Submission details
Finder (feature request): rename more files at once
Renaming many files in finder is very tedious. Here are two propositions for improving the rename functionality.
It would be cool to have a bulk rename mode. I can think of this two sub modes:
1. If more files are selected and the rename mode is activated, only the first file should be in rename mode. After pressing return to commit the change, the next file should automatically be in rename mode.
Finder should loop though all selected files. After the last file, the rename mode should be quit.
2. If the first file name change is committed with cmd-return, then alle selected files should be get the same name + a numerical suffix, eg. "file (1).ext", "file (2).ext". This should work regardless of file extensions or previous names.
Low
Low
Not fixed
Discussion (6 comments)
I don't know about this.... right now you can quickly rename batches of files using automator, does the function have to be built into the Finder?
Using another app for this (and using it for creating a script) would be a little bit to much, I think. A simple "rename one after one" function could be built into Finder.
Regarding the first one, it's only a couple of keystrokes (if you're files are all in a list). You hit return to end editing, then down-arrow and then enter again. Mac OS even makes it easy on you by only pre-selecting the name portion of the file and not the extension. Then, by using the arrow keys, you can jump to the beginning and end of the file.
For faster renaming, I've used a perl or ruby script to do it. The benefit there is that you can use regular expressions to do the rename, which are way more flexible and powerful than any GUI Apple would come up with.
Is everyone familiar with utilities like A Better Finder Rename, Name Mangler, Renamerox, and ExifRenamer? I used ABFR about a dozen times today alone. Scripts or Automator could do the job, but not with the previews or flexibility that ABFR offers. Some of the renaming I did was conditional and fairly complex (replace characters, delete strings, change case, number sequentially, etc.), and ABFR made it easy. ABFR's contextual menu is easier to access than Automator's too
This can be done with a SIMPLE Automator/AppleScript.
1. Launch automator;
2. Choose "Service" from templates (that's in 10.6; different in 10.5);
3. From "Library" on the left side go to the "Files & Folders";
4. Drag "Get selected Finder items" into the area on the right;
5. Drag "Rename Finder items" into the same area (in 10.6 Automator will ask if you want to add "Copy items" action as well -- agree if you will like it -- otherwise, choose "don't add";
6. Click "Options" on the last created action and check the "Show this action when workflow runs" checkbox;
7. Go to "File -> Save as...";
8. Name this service to your liking (for example: "Batch Rename");
9. Now you can use batch rename from the "Services" submenu under the Finder menu in menubar;
10. Profit.
Creative32 wrote on May 19, 2009, 8:47pm
This is an interesting idea, but I wouldn't really see where that would be used?
Anyways, voted for it because I think it might be useful for others :)