "Empty folder survived (may contain hidden or system files)..."
			End If
		End If
	End If
 
	Set objItem = Nothing
	Set objFolder = Nothing
	Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 
End Sub
 
Sub HandleError (iErr, sErr)
 
	If bBatchMode Then
		LogAnEvent 1, sMsg
	Else
		WScript.Echo sMsg
	End If
 
End Sub
 
Sub Usage ()
	WScript.Echo "DeleteOldFiles.vbs -- Remove files older than a specified number of days from one or more folders. "
	WScript.Echo "John J Schultz -- 12/12/2005 -- Public Domain. "
	WScript.Echo " "
	WScript.Echo "cscript DeleteOldFiles.vbs [{switches}] {days} folder [pattern]"
	WScript.Echo " "
	WScript.Echo "- Days is the age (in days) of the file's time stamp, to remove the file. Default: 30 days "
	WScript.Echo "- Folder is an existing folder containing the files targeted for removal. "
	WScript.Echo "- pattern is a regular expression used to filter matching file names targeted for removal. If not present, all files are included."
	WScript.Echo " "
	WScript.Echo "-------------------------- Available switches --------------------------- "
	WScript.Echo "/t   - test only (a.k.a. chicken run): shows files affected, but does not actually delete them."
	WScript.Echo "/a   - aggressive: attempts to remove read-only files. "
	WScript.Echo "/s   - recurse files in subdirectories. "
	WScript.Echo "/d   - remove a sub-directory if it is empty after removing files (does not include the initial folder). "
	WScript.Echo "/b   - run in batch mode (errors logged to NT Event Log) "
	WScript.Echo "/r   - spares files in the initial (root) folder.  Use with /s when only files in sub-folders "
	WScript.Echo "       should be removed.  If this switch is used without /s, it has no effect. "
	WScript.Echo "/0-  - ignores files with zero-length. "
	WScript.Echo "/d:c[reate]   - (default) uses creation date to measure age.  Note: Creation date on a copied "
	WScript.Echo "                file is the date it was copied (i.e.: it does not inherit the original file's "
	WScript.Echo "                creation date). "
	WScript.Echo "/d:a[ccess]   - uses last access date to measure age. "
	WScript.Echo "/d:m[odified] - uses last modified date to measure age. "
	WScript.Echo "/n:# - preserve a count of files. Leaves at least this number of the newest files in the folder."
	WScript.Echo "/l:n - Log to NT Event Log: n = chatter level: "
	WScript.Echo "       0 = single summary "
	WScript.Echo "       1 = start/completion "
	WScript.Echo "       2 = (1) and all failures "
	WScript.Echo "       3 = (2) and all successes "
	WScript.Echo "    NOTE: NT Event logging is performed if /b (batch mode) is specified, otherwise messages "
	WScript.Echo "          are directed to the console. "
	WScript.Echo "------------------------------------------------------------------------ "
	WScript.Echo " "
	WScript.Echo "//B is the switch recommended for production use with wscript to suppress operator messages from "
	WScript.Echo "the script engine (e.g. when launched from a timer).  Due to the number of WScript.Echo statements used, "
	WScript.Echo "CScript is highly recommended--even when testing. "
End Sub
 
' ###################################################################################
' MAIN
 
' Module
Dim oFSO
Dim oFolder
Dim oFile
Dim oArgs
Dim nArgCnt
Dim iCount
Dim sApp
Dim bValidParameters
Dim sTmp
Dim sMsg
 
sApp = "DeleteOldFiles.vbs"
 
bTestRun = False
bIncludeSubFolders = False
bRemoveEmptyFolders = False
bBenchmark = False
bUserConfirmationForDelete = False
bIgnoreZeroLengthFiles = False
bTestOnly = False
nDateToCheck = 2  ' Default to date modified.
nDays = -1
nPreserveFileCount = 0
sStartFolder = ""
sFilePattern = "[.]+"
 
bValidParameters = True
 
Set oArgs = WScript.Arguments
iCount = oArgs.Count
If iCount = 0 Then
	bValidParameters = False
End If
 
If bValidParameters Then
	For iCount = 0 to oArgs.Count - 1
		sTmp = LCase (LTrim (RTrim (oArgs(iCount))))
		If Left (sTmp, 1) = "/" Then
 
			If sTmp = "/a" Then
				bAggressive = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/t" Then
				bTestRun = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/s" Then
				bIncludeSubFolders = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/r" Then
				bSpareRootFolder = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/d" Then
				bRemoveEmptyFolders = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/b" Then
				bBatchMode = False
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/q" Then
				bUserConfirmationForDelete = True
 
			ElseIf sTmp = "/0-" Then
				bIgnoreZeroLengthFiles = True
 
			ElseIf Left (sTmp & Space (4), 4) = "/d:c" Then
				nDateToCheck = 0
 
			ElseIf Left (sTmp & Space (4), 4) = "/d:a" Then
				nDateToCheck = 1
 
			ElseIf Left (sTmp & Space (4), 4) = "/d:m" Then
				nDateToCheck = 2
 
			ElseIf Left (sTmp & Space (3), 3) = "/n:" Then
				nPreserveFileCount = Int (Mid (sTmp & Space (4), 4))
				If nPreserveFileCount < 0 Then
					WScript.Echo "Invalid preserve count: " & nPreserveFileCount
					bValidParameters = False
				End If
 
			Else
				bValidParameters = False
				sMsg = "unrecognized switch: " & sTmp
 
			End If
 
		ElseIf nDays = -1 And Instr ("0123456789", Left (sTmp, 1)) > 0 Then
			on error resume next
			nDays = CInt (sTmp)
			on error goto 0
			If nDays < 0 Then
				bValidParameters = False
				sMsg = "day count must be >= 0: " & sTmp
			End If
 
		ElseIf sStartFolder = "" Then
			sStartFolder = LTrim (RTrim (oArgs(iCount)))
 
		ElseIf sFilePattern = "[.]+" Then
			sFilePattern = LTrim (RTrim (oArgs(iCount)))
 
		Else
			bValidParameters = False
			sMsg = _
			"Attempt to re-specify the folder: " & sTmp & vbCrLf & _
			"Already set as: " & sStartFolder
		End If
	Next
End If
 
Set objArgs = Nothing
 
If sStartFolder = "" Then
	sMsg = _
	"No starting folder specified"
	bValidParameters = False
End If
 
If Not bValidParameters Then
	If bBatchMode Then
		LogAnEvent 1, sMsg
	Else
		WScript.Echo sMsg
	End If
	Call Usage()
	WScript.Quit (1)
End If
 
If nDays < 0 Then nDays = 30
 
dCutOff = DateAdd ("d", -nDays, Now ())
 
WScript.Echo "Removing files older than " & nDays & " days (cutoff time: " & dCutoff & ")"
WScript.Echo "Expiration is evaluated on the " & Split ("creation|last access|last modification", "|")(nDateToCheck) & " timestamp."
 
' --- Processing starts here
Call RemoveFilesInFolder (sStartFolder, True)
 
WScript.Echo "Script completed"
 
WScript.Quit(0)