Batch Dos rename

Neill_J · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:10

Hi

I need to batch rename using dos a large number of files

the files are in the format....

Z001.15x2.red.png
Z002.15x2.red.png
Z008.15x2.red.png

(i.e. in the above the first part (Z001.) is not sequential - it could be any 8 charecters)

and i want them to become...

*.15x2.png

What is the dos command which will do this?

cheers, Neill

Kriist · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:14

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=batch+dos+rename

rpstewart · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:25

Neill_J said:
What is the dos command which will do this?

It should be possible with ren (rename) but in the past I've found it to be a bit picky when it comes to dealing with wildcards. At times like this I keep thinking that the dos command set is really naff compared to UNIX, doing this sort of thing in a shell script is a piece of bun.

The best option might be to investigate some of the freeware GUI file renamers, a lot of them have options to remove chunks from names exactly in the manner you need.

bledd · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:40

ren ????.15x2.red.png ????.15x2.png

just tested it, it works

bledd · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:41

that renames...

Z001.15x2.red.png

to

Z001.15x2.png

afraser2k · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:45

I'd probably do a for loop doing a rename action on each file in the folder it is run, for example:

Code:

for /r path %%var in (*.*) do rename_command %%var

Neill_J · 30 Jun 2009 at 12:51

Hi

I am helping a PM with some work he needs doing, I will pass these suggestions on to him - and let you know if they work

thanks, Neill