Mass Folder Renaming

Will Regex work to do the following? If not what do I need to automate this process?

I have a thousands of folders that need to be renamed. Some have words that are all uppercase that need to change to the first letter of each word being uppercase with rest of the word being lowercase. Some have periods that separate the words where I wish to insert an underscore. Some have strings that start with lowercase that I wish to change to uppercase. I need to deal with all these conditions and change them in one shot.

Suggestions, please!

If Regex will work I need a really well done tutorial because I'm no programmer and I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. I also suffer from having a very low tolerance for bad tutorials. I feel teaching is a skill that most don't have... meaning I'm very picky.

 

Bulk Rename Utility: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/bulk_rename_utility.html

It can seem overwhelming when you open it for the first time, but it's actually pretty simple (steep learning curve). I don't know about the help/tutorial section; I usually just start experimenting when using a new program.

 

I have written string-commands to automate system-wide renamings, but no matter how thoroughly I think I've tested my work and its results, I still end up feeling uncomfortable doing 'system wide' (across multiple computers) renames.

And I still find the comfort-level-requirement of checking each and every affected computer. "Gee, why not just do the Renames individually, too?" That's what occurs to me, and that's usually what I end up doing.

My favorite Rename utility has an UNDO function, by the way. For me, this is the Critical Feature of All.

I think I can learn to do anything.

Learning to do it RIGHT, however, is something else.

And an UNDO Function - an easily seen, easy-to-perform function - is critical, therefore.

 

Pray tell, Christine.... what is this app of which you speak?
I love undo functions! After sitting at the computer for a while I will sometimes get up and do something stupid, and the first thought to cross my brain is "That's OK, I'll just use the UNDO function and...... damn it"

 

I downloaded the Bulk Rename Utility. I'm trying to use a Regular Expression to start each word in a folder name with uppercase but I can't get it to work. This is what I have entered under RegEx(1) in the Bulk Rename Utility program:

Match:

\b [a-z]

Replace:

[A-Z]

What am I doing wrong?

 

To start each word in a folder name with uppercase, just go to Case (4) and toggle it to Title case. Also ensure that in Selections (12) you uncheck 'Files'.

 

Thank you!

 

Rusty, when I hit the 50-msg ceiling, then I can PM this info to you. I am reluctant to name such powerful but oddball software because the consequences of these Renamer programs approach "china syndrome-meltdown" levels, where errors always make me consider tossing computers out of upper windows - The SCTV Effect.

I do judge Renamers first and foremost by the location of the Undo button, though. If I don't see that, if the programmers have hidden it, tucked it under a menu somewhere, tried to present some 'clean' interface that makes me earn an archeological degree to use it, then I don't bother going any further.

I have the patience to learn everything (I think!) but when a mushroom cloud is rising above a mass-renaming error, NO USER should be forced to don a pith helmet or turn into Sherlock to locate the UNDO button. Even if it's the standard CTRL Z!

(I keep thinking of Dudley Moore, blowing raspberries, trying to get out of his latest 'wish' before Peter Cook's Satan. UNDO! UNDO!!)

 

Having to use CTRL Z doesn't bother me too much. However, not supporting what I want to do with Regular Expressions has already caused me to start looking for a replacement for the Bulk Rename Utility.

It was suggested I try ReNamer by den4b on the BRU web board. Hopefully I can get up to speed quickly with ReNamer and learn to use Regular Expressions. A poster on the BRU web board helped me out by showing me the structure I need to use with Regular Expressions that I could not figure out on my own. I previously had tried You Tube for Regular Expressions tutorials and I didn't find them to be very helpful.