How to select files based on the name?

My dataset consists of about 6000 txt files. Every three files have same initial name but diffrent last name.I want to write a code that first select all the three files has same initial name and then combine them in one file and delete them from directory at the same time. This process repeats onward. In the end I will left with 2000 files only.

For example, 123x.txt, 123y.txt, 123z.txt..... it be one group and so on. 123.txt

[Rik]

This can very likely be achieved with a bit of tweaking with the result of dir.

What defines the initial name? If there is a strict pattern it will be easy to match them and create the list of file names for your merger function.

[Andi]

Files are in a set of three with same initial name and different last name.

[Rik]

Help me help you. I'm not aware of any language where 123 is a first name and y is a last name. You have also already stated this in your question.

What is the pattern here? Is there a separator? Or should the code just attempt to match parts of one name until it finds a substring where there are only 3 matches?

[Andi]

Apology! I used 123 just for understanding, the orginla name of the files are like

CHICH_20190924_114203.Z.sac

CHICH_20190924_110755.Y.sac

CHICH_20190924_114335.Y.sac

CHICH_20190924_114203.X.sac

CHICH_20190924_113637.Y.sac

CHICH_20190924_110755.X.sac

CHICH_20190924_114335.Z.sac

CHICH_20190924_113637.X.sac

CHICH_20190924_114335.X.sac

CHICH_20190924_114203.Y.sac

CHICH_20190924_113637.Z.sac

CHICH_20190924_110755.Z.sac

Answer 1

[Rik]

First you need to retrieve all file names with dir. Then you can split the file name on the dots with the split function. After that you can use the unique function and generate the 3 source file names and the new file name.

The merging itself depends on the specifics of your files.