rename files in batch script - windows

I have folder with files named:
-backup- powerpoint1.ppt
-backup- powerpoint2.ppt
-backup- powerpoint3.ppt
I need to rename those files in the same folder to:
powerpoint1.ppt
powerpoint2.ppt
powerpoint3.ppt
I need a batch script to accomplish that.
I have searched online and came up with this so far but the values are resolving properly:
#echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set a=1
for /f "delims=" %%i in ('dir /b *.pptx') do (
set "dt=%%i"
echo.!dt!
set sh=!dt!
echo.!sh!
set "str=%sh:~12,4%"
echo "%%i" "%str%"
set /a a+=1
)

You code does not work as expected, because you missed applying delayed expansion for the interim variables sh and str. Also the extracted string portion !sh:~12,4! is not correct, it should read !sh:~9! in order to remove the -backup- prefix. This is the corrected code:
#echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set a=1
for /f "delims=" %%i in ('dir /b *.pptx') do (
set "dt=%%i"
echo/!dt!
set sh=!dt!
echo/!sh!
set "str=!sh:~9!"
ECHO ren "%%i" "!str!"
set /a a+=1
)
Actually I would not extract certain character positions, but I would remove the constant prefix -backup- by sub-string replacement. And you do not need the interim variables sh and str, neither do you need the counter a. So I would do it like this:
#echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
for /f "delims=" %%i in ('dir /b *.pptx') do (
set "dt=%%i"
set "dt=!dt:*-backup- =!"
ECHO ren "%%i" "!dt!"
)
endlocal
After having verified the correct output, remove the upper-case ECHO command from the code to actually rename files.

If the unwanted parts in your file names are space separated a simple:
#Echo off
For /F "delims=" %%A in ('Dir /B/A-D "-backup- powerpoint*"'
) Do For /f "tokens=2" %%B in ("%%A") Do Echo Ren "%%A" "%%B"
Should do (independent of the extension).
Ren "-backup- powerpoint1.ppt" "powerpoint1.ppt"
Ren "-backup- powerpoint2.ppt" "powerpoint2.ppt"
Ren "-backup- powerpoint3.ppt" "powerpoint3.ppt"

Related

How to batch rename files in windows removing everything from them but set of listed strings?

I have went through a lot of guides for it, but havent found a way to do something similar to lets say turn all files in folder, like these files:
djhwu4s_cat_ruhg29.png
397y_dog_j0929_ej93.png
8yhh_owl.png
into these:
_cat.png
_dog.png
_owl.png
So basically removing everything from file names but a list of predefined strings i am searching for. In example above i would define list as "_cat", "_dog", "_owl". I know that each file will have only one of these variables, and there will be only one file with each of them in folder.
Will appreciate any tips on how to achieve that. Thanks in advance!
edit:
Here is what i came up with (with stuff i can understund) and what seems to be working fine now.
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set v1=_cat-cat
set v2=_cat-owl
set v3=_cat
set v4=_dog
set v5=_owl
set v6=_horse
FOR /L %%a IN (1,1,6) DO (
rem echo %%a
rem echo !v%%a!
FOR /f %%f in ('dir /b /a:-D *!v%%a!.*') DO (
REN %%f !v%%a!.*
)
FOR /f %%f in ('dir /b /a:-D *!v%%a!_*.*') DO (
REN %%f !v%%a!.*
)
)
rem using two passes of this simpler code i can grasp and understund with dot and with underscore
rem after constructed variables value i make sure cat-cat is not recognised as and renamed to cat
rem no matter if im getting file with that variable as the last string before extension or another underscore
rem Gonna test it in combat now
For some reason this stuff doesnt work with files containing spaces and characters like:
"ab’c efg_dog.png"
FOR /L %%a IN (1,1,36) DO (
FOR /f %%f in ('dir /b /l /a:-D *!v%%a!.*') DO (
REN "%%f" "!v%%a!.*"
)
FOR /f %%f in ('dir /b /l /a:-D *!v%%a!_*.*') DO (
REN "%%f" "!v%%a!.*"
)
)
After further testing i have realised the problem starts with the %%f, and not the REN function as i thought. echo %%f before ren gives just the first part of the name to the first space, hence the REN function cant find the file. In case of "ab’c efg_dog.png" after finding the file with dir, the %%f becomes just "ab’c".
edit: After more tests and experiments and adding those "delims" to the code, the echo now shows proper, full names to be renamed, but it replaces that weird ’ character with ' for the REN command and thats why it still cant find the file to rename.
FOR /L %%a IN (1,1,36) DO (
FOR /f "delims=" %%f in ('dir /b /l /a:-D *!v%%a!.*') DO (
echo %%f
echo REN "%%f" "!v%%a!.*"
)
FOR /f "delims=" %%f in ('dir /b /l /a:-D *!v%%a!_*.*') DO (
echo %%f
echo REN "%%f" "!v%%a!.*"
)
)
#ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
rem The following setting for the directory is a name
rem that I use for testing and deliberately includes spaces to make sure
rem that the process works using such names. These will need to be changed to suit your situation.
SET "sourcedir=u:\your files"
PUSHD "%sourcedir%"
FOR /f "delims=" %%e IN ('dir /b /a-d "*_*" 2^nul ^|findstr /v /b "_"') DO (
FOR /f "tokens=2delims=_." %%y IN ("%%e") DO ECHO REN "%%e" "_%%y%%~xe"
)
POPD
GOTO :EOF
For lack of examples, here's a start.
Always verify against a test directory before applying to real data.
Process the list of filenames that match *_*; find those names that do not start _, pick the second string between the delimiters _ and . and rename using that string (in %%y), prefixed by _ and appended with the original extension.
The ren command is simply echoed to the screen for verification. When happy, remove the echo before the ren to actually execute the rename.

two condtions in one loop (Batch file)

I have built 2 batch files, which each have his own function first one:
Changes the file name to today's date
SET src_folder="C:\DIR_A\"
SET tar_folder="C:\DIR_A\DIR_B"
for /f %%a IN ('dir "%src_folder%" /b') do REN *.xml %time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml
pause
Second one:
Move files from DIR_A to DIR_B
SET src_folder="C:\DIR_A\"
SET tar_folder="C:\DIR_A\DIR_B"
for /f %%a IN ('dir "%src_folder%*.xml" /b') do move %src_folder%\%%a %tar_folder%
pause
My question is: how can I combine them both in one loop?
Second question is with the naming loop. The loop only names the first XML file, and says that the name already exist. That's true therefor is there anyway to make it pause before it name again, so the files have different names?
Simple: to use several commands, use a code block:
for %%a IN ("%src_folder%") do (
echo RENAME %%a
echo COPY %%a
)
Note: keep in mind, you may need to use delayed expansion (not in this example though)
Applied to your code:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
SET src_folder="C:\DIR_A\"
SET tar_folder="C:\DIR_A\DIR_B"
for %%a IN ("%src_folder%*.xml") do (
REN "%%a" !time:~0,2!!time:~3,2!!time:~6,2!_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml
move "%src_folder%\%%a" "%tar_folder%"
timeout 1 >nul
)
Note: here you need delayed expansion (at least) with the time variable. Consider to delay date too (would be "best practice")
Alternatively: first rename all files, then copy them in one go:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
SET src_folder="C:\DIR_A\"
SET tar_folder="C:\DIR_A\DIR_B"
for %%a IN ("%src_folder%*.xml") do (
REN "%%a" !time:~0,2!!time:~3,2!!time:~6,2!_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml
timeout 1 >nul
)
move "%src_folder%\*.xml" "%tar_folder%\"
Simplest is to do it in one go, without rename, just move them with a new name:
#echo off
for %%a IN (*.xml) do (
move "%source_folder%\%%a" "%tar_folder%\%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml"
)
pause
Other methods:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for /f %%a IN ('dir /b /a-d "%src_folder%\*.xml"') do (
set "myren=%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml"
ren "%%a" "!myren!"
move "%src_folder%\!myren!" "%tar_folder%"
)
pause
Or without delayedexpansion:
#echo off
for /f %%a IN ('dir /b /a-d "%src_folder%\*.xml"') do (
move "%%a" "%tar_folder%"
ren "%tar_folder%\%%a" "%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml"
)
pause
or even:
#echo off
for /f %%a IN ('dir /b /a-d "%src_folder%\*.xml"') do (
ren "%source_folder%\%%a" "%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%_%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%%date:~-4,4%.xml"
)
move /Y "%src_folder%\*.xml" "%tar_folder%"
pause
Simplest, do it in one go:

How to rename Windows files using extracted substring from current names

I have a directory of academic papers that were named using the convention below:
Author1-(Year)-Title.pdf
For example,
Jones-(2011)-XXX.pdf
Smith-(2002)-YYY.pdf
Johnson-(2015)-ZZZ.pdf
I would like to rename them as
(2011)-Jones-XXX.pdf
(2002)-Smith-YYY.pdf
(2015)-Johnson-ZZZ.pdf
That is, to extract the year from the file name and put it in front.
I tried the following code, which did not work
Setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
Set "Year=2013"
Set "Replace="""
For %%a in (*.pdf) Do (
Set "NewName=(%year%)-%%~a"
Ren "%%a" "%NewName%-File:%Year%=%Replace%!"
)
Pause&Exit
In case XXX also contains hyphens I'd suggest using tokens=1,2* to stop parsing the remainder of the file name.
I'd also remove the parentheses, when the year is first place there is no need to further emphasize it.
#Echo off
for /f "tokens=1-2* delims=-()" %%A in (
'Dir /b "*-(*)-*.pdf"'
) do Ren "%%A-(%%B)-%%C" "%%B-%%A-%%C"
Sample output
> dir /b
2002-Smith-YYY.pdf
2011-Jones-XXX.pdf
2015-Johnson-ZZZ.pdf
Not tested
for /f "tokens=1,2,3 delims=-" %%a in ('dir /b "*.pdf"') do (
echo ren "%%a-%%b-%%c" "%%b-%%a-%%c"
)
this will only echo the intended rename command.If it looks ok remove the echo word.
Derived form this SO article - it works:
#ECHO OFF &SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
FOR %%x IN (*.pdf) DO (
FOR /f "tokens=1-3 delims=-" %%a IN ("%%~x") DO (
SET "Author=%%a"
SET "Year=%%b"
SET "Title=%%c"
ren %%x !Year!-!Author!-!Title!
)
)
Here is a reliable way of doing what you are asking for even if the author part contains - on its own. The title portion may even contain ( and ), but the author part must not. So this is the code:
#echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions DisableDelayedExpansion
rem // Define constants here:
set "_FILES=.\*-(????)-*.pdf" & rem // (basic pattern to match correct files)
set "_REGEX=^[^()][^()]*-([0123456789][0123456789][0123456789][0123456789])-.*\.pdf$" ^
& rem // (precise filter to exclude files violating the demanded pattern)
if not defined _REGEX set "_REGEX=.*" & rem // (avoid trouble with empty filter)
rem // Loop through all matching files:
for /F "eol=: tokens=1,2,* delims=()" %%F in ('
dir /B /A:-D "%_FILES%" ^| findstr /I /R /C:"%_REGEX%"
') do (
rem // Store the extracted file name parts:
set "LEFT=%%F" & set "YEAR=%%G" & set "REST=%%H"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
rem // Reassemble the name and rename the file:
ECHO ren "!LEFT!(!YEAR!)!REST!" "(!YEAR!)-!LEFT!!REST:*-=!"
endlocal
)
endlocal
exit /B
After having verified the correct output, remove the upper-case ECHO command to actually rename files.

Not looping through all the files

Windows batch script:
I have three files in a drectory.I`m trying to loop through the multiple files located in the directory and rename the files,but some how its not looping through.
i can see that the var1 is getting the right file name but not for sub1.This in turn renames the other two files in the directory with wrong output. Could some one please help me on this.
#echo on & setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set a=9
for /f "tokens=*" %%i in ('dir /b "C:\XX\YY\ZZ*"') do (
set var1=%%i
SET sub1=%var1:~7,22%
ECHO %sub1%
ren "%%i" "ABC!sub1!_!a!.dat"
set /a a+=1
)
#echo on
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set a=10001
for /f "tokens=*" %%i in ('dir /b "C:\TEST\PBM\PAR*"') do (
set var1=%%i
SET sub1=!var1:~7,22!
ECHO !sub1!
ECHO ren "%%i" "ABC!sub1!_!a!.dat"
set /a a+=1
)
With delayedexpansion any reference to the value of a variable that is changed within the loop must use the !var! syntax. %var% will access the parse-time value.
Note: REN is now echoed for verification.

Batch file rename multiple files only echos the result

I was having an issue with creating a batch file (.bat) to rename multiple files in the same directory based on specific parameters. In order to make it happen for multiple files I had to add an incremental value to it.
From research(mostly here) I pieced together the below command, but whatever I do I cannot actually get to do it. It just echos what's supposed to do and when I remove the echo from before 'ren' it says bad syntax.
#echo off
CD C:\FolderPath\
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set /a count=0
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in ('dir /b /od *.txt') do (
echo ren CDFF_%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%_%hr%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%%time:~9,2%_!count!.txt
set /a count+=1
)
Add the first parameter to ren command (the file to rename):
ren "%%a" "CDFF_%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%_%hr%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%%time:~9,2%_!count!.txt"
So the whole code is:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
CD C:\FolderPath\
set /a count=0
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in ('dir /b /od *.txt') do (
echo ren "%%a" "CDFF_%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%_%hr%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%%time:~9,2%_!count!.txt"
set /a count+=1
)
Please note it will not work for files with weird names. Eg. "File( name.txt"
ren requires the input filname as its first argument. Hence your syntax error.
Here is an alternative implementation:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set FOLDER=%1
set DATE=%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%_%hr%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%%time:~9,2%
set /a count=0
for /r %FOLDER% %%a in (*.txt) do (
ren "%%a" CDFF_%DATE%_!count!.txt
set /a count += 1
)
call as
rename.bat C:\FolderPath

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