changedbefore.markdown

layout	title	published	tags
default	changedbefore	true	reference files functions functions changedbefore

[%CFEngine_function_prototype(newer,older)%]

Description: Compares the ctime fields of two files.

Returns true if newer was changed before older, otherwise returns false.

Change times include both file permissions and file contents. Comparisons like this are normally used for updating files (like the 'make' command).

[%CFEngine_function_attributes(newer, older)%]

Example:

    body common control
    {
      bundlesequence  => { "example" };
    }

    bundle agent example
    {
      classes:

        "do_it" and => { changedbefore("/tmp/earlier","/tmp/later"), "linux" };

      reports:

        do_it::

          "The derived file needs updating";
    }

See also: accessedbefore(), isnewerthan()