Changing Multiple File Names

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

In news:226E0BF8-B635-41AC-87A9-2FE8365AA027@microsoft.com,
Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:

> In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number of
> file
> names at the same time, for example, changing all files
> starting with
> "xyz" to start with "abc".
>
> Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time, to
> do
> this?


Most DOS commands work under Windows XP just as they used to. Go
to a command prompt windows (Start | Run | CMD) and do it the way
you used to.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Ken,

Thank you, that indeed got me (mostly) what I needed. However with the ren
command, it appears I am stuck when file names have imbedded blanks. The
first characters can be changed and concatonated with later words, but I
don't see a way to reintroduce a blank.

If there is, please let me know. Even so, this alternative is still better
than what I knew before.

"Ken Blake" wrote:

> In news:226E0BF8-B635-41AC-87A9-2FE8365AA027@microsoft.com,
> Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
>
> > In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number of
> > file
> > names at the same time, for example, changing all files
> > starting with
> > "xyz" to start with "abc".
> >
> > Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time, to
> > do
> > this?
>
>
> Most DOS commands work under Windows XP just as they used to. Go
> to a command prompt windows (Start | Run | CMD) and do it the way
> you used to.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

If you want to use a blank in a filename then just
enclose the name in quotes.
Hope this helps.

>-----Original Message-----
>Ken,
>
>Thank you, that indeed got me (mostly) what I needed.
However with the ren
>command, it appears I am stuck when file names have
imbedded blanks. The
>first characters can be changed and concatonated with
later words, but I
>don't see a way to reintroduce a blank.
>
>If there is, please let me know. Even so, this
alternative is still better
>than what I knew before.
>
>"Ken Blake" wrote:
>
>> In news:226E0BF8-B635-41AC-87A9-
2FE8365AA027@microsoft.com,
>> Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
>>
>> > In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify
a number of
>> > file
>> > names at the same time, for example, changing all
files
>> > starting with
>> > "xyz" to start with "abc".
>> >
>> > Is there any method under XP, other than one file at
a time, to
>> > do
>> > this?
>>
>>
>> Most DOS commands work under Windows XP just as they
used to. Go
>> to a command prompt windows (Start | Run | CMD) and do
it the way
>> you used to.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>.
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Perfect -- thanks to all

"Abel Diaz" wrote:

> If you want to use a blank in a filename then just
> enclose the name in quotes.
> Hope this helps.
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Ken,
> >
> >Thank you, that indeed got me (mostly) what I needed.
> However with the ren
> >command, it appears I am stuck when file names have
> imbedded blanks. The
> >first characters can be changed and concatonated with
> later words, but I
> >don't see a way to reintroduce a blank.
> >
> >If there is, please let me know. Even so, this
> alternative is still better
> >than what I knew before.
> >
> >"Ken Blake" wrote:
> >
> >> In news:226E0BF8-B635-41AC-87A9-
> 2FE8365AA027@microsoft.com,
> >> Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> >>
> >> > In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify
> a number of
> >> > file
> >> > names at the same time, for example, changing all
> files
> >> > starting with
> >> > "xyz" to start with "abc".
> >> >
> >> > Is there any method under XP, other than one file at
> a time, to
> >> > do
> >> > this?
> >>
> >>
> >> Most DOS commands work under Windows XP just as they
> used to. Go
> >> to a command prompt windows (Start | Run | CMD) and do
> it the way
> >> you used to.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> >> Please reply to the newsgroup
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >.
> >
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

In news:48A1A635-D2CC-4683-8D20-053CAA5DB1B2@microsoft.com,
Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:

> Ken,
>
> Thank you, that indeed got me (mostly) what I needed.


You're welcome, Jim.


> However with
> the ren command, it appears I am stuck when file names have
> imbedded
> blanks. The first characters can be changed and concatonated
> with
> later words, but I don't see a way to reintroduce a blank.


Enclose the file name in quotation marks.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> If there is, please let me know. Even so, this alternative is
> still
> better than what I knew before.
>
> "Ken Blake" wrote:
>
>> In news:226E0BF8-B635-41AC-87A9-2FE8365AA027@microsoft.com,
>> Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
>>
>> > In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number
>> > of
>> > file
>> > names at the same time, for example, changing all files
>> > starting with
>> > "xyz" to start with "abc".
>> >
>> > Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time,
>> > to
>> > do
>> > this?
>>
>>
>> Most DOS commands work under Windows XP just as they used to.
>> Go
>> to a command prompt windows (Start | Run | CMD) and do it the
>> way
>> you used to.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Using dos is oneway to change file names. Here is another way to change file
names w/out leaving windows.
1) Go to the folder that has the files you want to change. left <click>
first file to change.
2) Go to the last file name to change then <shift>left<click>
3) Now right<click> last file name to change.
4) Go to <rename> in menu list.
5) Edit last file name then press enter. All selected file name, with the
exception of the last file, will be modified. Now change the last file to
what you want.


"Jim" wrote:

>
> In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number of file names
> at the same time, for example, changing all files starting with "xyz" to
> start with "abc".
>
> Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time, to do this?
>
> --
> Jim

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Jim
I have the same problem, and the answers you have received look helpful.
Unfortunately it is such a long time since I was in the DOS environment, I
have forgotten how to make the 'global' changes in Dos.
Please can you refresh my memory?

Robert

"Jim" wrote:

>
> In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number of file names
> at the same time, for example, changing all files starting with "xyz" to
> start with "abc".
>
> Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time, to do this?
>
> --
> Jim

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

The steps that I used in my last post, you stay in the windows enviorment.

"Robert" wrote:

> Jim
> I have the same problem, and the answers you have received look helpful.
> Unfortunately it is such a long time since I was in the DOS environment, I
> have forgotten how to make the 'global' changes in Dos.
> Please can you refresh my memory?
>
> Robert
>
> "Jim" wrote:
>
> >
> > In the "good old days of DOS" it was easy to modify a number of file names
> > at the same time, for example, changing all files starting with "xyz" to
> > start with "abc".
> >
> > Is there any method under XP, other than one file at a time, to do this?
> >
> > --
> > Jim