# Logstash - How to read the files in order of there creation time?

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-how-to-read-the-files-in-order-of-there-creation-time/70606
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [January 4, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-how-to-read-the-files-in-order-of-there-creation-time/70606 "2017-01-04T20:28:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Ankit\_Jain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Ankit\_Jain](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Ankit_Jain)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-how-to-read-the-files-in-order-of-there-creation-time/70606/1 "2017-01-04T20:28:00Z")

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Hi,

We want to read the multiple files (approx 1000) present in a directory (/opt/logstash/data). The creation time of each files is different and we want to read the files on the basis of creation time (file with lower creation time must be read first).

How to read the files in order of there creation time?

Thanks,  
Ankit

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### Author: ![magnusbaeck](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/magnusbaeck/32/44943_2.png) [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-how-to-read-the-files-in-order-of-there-creation-time/70606/2 "2017-01-06T18:56:59Z")

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Currently this isn't possible with the file input plugin.

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### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-how-to-read-the-files-in-order-of-there-creation-time/70606/3 "2017-02-03T18:57:03Z")

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