Compare

# Methods to compare file ages - as in the last modification date.

# Given a list of files as arrays, scalars or

# pointers to arrays, mostRecent() will return the most recent file. If used in

# array context will return the file date ( in yyyymmdd form).

use Files::Compare;

$file = Files::mostRecent( @files, \@files2, 'file3', ...);

($file,$date) = Files::mostRecent( Files::list( $mask, 'path1'));

print "Most recent file is $file, modified last at $date\n";

# The compare method can be used to sort a list of files by date or to

# see the time difference between files.

print "$left is newer than $right" if Files::compare( $left, $right) > 0;

print "$left is older than $right" if Files::compare( $left, $right) < 0;

print "$left is the same age as $right" if Files::compare( $left, $right) == 0;

my $seconds = Files::compare( $left, $right);

print "$left is $seconds seconds newer than $right" if $seconds > 0;

$seconds = abs( $seconds);

print "$left is $seconds seconds older than $right" if $seconds > 0;

# Lastly there is a convenience method outOfDate() that only returns true if

# one of a list of files has a more recent date than the first.

recreate( $htmlFile) if Files::outOfDate( $outOfDate, Files::list( $mask, 'path1'));