How do I batch-rename multiple files like this: "D2018.1, D2018.2, D2018.3..."?

[Nickk]

I’ve got 10 thousand pictures to rename.

They are titled like this now: "46gibberish, 47gibberish, 48gibberish...".


How do I batch-rename the files into something like this: "D2018.1, D2018.2, D2018.3..."?

Am I right that this way they will still open in chronological order?

Also, it would be great to automatically sort them into a hundred folders.

I’m not going to purchase any applications for this task.


So far, I've googled only the following means:

It’s when original "46gibberish, 47gibberish, 48gibberish..."

become:

"46gibberish.1, 47gibberish.2, 48gibberish.3...".

 

[HDFan]

A Better Finder Rename has a sequence number rename option. But to get the sequence numbers right you would have to first rename the files as necessary to get the order you want.

I’m not going to purchase any applications for this task.

They have a free trial. May have limitations.

http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/index.html

 

[sahnert]

I’ve got 10 thousand pictures to rename.

They are titled like this now: "46gibberish, 47gibberish, 48gibberish...".


How do I batch-rename the files into something like this: "D2018.1, D2018.2, D2018.3..."?

Have you looked at the options in Finder under File>Rename...? If I select a group of files and choose this option I can create a custom format similar to what you are looking for, although the syntax might be slightly different.

I suggest using a character other than the period, like a space or dash before the incremented number since traditional file systems reserved the period to begin the file extensions (.jpg for example).

 

[Toutou]

Sounds like a job for a few lines of bash (the Terminal thingie), but you'd need to provide precise instructions for someone to be able to write it for you.

 

[whooleytoo]

Have you looked at the options in Finder under File>Rename...? If I select a group of files and choose this option I can create a custom format similar to what you are looking for, although the syntax might be slightly different.

Wow. I've been using Macs since the System 6 days, and needed this, and didn't know this feature existed. (I'm sure it was only added recently.... )

 

[Nickk]

Have you looked at the options in Finder under File>Rename...? If I select a group of files and choose this option I can create a custom format similar to what you are looking for.

Yes, I have. That's why I stated the corresponding thread tags.

But I don't see how to rename the way I've stated above. The Finder seems to offer either concatenation or renaming the only one string. But my files are all have a unique title.

I will use "your" dashes instead of "my" dots.

 

[Septercius]

Automator has a batch rename task. Start off your workflow with a 'Get Specified Finder Items' task (or similar) and then add a 'Rename Finder Items' task. It lets you change text, add a sequence number and so on.

 

[sahnert]

Yes, I have. That's why I stated the corresponding thread tags.

But I don't see how to rename the way I've stated above. The Finder seems to offer either concatenation or renaming the only one string. But my files are all have a unique title.

I will use "your" dashes instead of "my" dots.

I might be misunderstanding exactly what you need, but I was able to rename four test files as D2018-1, D2018-2, D2018-3, D2018-4 by selecting them all and using the following steps in File>Rename

1. Choose Format (instead of Replace Text or Add Text
2. Name Format > Name and Index
3. Custom Format: D2018-
4. Where > after name
5. Starts number at: 1

 

[Nickk]

I was able to rename

Your way turned out the right way, thank you!
[doublepost=1550135165][/doublepost]The only one item in my wish-list is automatic packing the pix into a hundred folders.

 

[jackietreeh0rn]

Thank you for this thread!