/usr/bin/find: Argument list too long error

[Leah Chow]

I have a script to delete all the old oracle trace files, if the files are more than 30 days old.

find *.trc -mtime +$DAY_AFTER -exec rm {} \;

but when i execute this command, i got ' Argument list too long' error, could someone help me on this?

Thanks for your hlep
Leah

[Heironimus · Accepted solution]

It's because you have lots of .trc files and the shell is expanding that "*.trc" to a list that's longer than find can handle. You probably want something like this:

find . -name '*.trc' -maxdepth 1 ....

[Court Campbell]

I would assume it is because you never gave it a path.

find [insert_path_here] *.trc -mtime +$DAY_AFTER -exec rm {} \;

[Leah Chow]

actually before this find command, i have a
cd to the $PATH.

I am wondering whether i should change the system parameter or not?

[Court Campbell]

Even if you cd to the path you would need to put a "." for the path in the find statement. Otherwise it thinks that the path is *.trc, ehich could be "Argument list too long".

[Leah Chow]

still doesn't work even after i added the path.

thanks
Leah

[Court Campbell]

jeez, you need to use -name also. look at Heironimus' example. here:

find . -name '*.trc' -mtime +$DAY_AFTER -exec rm {} \;

[Court Campbell]

and ok, you technically don't need to put the "." for the path. I just think it makes it easier for others to understand where the find command is searching.

[Leah Chow]

thanks, i did add the maxdepth 1 , but i didn't pay attention on the -name, now it works, thanks a lot for your help.