Mass file renaming

[Agent]

I've got a few hundred files that need to be mass renamed. They are in the format:

XXXXX0001.TGA

Due to a balls up by me when setting the network render up, the XXXXX part needs be be removed. There are far too many to do by hand. The number is sequential and must be left untouched.

Have had a quick Google, but there seems to be a lot of rubbish out there. I'm sure there is a simple way I'm missing?

Thanks

[moogle]

could always do a little bit of coding to remove it I suppose. You'll just have to wait till someone who knows and uses one of those free file renamers comes along and recommends it otherwise ;D

I'll see if I can cook up a test app.

[Agent]

Aye, was thinking there must be a simple scripted program for this type of thing?

The file names are actually like this: "3dout0221.tga" which needs to be made into "0221.tga".
I forgot the trailing slash when doing the other part of the job So now I have several hundred files like "0001.tga" in the directory "C:\3dout\0001.tga" and the rest in the root of C: like "C:\3dout0001.tga"

I have less of the "3dout0001.tga" types, so I guess it makes sense to rename them

I should stop being so lazy really and set up a permanent network drive for them to be rendered to. Wouldn't have any of this nonsense.

Cheers

[moogle]

well managed to make it!

It's here if you wanna test it out.

Scan it if you want I haven't uploaded a virus >_>
But if you want peace of mind please do so.

Theres some zero-byte files in the temp folder for you to see it in action. Just run the exe and it will truncate the 5 chars in front of the filenames of any file in the directory "temp".

Limitations:
Only works with the same format you said Agent 13 character length filename (inc .ext)
So only up to 10000 files can be renamed properly (9999->0000)

Before and After shots

Before:


After:


So to use it just clear the temp directory and place your files in there. (Use copies)
Then run the .exe and it should remove all that junk from the front of the filename.
If it all goes wrong it will just try to rename a file which doesn't exist and won't harm the system. Run it in a VM machine if you have one though

HTH

[smargh]

I use the free Bulk Rename Utility for this kind of thing. It's very good - you can preview what actions it will perform in the file list.

Don't be put off by the interface. Just experiment - you only have to change the bits you're interested in. If you just want to remove the first 5 characters, just increment the "first n chars" bit and highlight the files you want to change from the file list. Job done. It will handle a few hundred (probably many thousands) of files just fine.

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Screenshots.php

[impossible]

I recently found out that vista does a batch file rename that increments. As long as all the file numbers are sequential you could use that (if its your local OS)


Imp

[Agent]

Thanks everyone - all brilliant suggestions And a HUGE thanks to Moogle who took the time and effort to do that program

After trawling the help files though, it turns out there is a way to do it in 3D Studio Max

Thanks all

[moogle]

After trawling the help files though, it turns out there is a way to do it in 3D Studio Max

Thanks all

no problems. another bit of code to add to my collection

[Agent]

What made matters worse is that the section was literally written in a "You've set network rendering up like a moron, haven't you?" attitude

Final outcome anyway:



Few hundred of them stitched together makes some wicked HD video

[moogle]

Looks very nice. Glad to see it's been sorted too

[SiM]

I am a bit late but for future problems you might want to try "Flexible Renamer"

[Stoo]

BRU rocks, it's got pretty much everything you'd ever need in a rename tool

Nice render Agent

I prefer Cinema4d myself, but then I have been using it since v1 on the amiga