How to sort files by date in file name using c#?

Question

Hi I have many files in a folder. Those files have date and time in the file name in specific format. I need to extract the date from the name and then sort it by date in ascending order. File Name example :-

format_type_2011-07-12-13-00-12.txt

Earlier I was using by createTime. But now requirement is changed.

var Files = new DirectoryInfo(FileDirectory).GetFiles()
                                                            .OrderBy(f => f.CreationTime)
                                                            .ToList();

How do i do it? Any help is appreciated.

write a function to extract the date and replace the question marks with a call to that function....? — Roly
– Roly, Commented Jul 8, 2011 at 15:53
Similar to this question: stackoverflow.com/questions/1199006/… — Tremmors
– Tremmors, Commented Jul 8, 2011 at 15:54
Are the files accessed or updated after the initial creation? Is there a reason you cannot use the FileInfo.CreationTime (or LastWriteTime) property? — IAbstract
– IAbstract, Commented Jul 8, 2011 at 15:55
No Can't use FileInfo.CreationTime anymore. Coz sometimes Files are uploaded in one shot using FTP...that keeps the creationTime same for all the files.. — User13839404
– User13839404, Commented Jul 8, 2011 at 15:57

BrokenGlass · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-08 15:56:42Z

7

This should work:

var di = new DirectoryInfo(FileDirectory);
var Files = di.GetFiles()
              .OrderBy( f => f.Name.Substring(f.Name.LastIndexOf('_')+1)
              .ToList();

Since your file names (minus the format info) are already in ISO8601 order (year first, then month, then date, etc.) you can just sort based on the string w/o having to convert to a date.

answered Jul 8, 2011 at 15:56

BrokenGlass

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1 Comment

xizwyck Over a year ago

Seems like should but it doesn't. "At least one object must implement IComparable".

Eric J. · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-08 16:01:06Z

2

You can use ordinary string operators in your orderby statement to exract the part you want to sort on:

    string f1 = "Foo_2011-07-12-13-00-12.txt";
    string f2 = "Bar_2011-07-12-13-00-15.txt";
    string f3 = "Blah_2011-07-12-13-00-11.txt";

    int sortRelevant = "0000-00-00-00-00-00.txt".Length;

    List<string> files = new List<string>() { f1, f2, f3 };

    var sorted = (from f in files orderby f.Substring(f.Length - sortRelevant) select f);

    foreach (string fs in sorted)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(fs);
    }

answered Jul 8, 2011 at 16:01

Eric J.

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Comments

Glenn Ferrie · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-08 15:53:52Z

0

I think LastWriteTime is what you are looking for. Here is the MSDN link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.filesysteminfo.lastwritetime.aspx

also the link to FileInfo if needed: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.fileinfo.aspx

answered Jul 8, 2011 at 15:53

Glenn Ferrie

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1 Comment

User13839404 Over a year ago

No LastWriteTime is not I am looking for. I need to sort files by date and time and this date comes from the File Name itself.

Adriano Carneiro · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-08 15:54:25Z

0

You are close:

var Files = new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\").GetFiles()
                                     .OrderBy(f => f.LastWriteTime)
                                     .ToArray(); //or .ToList() whatever suits you best

answered Jul 8, 2011 at 15:54

Adriano Carneiro

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1 Comment

User13839404 Over a year ago

@Adrain. I need to sort it by date and time from file name. I can't use FileInfo.

platon · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-08 15:56:40Z

0

I think that this code should work for you:

var Files = new DirectoryInfo(@"W:\").GetFiles().OrderBy(f=> f.LastWriteTime).ToList();

answered Jul 8, 2011 at 15:56

platon

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Comments

Adi Lester · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-05 21:46:14Z

0

var Files = new DirectoryInfo(FileDirectory)
                   .GetFiles()
                   .OrderBy(f => f.Name.Substring(f.Name.Length - 23, 19)
                   .ToList();

edited Aug 5, 2012 at 21:46

Adi Lester

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answered Jul 8, 2011 at 15:59

Senad Meškin

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