Batch renaming of files by mask. Batch renaming files in Windows

Among the most powerful functionality - the most popular file manager among third-party software of this type for Windows - there is one notable feature that will be useful to any computer user. And this is a group renaming of files. Sooner or later, each of us faces the need to organize data on a computer. Someone needs to bring the name of content downloaded from the Internet to a single format.

Someone needs to organize their home media library so that photos or videos have names associated, for example, with the events of the shooting. And those who use a computer in their professional activity It may be necessary to construct data based on some technical characteristics.

Renaming a significant amount of information manually can take a lot of time. will do this job in a matter of seconds. How does group renaming work as part of this file manager?

1. Group renaming function as part of Total Commander

To take advantage of the group renaming feature on any of the panels open the folder with the files to be operated and select all of them using the Ctrl + A keys. Or hold down Ctrl and indicate only individual of them. Next, we launch group renaming - either in the menu "File", or hotkeys Ctrl + M .

The value entry field in the function window that opens is a name mask. You need to enter your values ​​into it, which will be contained in the names of all files, like this: "Photo", "Video", "Wallpapers", "Event such and such", "Track" and so on. And then add an expression enclosed in brackets, implemented in the form of buttons.

This expression will predetermine the postscript in future names - serial number, date of creation, specific parameters for certain file types. You can add as many expressions as you like, separating them with a space, underscore, period, brackets or other easy-to-read symbols.

The lower part of the function window is a table of comparisons between the names of the old and new ones, as they will be after the operation is completed. So, by selecting renaming criteria, you can monitor the readability of future names right on the fly. And when the required format is found, only then proceed with the renaming operation (button below “Run”) .

Bulk renaming possible also for file extensions. Using this function You can change not only entire names, but also remove individual meanings from them or replace them with others, set the desired case of letters, and also do other interesting things. Let's consider individual templates group renaming.

2. Changing names

The group rename function is launched with the default expression set in the mask [N]– current file name. If you leave this expression, the names will remain as they are and will change, accordingly, only in part of the selected additions. If the names need to be changed completely, remove them [N] (using Del or Backspace keys) and enter yours general meaning. As, for example, in our case, a common name is given to all desktop wallpapers "Space Wallpapers". Next, you need to choose how to identify files with this common name.

Without changing the current names, they can be organized by setting a single writing format, taking into account lower and upper case letters.

2. Serial numbers in names

You can identify files with a single common name by assigning a serial number to each of them using the expression [C]. In the mask column, place the cursor before or after the general name and press the button "[C]Counter".

Some settings are available for the counter:

Count step (numbering, for example, by type 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) ;
The number from which the countdown begins
Number format (number of digits in the serial number) .

If group renaming is carried out for more than 9 files, you can set, for example, 3 digits in the sequence numbers. Then they will have the format 001 , 002 , 003 etc. And, accordingly, such files in separate file managers will be displayed as needed, and not with a distorted order, when 1 is followed by 10, and only then by 2.

3. File creation dates in names

Perhaps it will become more convenient for someone to navigate their media library if photos and videos contain the dates of captured events. To do this, you need to add the expression to the mask as one of the identifying designations . This is the date the file was created.

Possibility of generating titles including other dates for certain file types includes expression plugins. When the button is pressed "[=?] Plugin" we will have a choice of a huge number of different parameters. Yes, in the selection of plugins "tc" The names can include the date and time of modification, the date and time of last access.

4. Various parameters in names

So the button mentioned "[=?] Plugin" opens access to a huge list of file parameters. In particular, in the collections of plugins "shell details" And "tcmediainfo" we can include in the names of media files:

dates of sound recording, filming or digitization;
genre;
performer;
album, its year of release;
tags and ratings;
bitrate;
video frame size;
image size;
video or audio codecs;
as well as other data.

Of course, provided that the media data contains information about the selected parameters.

5. Changing extensions

Group renaming is carried out not only for direct data names, but also for their extensions. is not a format converter; with this renaming you can only do what can be done by simply manually replacing extensions. Like, for example, bringing extensions into a single format, taking into account the case of letters.

Or replacing files ".txt" on ".ini" , ".bat" and so on. To completely remove file extensions, simply leave their mask without any expression.

6. Renaming with moving

Renaming files can be combined with distributing them into folders. To do this, the renaming operation must be carried out for each separate group data that fits into one folder. At the beginning of the mask, enter the folder name (either existing or new, it will be created automatically) , then we put a slash, and then we select other expressions.

7. Getting rid of serial numbers in names

How to remove the postscript in the form of file numbering and leave only the main names? This may become necessary when organizing a collection of audio recordings. Press the button "Range" and select the main name as a block, i.e. part of the name without serial numbers. Click "OK" and perform the operation.

8. Removing individual values ​​from names

How to remove identical components from data group names? For example, the values "Label" or "Copy", genre, album year, or any other information that is not so important that it appears in the titles and complicates the perception of information. This value must be inserted into the column "Find". In the column below "Replaced by" is selected «<Пусто>» .

9. Saving renaming templates

Any selection of expressions, plugins, replacement and counter settings can be saved as a template if in the future you need to return to renaming data in this format. We fill in the mask field, set other options and from the drop-down list columns « F2 Operation templates" choose "Save template". This drop-down list will contain all saved templates.

Group renaming of files can be canceled with the button "Rollback". And then the names will be returned to them old look. Important: For this procedure, the original location of the data is of fundamental importance.

The other day, while wandering around the Internet, I came across a new version of my long-time and faithful assistant - the ReNamer program, which has become my indispensable toolwhen bulk renaming files . This is a routine action that we can perform several times a day. Each of us solves this problem in our own way, for example, using built-in tools operating system without experiencing any particular problems.

That's it, you say, it's a big problem, what's there to talk about! It’s good, of course, when the renaming allows the use of mask symbols, and - I add - it’s good if you know how to use the mask. But there are situations when using a mask is quite difficult or even impossible. It would seem that there is only one way out - to rename each file separately by hand. But no - there is a solution that is very functional, does not require installation, and, moreover, free program Denis Kozlov ReNamer, which will be discussed in this article.

You can download the program both on the computer portal Softodrom.ru and on the developer’s website.

The program provides the user with all imaginable ways to batch rename files. In any case, I didn’t have enough imagination to come up with something that the program couldn’t handle! I think she is an indispensable assistant administrators and other computer people, as well as teachers, authors and others like them. By the way, what I immediately noticed when I discovered new version ReNamer, this is about the emergence of Russian localization of the program. And although I don’t experience any particular discomfort when working with the English interface, still, you know, my own language is somehow much more native, and - most importantly - more understandable...

When you first load the program, it will prompt you to open and, accordingly, familiarize yourself with the Quick Guide. If you have basic concepts English language, then I advise you to accept this offer. To be honest, I have not often come across such intelligent and at the same time short description work with the program!

At the same time, I can’t help but notice that, understanding the author, who aims his brainchild at the widest possible range of users and uses English for this, he could “bundle” an analogue of the manual in Russian, since the author is a programmer from Tolyatti. By the way, it’s good that Russian localization of the program has appeared, otherwise previous versions and she was not observed :). True, it appeared only last year, and it was not even completed by the author(!) I hope that the author will not be too offended at me for criticism, since the program is really very good in its work.

The ideology of the program is that the user creates rules according to which files are renamed. Rules allow you to change program prefixes and suffixes, replace, add and delete parts of text in file names, add serial numbers to names, etc.

Therefore, the program window itself consists of two parts: the upper one is the formation of rules for renaming files, the lower one is the selection of files. Accordingly, the program has two groups of buttons located on separate panels: the top one for working with files and the bottom one for working with rules.

Select files

Selecting files to rename is extremely simple. On top panel tools, click the "Add files" button. If all files in a folder are to be renamed, then use the "Add Folders" tool. The selected files are displayed at the bottom of the window. To delete files, we use standard selection techniques, after which we call context menu and select the “Delete selected” item from it.

Create a rule

On the second (lower) toolbar in the upper window, click the “Add” button (“Add a new rule”), after which the “Add Rule” window appears, in which a rule is created that will be used to rename files. To remember the generated rule, click the large “Add rule” button in the window.

To edit the rule we carry out double click on his name.

To delete a rule, click the "Delete" button on the second toolbar.

Let's look at examples of the formation of certain types of rules.

Replace

1. From the list of rule names, select “Replace”.
2. In the "Find" field, we determine the part of the name that needs to be changed. We do not use the "*" symbol.
3. In the "Replace" field, enter the characters that will replace the text in the "Find" field.
4. In the "Matches" group we determine the number of replacements in names.

Removal

To remove part of the text in the middle of the name, we create the following rule.

1. From the list of rule names, select “Delete”.
2. In the "Starting from" field, we determine the position from which we want to start deleting text in the name.
3. In the "Before" field we determine the number of characters to be removed from file names.
4. To disable actions with extensions, enable the “Skip extensions” action.
5. Save the rule by clicking the "Add Rule" button.

Creating number sequences (index)

Sometimes it is necessary to change the file names Name1, Name2, Name3 so that their names contain a numerical sequence with a certain increment, for example, increasing by “5”: Name11, Name26, Name311. The procedure for creating a rule is as follows.

1. From the list of rule names, select “Index”.
2. Select the "Sequentially" option.
3. Set the initial value number sequence: "Begin with:".
4. In the "Step" field we specify the increment (step) of the numerical sequence with which the numerical value will change.
5. In the "Where to insert:" field, we determine the place in the file name where the number sequence will be inserted. In this case, the user has the opportunity to set:
   • Position: determines the position from which the number will be inserted in the file name. If, for example, for our example we set the second position, then the file names will be: И1мя1, И6мя2, И11мя3.
   • Prefix: at the beginning of the file name. In this case, the file names will be in the following sequence: 1Name1, 3Name2, 5Name3.
   • Suffix: at the end of the file name. The file names will be: Name11, Name26, Name311.
6. Selecting the checkbox for the label field "Add zeros to:" allows you to specify the same number of positions for all elements of the number sequence. For example, by setting this field to “2” and using the “Suffix” option for our example, we get the following names: Name101, Name206, Name311.
7. To disable actions with extensions, enable the “Skip extensions” action.
8. Save the rule by clicking the "Add Rule" button.

Defining Multiple Rules

The system allows you to apply several rules to file names at once. The main thing here is not to get confused with the names that should be obtained, since applying the rule at some stage may lead to the creation of a name that matches the name at the previous stage. However, the system will immediately warn you about this.

To avoid such situations, follow simple rule: Do not apply all the rules at once, but do it sequentially, unchecking or checking the boxes in the first column preceding the name of the rule.

In this case, the user can not only add and delete rules, but also change their places using the tools located at the top of the rules window.

And further. The rules are used strictly sequentially, exactly in the order in which you created them. If you need to change their sequence, use the "Up" and "Down" buttons, which are located on the second toolbar.

And one last thing. Renaming

In order to see what we get, click the “Preview” button on the toolbar, after which the names generated according to the specified rules will be displayed in the “New name” column at the bottom of the window. As a matter of fact, you don’t need to take any actions at all if you first perform the action of selecting files, and only after that - creating rules. In this case, adding or changing a rule automatically causes files with new names to be displayed.

And finally last step: Direct renaming. We click the “Rename” button and admire our work, not forgetting to express respect to the author for the most convenient and, moreover, free tool.

And the very last thing. As follows from the annotation to the program, the user has the ability to work with ID3v1, ID3v2 and EXIF, as well as use batch renaming of folders. Besides this, there are many custom settings renaming template.

Valery FETISOV

When working, there are often situations when you need to rename right away a large number of files. In particular, such a need arises when organizing your collection of photographs, home video etc. For this purpose, there are specialized software tools, which we will discuss below.

Basic operations for renaming groups of files can be easily handled by a regular Windows Explorer. Select a group of files and on the “Home” tab click “Rename”. Enter a new name and press “Enter”. As a result, we will receive “namesake” files with different serial numbers.

Total Commander

This file manager deserves its high ratings from users. It also supports mass renaming, and has a wide range of capabilities that can be further expanded using plugins.

Advanced Renamer

The application lives up to its name. In it, you can rename multiple files or folders at once using various methods. Batch renaming is also supported.

Siren

The Siren program will rename according to the specified custom template. The process of creating templates may raise questions among users, but the corresponding wizard will help with this.

Bulk Rename Utility

This program has a rather complex and, moreover, English-language interface, but it has a huge range of options for mass renaming of files. With its help, you can include date and time in names, insert text, auto-number, etc.

Rename Master

The Rename Master utility can rename groups of files based on a variety of criteria, such as MP3 tags, EXIF ​​tags in JPG files, etc. The program has a convenient, although only English-language, interface and can work in a portable version.

To quickly find files and quickly navigate through them, it is not enough to put everything in the correct folders. It is equally important to give files names that are easy to read and meaningful. Fiddling with each of them separately is counterproductive. Therefore, there are methods for group renaming.

To work with a group of files, it is better to copy them to separate folder. This will greatly simplify the process.

Using standard Windows tools

Changing file names

Let's consider the simplest case: we have the nth number of images with meaningless names.

Let's bring the names of these files to a visual form Picture (n), Where Picture will be the name, and n- serial number. This can be easily done directly in Explorer.

Select all the pictures that we want to rename. To do this quickly, use the combination Ctrl keys+ A. Then just press F2 or click right click mouse on the first file and select “Rename”. Enter the word as the name for the selected image Picture and press Enter.

Windows will automatically assign the same name to all subsequent files and assign all serial numbers.

If necessary, you can cancel mass renaming with the Ctrl + Z key combination.

If you want to rename a group of folders in Explorer, you can do it in the same way.

Changing file extensions

Let's say we have several text documents, which after double clicking open with a notepad. But we need them to be opened by the browser by default. To do this, you will have to change their extension from .txt to .html. Operations of this kind can be quickly performed using command line.

Click Windows keys+ R, enter in the field that appears cmd and click OK - we see the command line window. Now we insert into it the path to the folder in which our files are located, immediately after the command CD: cd C:\Users\Max Volotsky\Desktop\Docs , and press Enter. Then we use special team, which will change their extensions: rename *.txt *.html, and press Enter again.

The original extension is indicated first in the command, the new one is indicated second. After entering the command, the system instantly makes changes.

To return everything as it was, you need to use the rename command again, swapping the extensions.

Using third party utilities

No built-in tools can match the functionality of special programs, designed specifically for batch renaming. You can find many of these on the Internet. free utilities, just enter bulk file rename in the search.

We will look at renaming using the example of the Bulk Rename Utility program. With its help it is very convenient to change the names of folders and files, as well as the extensions of the latter.

When you first launch it, it may seem that the utility’s interface came straight from hell, and perhaps there is some truth in this. But the user does not need to navigate through numerous tabs and menus: he gets access to all functions from one window.

So, let's say we have a group of audio files that we want to make look pleasing to the eye. IN in this case The numbers and the lack of artist name are annoying.

We launch the application through the built-in file manager go to the folder we need. Next, use the already familiar Ctrl + A key combination to select all files. We need to remove the first 3 characters at the beginning of each file name and add the artist name at the very beginning. To do this, specify the necessary parameters in the Remove and Add panels, and then click Rename.

Now we’ll make sure that all extensions consist of lowercase characters: in the Extension panel, select the Lower option and click Rename.

As you can see, other panels are available in the program window. For example, Numbering allows you to number documents different ways, and with Case you can change the case of characters in file names. Thanks to the New Name column in the built-in explorer, which shows the result of a rename before it's applied, you'll easily understand the rest of the Bulk Rename Utility.

The last operation with files and folders performed in the program can be easily undone using the Ctrl + Z key combination.

Often a situation arises where you need to rename files en masse. Be it a file name or extension. Sometimes you need to remove part of the text from the name (for example, the address of a website or company). If there are only a few files, then it's okay. What to do when there are 50, 100 or a thousand files?

There are several solutions to quickly rename many files: using the command line or using a bunch of programs. One of the most convenient solutions- This rename files in a folder using a template total commander.

How to rename files in total commander

To rename many files you need to go to the folder where the files are located. Select the files that we will rename.

Batch renaming files in totalcommander. Part 1

Then press CTRL+M for group renaming and this window will pop up.

Batch renaming of files in totalcommander. Part 2

In this window we perform all the main operations.

How to remove part of the text in all file names

To delete part of the text, enter what you want to delete in the Find in box " Search and replace". In the Replace with field - what you want to replace it with. Then enter the site in the Find field, and leave the Replace with field empty.

How to replace characters in file names using totalcommander

To replace symbols with some letters or numbers, repeat the previous block. Just in the Replace with field write what we are replacing it with. For example, we replace the symbols [, ( in the file names with spaces. In the Find field we put these symbols in turn, and in Replace we do not forget to press the spacebar.

Reference for bulk file renaming via totalcommander

The totalcommander program has powerful built-in functionality, and part of it is group renaming of files. You can set the so-called mask for mass editing.
[N] - paste this code into the name field to save the old file name.
[f][N] - write like this if you want all names to be capitalized.
— the first character in the file name. Can be used in a mask, for example, when replacing characters.
— three characters from the old name, from the second to the fourth.
— all characters of the name, starting with the third letter.
— the third character from the end of the file name.
- five characters after the first letter.
[E] - file extension. (You can also write it in the title, if necessary.)

Counters. I would like to separately note useful function counters when renaming files.
For example, we need to put the order of the files at the beginning of the name or at the end (or in the middle, I use a mask).
is a simple counter that numbers files one by one with a two-digit number. (01, 02…77.78)
- the same thing, only the number is already three-digit (001,002,003...)
— an extended version of the counter. The first unit is which digit to start with, the second unit is the counter step, after the colon is a two-digit number. That is, this construction will add 01,02,03... to each file in turn. If you write , then the counter starts working 005 in steps of 2 (007,009,011...)

Dates and times. You can also add [t] - time, [d] - date, [D] - day, [M] - month, [Y] - year to the file name.

If you want to specific examples batch renaming of files - feel free to write!