How do I count the number of files matching c:\temp\*.dat?
What is the oldest file matching c:\windows\*rep.*?

{This unit contains a form with:
   a Button
   an EditBox

If you type into the edit box a string
such as c:\windows\*.dll, then
click on the button - a message box
will appear that shows text like this:

The oldest file matching c:\windows\*.dll
is c:\windows\somefile.dll
}


unit oldestfileu;

interface

uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics,
  Controls, Forms, Dialogs, StdCtrls;

type
  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    Edit1: TEdit;
    Button1: TButton;
    procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

  function FileCount(FileSpec: string): longint;
  function GetOldestFile(FileSpec: string): string;

implementation

{$R *.DFM}


{This function can be used to return the name
of the oldest file which matches the FileSpec}
function GetOldestFile(FileSpec: string): string;
var
  SR: TSearchRec;
  DosError: integer;
  Oldest: string;
  OldestDTime: TDateTime;
begin
  {if there is more than one file that matches FileSpec
   then find the one with the oldest date}
  if FileCount(FileSpec)>1 then
  begin
    DosError := FindFirst(FileSpec, faAnyFile-faDirectory, SR);
    if DosError=0 then
    begin
      Oldest := ExtractFilePath(FileSpec)+SR.Name;
      OldestDTime := FileDateToDateTime(SR.Time);
      while FindNext(SR)=0 do
      begin
        if FileDateToDateTime(SR.Time)        begin
          Oldest := ExtractFilePath(FileSpec)+SR.Name;
          OldestDTime := FileDateToDateTime(SR.Time);
        end;
      end;
      Result := Oldest;
    end;
  end
  else {if there is only one file then return its name}
  begin
    DosError := FindFirst(FileSpec, faAnyFile, SR);
    if DosError=0 then
    begin
      Result := ExtractFilePath(FileSpec)+SR.Name;
    end
    else {if there are no matching files then return blank}
      Result := '';
  end;
end;

{This function can be used to return the number
of files in a directory which match the FileSpec}
function FileCount(FileSpec: string): longint;
var
  SR: TSearchRec;
  DosError: integer;
  c: longint;
begin
  c := 0;
  DosError := FindFirst(FileSpec, faAnyFile, SR);
  if DosError=0 then
  begin
    if (SR.Name<>'.') and (SR.Name<>'..') then inc(c);
    while FindNext(SR)=0 do
    begin
      if (SR.Name<>'.') and (SR.Name<>'..') then inc(c);
    end;
  end
  else
    c := 0;

  FileCount := c;
end;

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShowMessage('The oldest file matching '+Edit1.Text
              +' is: '+GetOldestFile(Edit1.Text));
end;

end.