Using a cron job to empty a folder's contents

Tutorial created by Jamie, Motley.co.uk

Categories: PHP

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Creating the script

This is the code for the script that you will be setting the cron job to run.

<?php


define('PATH', 'images/folder1/');

function destroy($dir) {
    $mydir = opendir($dir);
    while(false !== ($file = readdir($mydir))) {
        if($file != "." && $file != "..") {
            chmod($dir.$file, 0777);
            if(is_dir($dir.$file)) {
                chdir('.');
                destroy($dir.$file.'/');
                rmdir($dir.$file) or DIE("couldn't delete $dir$file<br />");
            }
            else
                unlink($dir.$file) or DIE("couldn't delete $dir$file<br />");
        }
    }
    closedir($mydir);
}
destroy(PATH);
echo 'all done.';


?>

Modify the line 'images/folder1/' to point to the folder you wish to empty of content (it doesn't delete the folder just the contents)

Just add that code script to a blank php file and save it - I name mine delete.php so I can tell quickly what it does!

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Add folders to be 'emptied'

If you want to empty multiple folders, just add more define('PATH', 'images/folder2/'); lines and adjust accordingly like this

<?php


define('PATH', 'images/folder1/');
define('PATH', 'images/folder2/');
define('PATH', 'images/folder3/');

function destroy($dir) {
    $mydir = opendir($dir);
    while(false !== ($file = readdir($mydir))) {
        if($file != "." && $file != "..") {
            chmod($dir.$file, 0777);
            if(is_dir($dir.$file)) {
                chdir('.');
                destroy($dir.$file.'/');
                rmdir($dir.$file) or DIE("couldn't delete $dir$file<br />");
            }
            else
                unlink($dir.$file) or DIE("couldn't delete $dir$file<br />");
        }
    }
    closedir($mydir);
}
destroy(PATH);
echo 'all done.';


?>

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Save and upload the file

Just add that code script to a blank php file and save it - I name mine delete.php so I can tell quickly what it does!

Setting up the cron job

Go to your cpanel for the site and got to the cron section and add a cron job - I run this one once a day and typically set it to run in the wee hours. I set mine to run at 3:41 am (if you're on a shared server, other resources are typically being run by other sites on the hour or half hour so this reduces your cron job from not running)

The path you need to run the cron will depend on your host but this is one of mine so you can see the structure

/usr/bin/php /home/ybgorrvn/public_html/delete.php

Thats it!

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