Automatically update multiple file names

automationfilesystemfinder

I work at a printing company and we are constantly copying/repeating previous job folders containing multiple files that begin with a job number. We go through the filenames manually and update the numbers by just copy/pasting. Just wondering if there is a solution of some kind available to automate this process?

EXAMPLE

We use a simple file system e.g. a folder named "41777 Co. Name – (Business Cards)" which contains usually about 5 files with the same name, having just some simple variations, e.g. "41777 Co. Name – (Business Cards) PROOF" or "41777 Co. Name – (Business Cards) PLATE", etc. For a lot of jobs, we simply copy the folder and then manually update the number for the folder and files.

Since we do this every day, many times, I was just wondering if there is any way to somehow only once enter the new number and have the files automatically update with that number.

Best Answer

There are a number of ways you could do this. Below I explain two possibilities.

Do this natively within the Finder

You don't specify what version of macOS you're running. But a feature that was first introduced in Mac OS X Yosemite will do exactly what you need. To use this feature you would use the following basic steps:

Copy the folder named "41777 Co. Name – (Business Cards)" and rename it to "52888 Co. Name – (Business Cards)"
Open the "52888 Co. Name – (Business Cards)" folder
Select all five files within the folder
Right-click on the files
Select the Rename 5 items... option from the context menu that appears (obviously, the '5' will be whatever number of files you selected at Step 3)
Select the Replace Text option from the drop-down menu in the window that appears
In the Find field, enter 41777
In the Replace field enter 52888
Click on Rename

Note: You may want to also check out the Add Text and Format options to explore the other possibilities.

A Better Finder Rename

If you're looking for much more advanced options, or are still using an older version of macOS, then A Better Finder Rename is an option worthy of consideration.

This software provides a huge range of renaming options - too many to cover here - but it's been a well supported package for at least ten years now. You can also download a free trial (assuming you have Mac OS X Lion or above).

Other native options

Mac OS also provides AppleScript, Automator and Terminal, all of which could be used to batch rename files in the manner you want. Since it's most likely that you'll be able to use the Finder option, and because using AppleScript, Automator and/or Terminal is a bit more involved, I won't go into any detail here.

However, should you wish to have more info on these options instead, let me know and I'll update my answer.

Related Solutions

MacOS – folder copy in Finder labels it as incomplete, though copying is completed

Try clicking 'Get Info' and see if it works for you. I know its stupid but it should work.

Automator or AppleScript to Remove Multiple Strings from File Names

You could use a script like this:

--Select some files in the Finder first. Then run this script.

set oldDelims to AppleScript's text item delimiters
set the_strings_to_strip to {"ee", "shot", "Z", "at"}

tell application "Finder"
    set the_files to the selection
    --
    repeat with a_file in the_files
        set the_name to name of a_file
        repeat with I from 1 to count of the_strings_to_strip
            set AppleScript's text item delimiters to item I of the_strings_to_strip
            set the_text_items to text items of the_name
            set AppleScript's text item delimiters to ""
            set the_name to the_text_items as string
        end repeat
        set the name of a_file to the_name
    end repeat
    --
    set AppleScript's text item delimiters to oldDelims
end tell

The idea is, you have your set of characters or phrases that you want to strip. Then, you use them as "text item delimiters." Normally text item delimiters are "". So, when you have a word like "cat" the text items are "c", "a", and "t". But, if you SET AppleScript's text item delimiters to "a" instead of "" you will only have TWO text items in the word "cat": "c", and "t". Then, when you set the text item delimiters back to "", and then you concatenate the text items, you've essentially done a search and replace: replacing your string with "".

I tried this on a bunch of screen shot files and it worked fine.

Notice that at the end, I set AppleScript's text item delimiters back to whatever they were when the script started. It would be a good bet that they were "" but just in case, I record what they were, and restore them at the end, in case they are/were something other than "". No point guessing when you can know for sure.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MacOS – folder copy in Finder labels it as incomplete, though copying is completed

Automator or AppleScript to Remove Multiple Strings from File Names

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