in reply to [newbie question] Appending txt files with same name in different subdirectories

One approach:

  1. Trawl through the tree with one of the File::Find::* modules.
  2. Build up a hash, keyed on the filenames with values of array refs of the directory paths.
  3. When the trawl has finished, go through the hash, ignoring any value where the array ref has a single entry.
  4. Slurp in each file in the array ref, appending to a scalar, deleting each file after you have read it, bar the last where you save the content from the scalar.

Caveat 1: Depending on your hardware and the actual numbers involved you may hit memory constraints with this.

I am using Strawberry Perl on Windows 10 64bit

Caveat 2: Windows sometimes does some odd filesystem things so take care. (I am not an MS user so can't comment further)

I am a newb

Welcome! Are you new to programming or just to Perl? There is lots of documentation to help you out so do browse around and keep asking questions. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

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Re^2: [newbie question] Appending txt files with same name in different subdirectories
by Kgs (Novice) on Aug 18, 2016 at 00:04 UTC

    Thanks Hippo,

    I am new to programming, the only "coding" experience I have is with stat programs like SAS and Stata. I suppose one could say I have a slight appreciation for it. Reflecting on your advice I just came up with another method which avoids me having to learn about this stuff just yet. I just put it all the same directory (soo many files!!!) and then created a large number of folders and moved each file into a random folder (after appending).

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