Thanks for the reply :). Helps to ask a question... I'd like the script to only report the directory name once, not print it again depending on how many sub directories it finds under the pattern matched directory. I'll try your example - cheers. We do have some duplicate directories so finding dupes is the next problem.

"We do have some duplicate directories so finding dupes is the next problem."

If you change this line in ++Athanasius' code:

$dirs{$File::Find::dir} = 1;
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to

++$dirs{$File::Find::dir};
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The code will run the same but now you'll have a count. You can then find duplicates like this (untested):

my @dup_dirs = grep { $dirs{$_} > 1 } keys %dirs;
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-- Ken

Hi Ken I tried your example but it wouldn't output anything. If I removed the pattern match string it does work but I'm not sure what it is printing out - the directory listing seems random.

#!/usr/bin/perl
# dirpathdupes

use strict;
use warnings;
use File::Find;
use Fcntl;
#*****************Path Variables**********************
our $wellpath = 'N:\\repos\\open\\Wells\\Regulated\\';
our $surveypath = 'N:\\repos\\open\\Surveys\\Regulated\\';
our $testpath = 'C:\\Temp\\';
#******************************************************* 


my %dirs;
find(\&dir_names, $testpath);
my @dup_dirs = grep { $dirs{$_} > 1 } keys %dirs;
#print "$_\n" for sort keys %dirs;
foreach my $l (@dup_dirs) {
    print "$l\n";
    }

sub dir_names
{
    # skip over everything that is not a directory
    return unless -d $File::Find::name;

    # skip over directories that don't match required pattern
    return unless $File::Find::dir =~ /[IPD]\d{8}$/;
    ++$dirs{$File::Find::dir};
}
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ok tried your example and it doesn't print anything out, if I remove the pattern matching requirement it does work but obviously shows me all directories

#!/usr/bin/perl
# dirpath

use strict;
use warnings;
use File::Find;
use Fcntl;
#*****************Path Variables**********************
our $wellpath = 'N:\\repos\\open\\Wells\\Regulated\\';
our $surveypath = 'N:\\repos\\open\\Surveys\\Regulated\\';
our $testpath = 'C:\\Temp\\';
#******************************************************* 


my %dirs;
find(\&dir_names, $testpath);
print "$_\n" for sort keys %dirs;

sub dir_names
{
    # skip over everything that is not a directory
    return unless -d $File::Find::name;

    # skip over directories that don't match required pattern
    return unless $File::Find::dir =~ /[IPD]\d{8}$/;

    $dirs{$File::Find::dir} = 1;
}
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According the the documentation for File::Find:

The wanted function takes no arguments but rather does its work through a collection of variables.

    $File::Find::dir is the current directory name,
    $_ is the current filename within that directory
    $File::Find::name is the complete pathname to the file.

The above variables have all been localized and may be changed without affecting data outside of the wanted function.

So this line:

return unless $File::Find::dir =~ /[IPD]\d{8}$/;
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is actually testing the parent directory, not the current file. Better to run both tests against the current filename in $_:

sub dir_names
{
    return unless -d $_;
    return unless $_ =~ /[IPD]\d{8}$/;
    $dirs{$File::Find::name} = 1;
}
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or just:

sub dir_names
{
    return unless -d;
    return unless /[IPD]\d{8}$/;
    $dirs{$File::Find::name} = 1;
}
[download]

I think that fixes the problem.

Hope that helps,

Athanasius <°(((>< contra mundum

Iustus alius egestas vitae, eros Piratica,

Works perfectly! :-) Thank you very much! Cheers

How do I fix the code to only list the directory once. Replace the period with a question mark (?) and you'll see he did have a question. Idiot.

You read all the replies and find the one which answered the question years ago

If you want somebody to point it out for you, don't be rude