@@ -2236,52 +2236,76 @@
 ;; 
 (define (runs:remove-all-but-last-n-runs-per-target target-patts runpatt num-to-keep #!key (actions '(print)))
   (let* ((runs-ht  (runs:get-hash-by-target target-patts runpatt))
 	 (age      (if (args:get-arg "-age")(common:hms-string->seconds (args:get-arg "-age")) #f))
 	 (age-mark (if age (- (current-seconds) age) (+ (current-seconds) 86400)))
-	 (precmd   (or (args:get-arg "-precmd") "")))
-    (print "Actions: " actions)
-    (for-each
-     (lambda (target)
-       (let* ((runs      (hash-table-ref runs-ht target))
-	      (sorted    (sort runs (lambda (a b)(< (simple-run-event_time a)(simple-run-event_time b)))))
-	      (to-remove (let* ((len      (length sorted))
-                                (trim-amt (- len num-to-keep)))
-                           (if (> trim-amt 0)
-                               (take sorted trim-amt)
-                               '()))))
-	 (hash-table-set! runs-ht target to-remove)
-         (print target ":")
-         (for-each
-          (lambda (run)
-            (let ((remove (member run to-remove (lambda (a b)
-                                                  (eq? (simple-run-id a)
-                                                       (simple-run-id b))))))
-	      (if (and age (> (simple-run-event_time run) age-mark))
-		  (print "Skipping handling of " target "/" (simple-run-runname run) " as it is younger than " (args:get-arg "-age"))
-		  (for-each
-		   (lambda (action)
+	 (precmd   (or (args:get-arg "-precmd") ""))
+         (action-chk (member (string->symbol "remove-runs") actions)))
+     ;; check the sequence of actions  archive must comme before remove-runs
+     (if  (and action-chk (member (string->symbol "archive") action-chk))
+          (begin
+          (debug:print-error 0 *default-log-port* "action remove-runs must come after archive")
+          (exit 1))) 
+    (print "Actions: " actions " age: " age)
+    (for-each
+         (lambda (target)
+            (let* ((runs      (hash-table-ref runs-ht target))
+	           (sorted    (sort runs (lambda (a b)(< (simple-run-event_time a)(simple-run-event_time b)))))
+	           (to-remove (let* ((len      (length sorted))
+                                     (trim-amt (- len num-to-keep)))
+                                 (if (> trim-amt 0)
+                                    (take sorted trim-amt)
+                                    '()))))
+	   (hash-table-set! runs-ht target to-remove)))
+      (hash-table-keys runs-ht))
+
+    (for-each
+     (lambda (action)
+        (for-each
+         (lambda (target)
+            (let* ((runs      (hash-table-ref runs-ht target))
+	           (sorted    (sort runs (lambda (a b)(< (simple-run-event_time a)(simple-run-event_time b)))))
+	           (to-remove (let* ((len      (length sorted))
+                                     (trim-amt (- len num-to-keep)))
+                                 (if (> trim-amt 0)
+                                    (take sorted trim-amt)
+                                    '()))))
+	   ;(hash-table-set! runs-ht target to-remove)
+           (print action " " target ":")
+           (for-each
+            (lambda (run)
+              (let ((remove #t ));(member run to-remove (lambda (a b)
+                                ;                    (eq? (simple-run-id a)
+                                 ;                        (simple-run-id b))))))
+  	        (if (and age (> (simple-run-event_time run) age-mark))
+		     (print "Skipping handling of " target "/" (simple-run-runname run) " as it is younger than " (args:get-arg "-age"))
 		     (case action
 		       ((print)
 			(print " " (simple-run-runname run)
 			       " " (time->string (seconds->local-time (simple-run-event_time run)) "WW%V.%u %H:%M:%S")
 			       " " (if remove "REMOVE" "")))
 		       ((remove-runs)
-			(if remove (system (conc precmd " megatest -remove-runs -target " target " -runname " (simple-run-runname run) " -testpatt %"
+                         (print "in remove-runs")
+			(if remove 
+                             (let ((cmd (conc precmd " megatest -remove-runs -target " target " -runname " (simple-run-runname run) " -testpatt %"
 						 (if (member 'kill-runs actions) ;; if kill-runs is specified then set -kill-wait to 0
 						     " -kill-wait 0"
-						     "")))))
+						     ""))))
+                                   (print cmd) 
+                                   (system cmd))))
 		       ((archive)
-			(if remove (system (conc precmd " megatest -archive save-remove -target " target " -runname " (simple-run-runname run) " -testpatt %"))))
+			(if remove 
+                              (let ((cmd (conc precmd " megatest -archive save-remove -target " target " -runname " (simple-run-runname run) " -testpatt %")))
+                                   (print cmd) 
+                                   (system cmd))))
 		       ((kill-runs)
 			(if remove (system (conc precmd " megatest -kill-runs -target " target " -runname " (simple-run-runname run) " -testpatt %"))))
-			))
-		   actions))))
-          sorted)))
-     ;; (print "Sorted: " (map simple-run-event_time sorted))
-     ;; (print "Remove: " (map simple-run-event_time to-remove))))
-     (hash-table-keys runs-ht))
+                       (else 
+                         (print "unrecognised cmd " action))))))
+            sorted)))
+         (hash-table-keys runs-ht)))
+      actions)
     runs-ht))
 
 (define (remove-last-path-directory path-in)
   (let* ((dparts  (string-split path-in "/"))
     (path-out (conc "/" (string-intersperse (take dparts (- (length dparts) 1)) "/")))