Windows XP file re-naming question

SpeedracerIndy · 03-06-2006, 07:01 AM

I have an odd question, and I don't know where else to ask since I don't participate in any other discussion forums.

I have around 4,500 files (*.MP3) that I want to remove the first word of each file name. For example the files are all named like this: "SLOW - Ray Charles...Mp3". I want to remove the "SLOW - " portion of each file name. Does anyone know of a quick way to do it all at once? I tried to write a batch file that would remove the first word of a file name only, but I can't get it to work. I started manually removing each word, but ~5 seconds per file x 4,500 files = about 6.75 hours! Any advice is appreciated.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Go to Download.com...there are lots of free renaming programs to perform this type of function.

Neilk · 03-06-2006, 07:44 AM

Go here and find one that works for you.

I have used renamefiles_v2.4 and it does what you want.

RickM · RickM's Garage

I'd search for a utility to help along. Hopefully a free trial or freeware. Pehaps along the linews of this http://www.divlocsoft.com/

SpeedracerIndy · 03-06-2006, 08:06 AM

Perfect, thanks! I found one on download.com that works perfectly.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Windoze guys don't have Perl?

Rob Channell · 03-06-2006, 05:46 PM

I make a batch file using the editor in Visual Studio.

1. Get a listing of the files by doing a dir/b >out.txt command on a command line in that directory.
2. Open the out.txt file in Visual studio.
3. Use the macro record capability to turn each filename into the line:
ren filename filename
3.a. Ctrl-Shift R starts macro recording of all keystrokes
3.b. click on the stop symbol to stop recording macro
3.c. Ctrl-Shift P plays back macro of keystrokes
4. Hold the alt key while selecting a text window will allow you to select columns of text to delete in the second filename or you can aause the macro capability to search and replace text in the filenames.
5. Save edited renaming file as a .bat and execute by double-clicking.

You may be able to do something similar in Microsoft Word but will have to save it as a .bat in text format.

Perl would work also but I'm guessing if you knew how to use it you wouldn't be asking the question.

Just my 0.02