Adding a new prefix to multiple files - any easy way?

[FourWheelDrift]

If I had 100+ files I need to rename but keep their naming structure and current names, but just add a new prefix to each one.

e,g change

image41.gmt
cube_map.jpg
body1.dds

by adding 138_ to the front into

138_image41.gmt
138_cube_map.jpg
138_cube_map.jpg

It a batch conversion app I'm after than can rename many different files just by adding a standard prefix and not changing any other part of the naming.


Any recommendations or know of anything to do this?

[eyebeebe]

I have just the piece of software for you. I don't have permission to send email from here apparently. If you send me an email I'll send the file back by return. It's only 300k or so

[FourWheelDrift]

PH email is busted for me as well but you can try

Many thanks. Appreciate it (well my fingers certainly do)

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Saturday 24th February 21:41

[eyebeebe]

YHM

[-DeaDLocK-]

I've used File Renamer hundreds of times for jobs like this - freeware, and a very well designed piece of software.

Download link: www.sherrodcomputers.com/downloads%5CFileRenamerBasic.exe

[FourWheelDrift]

eyebeebe said:

YHM

I haven't yet




I'll have a go at the link above as well though

[zumbruk]

The perl "rename" program. Don't leave home without it;

($op = shift) || die "Usage: rename perlexpr [filenames] ";
if (!@ARGV) {
@ARGV = <STDIN>;
chop(@ARGV);
}
for (@ARGV) {
$was = $_;
eval $op;
die $@ if $@;
rename($was,$_) unless $was eq $_;
}

In your case it would be called as;

rename 's/^/138_/;' *

[eyebeebe]

FourWheelDrift said:

eyebeebe said:

YHM

I haven't yet




I'll have a go at the link above as well though

how bizarre. I sent it straightaway from a hotmail account. Maybe it is in your junk folder? The program is called Batch File Renamer if you want to google it. Filename BatchFR.exe

[FourWheelDrift]

Nope, nothing.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Saturday 24th February 21:42

[eyebeebe]

nope sent it as that. It's probably hotmail arseing about!

This is a link to it anyway

http://cerebralsynergy.com/download.p

[FourWheelDrift]

Thanks.

[GreenV8S]

If you're running a recent version of Windows you can do that using the DOS shell extensions if you don't mind typing the command in. It will be something along the lines of:

for %f in ( <my list of files> ) do rename %f foo_%f

Replace <my list of files> with a wildcard expression that selects the files you want to rename, *.mpg etc.

[Size Nine Elm]

GreenV8S said:

If you're running a recent version of Windows you can do that using the DOS shell extensions if you don't mind typing the command in. It will be something along the lines of:

for %f in ( <my list of files> ) do rename %f foo_%f

Replace <my list of files> with a wildcard expression that selects the files you want to rename, *.mpg etc.

I was going to suggest that - only the Unix equivalent... best use of cygwin on Windows.

[FourWheelDrift]

Thanks, done now

[Church of Noise]

The simple way of doing it: put the files in a separate directory, go into command prompt and type
rename *.* 138_*.*

[BliarOut]

Church of Noise said:

The simple way of doing it: put the files in a separate directory, go into command prompt and type
rename *.* 138_*.*

Although

ren *.* 138_*.*
saves you typing three characters

[eyebeebe]

BliarOut said:

Church of Noise said:

The simple way of doing it: put the files in a separate directory, go into command prompt and type
rename *.* 138_*.*

Although

ren *.* 138_*.*
saves you typing three characters

I was going to suggest that but did I test first and whenever I did it, it added an additional '.' between the prefix and the original name, hence I didn't recommend that option.

[Mr E]

with a real OS (*nix), and assuming you want to rename all the files the CWD, I think I can do it in a line.

find . -name * -exec mv {} 138_{};

I think will do what you want. Bear in mind that this is off the top of my head and I've not tested it.

[GreenV8S]

You might want to limit that to files ...

[BliarOut]

eyebeebe said:

BliarOut said:

Church of Noise said:

The simple way of doing it: put the files in a separate directory, go into command prompt and type
rename *.* 138_*.*

Although

ren *.* 138_*.*
saves you typing three characters

I was going to suggest that but did I test first and whenever I did it, it added an additional '.' between the prefix and the original name, hence I didn't recommend that option.

That's odd.... In theory there shouldn't be any difference. Ah well, such is 'Doze