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Computer Help and Support

Turbineguy

(39,244 posts) Thu Jan 9, 2020, 02:02 PM Jan 2020

Batch File rename 2

Yesterday I posed the following question:

I want to rename a large number of files. The file names look like this

10-L-1 Stuff.docx

I want to change the "L" into an "8"

And leave everything else as is.

Anybody know a fairly simple to understand method for that?

I've already looked for the Windows 10 method but that changed everything.

I got several answers, but could not work them out. Using the Windows instructions I only get "Syntax Error"

Here is what I want to do: I want to change 1 character in all the files in the batch. I need the exact spelling.

Drive F

1st Folder PMI

Sub Folder 61

2nd Sub folder QMEDEX

3rd Sub Folder QMEDANS

File name 01-J-3 Quiz A.docx

Desired name 01-10-3 Quiz a.docx

I need to know the exact syntax

The other files that I want to rename have 01, 02, 04 etc in the first number and 3, 4, 5 in the 3rd number

I only want to change the "J" into a "10"

Thanks

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Batch File rename 2 (Original Post) Turbineguy Jan 2020 OP

Tool... Newest Reality Jan 2020 #1

Thanks. Turbineguy Jan 2020 #2

An alternative file commander/explorer can do this interactively. Eugene Jan 2020 #3

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)

1. Tool...

Reply to Turbineguy (Original post)

Thu Jan 9, 2020, 02:24 PM

Jan 2020

Have you tried a tool like this? You should be able to use a wildcard to batch rename the files as you want to.

https://www.batchrenamefiles.org/

Turbineguy

(39,244 posts)

2. Thanks.

Reply to Newest Reality (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 9, 2020, 02:36 PM

Jan 2020

It changed all the file names but not to what I actually want. I'll change them by hand.

Eugene

(66,217 posts)

3. An alternative file commander/explorer can do this interactively.

Reply to Turbineguy (Original post)

Thu Jan 9, 2020, 03:08 PM

Jan 2020

This example for 10-L-1 Stuff.docx uses Free Commander XE ( https://freecommander.com )

Select the files you want and click File->Multirename or Ctrl-M.

You will see a search-and-replace dialog box. Put "-L-" in the Search for field and "-10-" in the Replace with field. Then press the Rename button.

Results:

This example does one change at a time to be conservative. There are several more options (like regular expressions) that support more advanced pattern matching.

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