Overwrite oldest files automatically

[jjk454ss]

Is there a way to have OSX keep a HDD full, but whenever I add a file it will just automatically overwrite or delete the oldest existing files to make room?

I don't want to have to bother with figuring out how much room I need, then deleting the right amount of Giles, I just want yo keep adding new without worrying about space. Kind of like Time Machine does on it's own.

 

[MacUser2525]

Is there a way to have OSX keep a HDD full, but whenever I add a file it will just automatically overwrite or delete the oldest existing files to make room?

I don't want to have to bother with figuring out how much room I need, then deleting the right amount of Giles, I just want yo keep adding new without worrying about space. Kind of like Time Machine does on it's own.

That is not the way it works in fact most times I always see a recommended 5-10% should be empty at all times.

 

[jjk454ss]

That is not the way it works in fact most times I always see a recommended 5-10% should be empty at all times.

I understand that's not the way it typically works, that's why I asked if there was a way that it could be made to work. Maybe a third party app has this ability?

 

[MacUser2525]

I understand that's not the way it typically works, that's why I asked if there was a way that it could be made to work. Maybe a third party app has this ability?

The operating system itself has the ability if you copy file to same location as old it prompts you to overwrite. What you do not understand is full hard drive slows down machine.

 

[jjk454ss]

The operating system itself has the ability if you copy file to same location as old it prompts you to overwrite. What you do not understand is full hard drive slows down machine.

This would be an external drive backing up some data, I'm not worried about speed. And it would be new file names, that's why I need something that overwrites by date, not name.

 

[MacUser2525]

This would be an external drive backing up some data, I'm not worried about speed. And it would be new file names, that's why I need something that overwrites by date, not name.

Ok I see in that case I use program called DropSync which automatically will delete files on the destination drive/directory that are not present on the source so will do exactly what you need. This is just a front end for the built in rsync so you can use that instead if you wanted from the command line to achieve the same result.

 

[jjk454ss]

Ok I see in that case I use program called DropSync which automatically will delete files on the destination drive/directory that are not present on the source so will do exactly what you need. This is just a front end for the built in rsync so you can use that instead if you wanted from the command line to achieve the same result.

Thanks. Not sure that's exactly what I need, but I'll check it out. The main drive will have more data than can fit on the external, so the source will have still have files that would need to be overwritten on the external to make room for the newer files.

 

[DeltaMac]

What would you want to happen if the old file is smaller than the newer file, and there's not enough space for the "automatic" replacement?
Easier would be to use a smart folder, which keeps only some number of files. Adding a file would then delete the oldest file.
However, that still would not allow for total space on the hard drive, would it?

The better idea is to NOT have the hard drive full in the first place.
If the hard drive is jammed full, then you need more space (storage is cheap), not some work-around to "delete the oldest file"

 

[MacUser2525]

Thanks. Not sure that's exactly what I need, but I'll check it out. The main drive will have more data than can fit on the external, so the source will have still have files that would need to be overwritten on the external to make room for the newer files.

You would not do the whole drive just the directory(ies) you want to have identical contents.