Page 1 of 1

Quick way of renaming *many* files?

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:32 pm
by vuser
Hello, I'd like to rename many file names. There is no pattern to the changes. It just means lots of typing.

At the moment I need to slow-doubleclick on each filename and make my change.

Can you suggest any faster method?

Or entertain an enhancement for this type of situation eg. where the whole list of file names in the directory 'behave like a notepad dialog' so you can quickly modify any/all filenames without needing any slow-doubleclicks.

Re: Quick way of renaming *many* files?

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:37 pm
by FileViewer
Can you suggest any faster method?

Yes, there is a much faster way. Try the following:

Firstly, select all the files that you want to rename - either by Ctrl-clicking on them or by pressing Ctrl+A to select all the files.

Then press Ctrl+Shift+N to copy all the file names to the clipboard.

Then paste the contents of your clipboard into your editor. You will have one line for each of the files you selected.

Then rename the file names in your editor, and when finished, select the entire file and copy it back to the clipboard. The clipboard now contains the new file names.

Then go back to V and making sure that the original file names are still selected (and that no new files have been created) select Clipboard rename from the FileName submenu of the File menu.

This command will rename the selected files with the contents of the corresponding line in the clipboard.

You should uncheck "Keep Existing File Extensions" if the file names in the clipboard still contain their extension. If you deleted the extensions in the editor, you can check "Keep Existing File Extensions" and the original extension will be retained.

You should also check "Prompt before Modifying" to make sure that the files are being renamed correctly (this prompt can be turned off after you see everything is going OK).

Then press the Modify button!

The only thing you need to be careful of is that all the original files are still selected, and that they are still in the same order as when originally selected.

Regards,
Charles.