Batch renaming

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Batch renaming is a form of batch processing used to rename multiple computer files and folders in an automated fashion, in order to save time and reduce the amount of work involved. Some sort of software is required to do this. Such software can be more or less advanced, but most have the same basic functions.

Contents

Batch renaming can also be referred to as 'mass file renaming', rename 'en masse' and 'bulk renaming'.

Common functions

Most batch renamers share a basic set of functions to manipulate the filenames:

Some batch rename software can do more than just renaming filenames. Features include changing the dates of files and changing the file attributes (such as the write protected attribute).

Common uses

There are many situations where batch renaming software can be useful. Here is a list of some common uses:

Problems

There are a few problems to take in consideration when renaming a file list.
(→ means: renamed to)

file01 → file02 (file02 already exists in file-system)

file01 → file03
file02 → file03 (file03 is already used)

file01file02 (file02 already exists in file-system)
file02file03 (file03 already exists in file-system)
file03file01 (file01 already exists in file-system)

Two-pass renaming

Two-pass renaming uses a temporary filename (that doesn't exist in file-system) as shown below.
(→ means: renamed to)

file01 → file01_AAAAA
file02 → file02_AAAAB
file03 → file03_AAAAC

file01_AAAAA → file02
file02_AAAAB → file03
file03_AAAAC → file01

It solves the cycle renaming problem.

If this approach is to be used care should be taken not to exceed any filename length limits during the rename, and also that the temporary names do not clash with any existing files.

List of software

This is a list of notable batch renaming programs in the form of a comparison table.

NameLicense Windows Mac OS X Linux BSD/FreeBSD Unix-like
Advanced Renamer Free for non-commercial useYesNoNoNoNo
Ant Renamer [1] Free GNU General Public License v3YesNoNoNoNo
Aperture CommercialNoYesNoNoNo
Automator Free with OS X NoYesNoNoNo
File Rename Utility [2] FreeYesNoNoNoNo
Bulk Rename Utility [3] Free for non-commercial useYesNoNoNoNo
Bulky [4] AGPL3YesYesYesYesYes
Chrono Namer [5] FreeYesNoNoNoNo
CRAX Commander [6] CommercialNoYesNoNoNo
Easy File Renamer [7] CommercialYesNoNoNoNo
ExifRenamer [8] FreeNoYesNoNoNo
GNOME Commander Free, GNU General Public License Yes
(via Cygwin)
NoYesYesYes
GPRename Free, GNU General Public License v3NoNoYesYesYes
KRename Free, GNU General Public License v2NoNoYesYesYes
Métamorphose Free, GNU General Public License v3YesYesYesYesYes
AlgoLogic Batch File Renamer CommercialYesNoNoNoNo
ImBatch [9] Free for non-commercial useYesNoNoNoNo
ReNamer Lite(den4b) Free for non-commercial useYesNoNoNoNo
Thunar (bulk renamer) [10] Free, GNU General Public License v2+NoNoYesYesYes
Unreal Commander FreeYesNoNoNoNo
Vi move (vimv) [11] Free, GNU General Public License v3+Yes
(via Cygwin)
YesYesYesYes
Vifm [12] Free, GNU General Public License v2+YesYesYesYesYes
Namagic [13] CommercialNoYesNoNoNo
rename [14] Free, GPL NoYesYesYes
rnm [15] Free, GPL-3+NoYesYesYes

See also

Footnotes

  1. "Ant Renamer". antp.be.
  2. "Introduction – File Rename Utility". www.filerenameutility.co.uk.
  3. "Introduction – Bulk Rename Utility". www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk.
  4. "Introduction – Bulky". www.github.com. 15 May 2021.
  5. "Chrono Namer". chrononamer.com. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  6. "CRAX Commander". crax.soft4u2.com.
  7. https://easyfilerenamer.com/
  8. Robl, Stefan. "qdev.de – ExifRenamer". www.qdev.de.
  9. "ImBatch – The Best in Batch Image Processing – High Motion Software". www.highmotionsoftware.com.
  10. "xfce:thunar:bulk-renamer:start [Xfce Docs]". docs.xfce.org.
  11. Maeder, Ivan (26 April 2017). "vimv: Rename a list of files using a text editor" via GitHub.
  12. "Vifm Wiki". wiki.vifm.info. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  13. "Namagic – Batch renaming reloaded for Mac OS X". www.namagicapp.com.
  14. "rename(1): Rename files – Linux man page". linux.die.net.
  15. Hamid, Md Jahidul (15 June 2017). "rnm: Unix tool: Bulk Rename Utility" via GitHub.

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