I have 18 GB rpm packages

[mfaridi]

I have 18 GB rpm packages and I want write them on DVD with k3b ,
In each DVD I can only put 4 GB packages ,
So when I want move 4 GB in one folder and then write it , it take so long time and I have to move 4 GB packages by hand and with command , and this is so hard
I want do this with script
I need script move 4 GB of packages in folder 1 and folder 2 and ...
after this script move 4.7 GB packages is foldres , I will write them with k3b

[ephemera]

i suppose the sizes of the rpm files vary widely (some are small, some large...) ?

can "any" rpm file can go into "any" dvd?

[mfaridi]

Originally Posted by ephemera

i suppose the sizes of the rpm files vary widely (some are small, some large...) ?

can "any" rpm file can go into "any" dvd?

Yes , some of them are big and some of them are samll
I want only send 4 GB packages in one folder , it is not important which package go to which DVD.

[ocicat]

Originally Posted by mfaridi

I need script ...

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to write such a script yourself. You can customize it to meet your exact needs.

As I suspect you don't know shell programming now, a good tutorial can be found at the following:

http://steve-parker.org/sh/bourne.shtml

[ephemera]

If you are looking to minimize space wastage on the dvd, then this is a bin packing problem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bin_packing_problem

If you want something simple perhaps you try something like this:

1. Sort the rpm files in decreasing order by size.
2. Create 18GB/4GB = 5 bins (directories).
3. Pick one item off the top of the sorted list & put it into the first bin where it can fit.
4. Repeat step 3 until the list is empty.

Give it a try & don't forget to show us your script when its done. :-)
Of course, if you have any problems while writing the script you can always ask.

[ephemera]

Ok, try this:

#!/bin/sh
#
# Binpack using first fit decreasing strategy
# -ephemera

binsz=4200000       # in KB

nbins=1
b1=0
mkdir bin1
echo Processing files, please wait...
find . -type f | xargs du | sort -rn | cut -f2 | while read f
do
        n=1
        while true
        do
                eval s=\$b$n
                z=$(du $f | cut -f1)
                m=$(($s + $z))
                if [ $m -le $binsz ]; then
                        echo $(basename $f) "->" $n
                        eval mv $f bin${n}
                        eval b${n}=\${m}
                        break
                fi
                n=$(($n + 1))
                if [ $n -gt $nbins ]; then
                        eval mkdir bin${n}
                        nbins=$n
                        eval b${n}=0
                fi
        done
done

Assuming all the rpms are in one directory, 'cd' to that directory & run this script.
Once the script is done run 'ls' & see if it worked.