Renaming Files

Hello,

I was wondering if there was any way to do a global rename on a bunch of files within a given folder (in the Windows XP OS)?

What I am hoping to be able to do is rename all the files in some sort of sequence (IE 0001, 0002, 0003, etc).

I know this was doable under DOS but that was many, many years ago

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you MajorGeeks, you folks run a faaaantastic site!

 

Highlight all the files, click F2, rename the first one & the others will follow.

 

Thank you Hipster!!

 

Welcome. Hope it does the job for you.

 

Re: Bulk Renaming Part of Files/Directories

Any way to 'bulk' rename just part of the directory and/or file names with a wild card or some such thing... ie rename 'test-1' and 'test-2' to 'testy-1' and 'testy-2' etc ?

 

Re: Bulk Renaming Part of Files/Directories

You should be able to use the "Replace" command, in "DOS".

Type Replace in the MS Help and Support file for parameters.,
or go to Start-->Run---> type in cmd <enter> to switch to "DOS".
Type in replace /? <enter> for parameters.

You will need to work in "DOS", ie., outside of Windows for this to work.

You will also probably have to specify the path to the folder you want in the old 8-3 file lengths, or change to the relevant Folder (directory).

Write down the range of file names that you want to change (and folder) to make it easier to enter in "DOS". Remember the 8-3 file format.

There doesn't appear to be a way to do this in XP.
MS Help does not show a way to do this in XP, that I could see.

Just type in replace test-* with testy-* The asterisk will keep the numbers the same

Copy a couple of files to a scratch folder (directory) and try it first on them, rather than your original files. Switch to the Folder (directory) forst as it will be easier.

In theory this should work. Haven't tried it myself.

Other way, as previously suggested using XP would be to copy just the particular batch of files to a scratch XP folder. Rename them using the method in the earlier post, then copy them back to the original folder and delete the "old" files.
Remember Ctrl and Z may (hopefully) undo anything you stuff up, as long as you use it straight away.

Haven't tried this either, but in theory it should work also.

For safety sakes, make a backup of the original files to a completely different folder before you start, in case it all goes pear shaped. Let us know which method you use, and the results.

Others, more knowledgeable than myself, may suggest a simpler way. (I hope so)

Bazza

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I have used ReNameIt for quite a while. Very useful for mass & selective renames.

Check out some of these...

http://www.freewr.com/freeware.php?download=renameit&lid=2778

 

Just spotted http://www.majorgeeks.com/ReNamer_d4680.html on www.majorgeeks.com front page. Only 1 meg in size

ReNamer 4.00 Final