Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!amdahl!krs
From: krs@uts.amdahl.com (Kris Stephens [Hail Eris!])
Newsgroups: comp.unix.shell
Subject: Re: Comparing modified times of files
Message-ID: <afu901eJ48K000@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>
Date: 23 Mar 91 18:52:37 GMT
References: <SCOTTP.91Mar8093523@bwdlh504.bnr.ca> <930001@mjm.mjm.com> <6350@amc-gw.amc.com>
Reply-To: krs@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Kris Stephens [Hail Eris!])
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 31

In article <6350@amc-gw.amc.com> stuart@tfatf.amc.com (Stuart Poulin) writes:
>In article <930001@mjm.mjm.com> mjf@mjm.mjm.com (Mark Fresolone) writes:
>>	ls -t file1 file2 | line	# returns newest
>>	ls -rt file1 file2 | line	# returns oldest
>
>Or if you don't have "line":
>    ls -t file1 file2 | (read XX; echo $XX)     # returns newest
>    ls -rt file1 file2 |  (read XX; echo $XX)   # returns oldest

Okay, so this is sort of fun.  How 'bout:

# sh or ksh fragment
newest() {
	set -- ls -t $* 2>/dev/null
	echo $1
	}
oldest() {
	set -- ls -rt $* 2>/dev/null
	echo $1
	}

echo "The newest existing file in your list is `newest $*`"
echo "The oldest existing file in your list is `oldest $*`"
# end sh or ksh fragment

...Kris
-- 
Kristopher Stephens, | (408-746-6047) | krs@uts.amdahl.com | KC6DFS
Amdahl Corporation   |                |                    |
     [The opinions expressed above are mine, solely, and do not    ]
     [necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Amdahl Corp. ]