Batch renaming files

[Gylenthal Georges]

I have written a "*.BAT" file to rename some files.
I need to rename a bunch of files every now and then and it is a tedious task to rename them 1 by 1.
In the older DOS days, this batch file would run without problems.
But in Windows "Command Prompt" I keep getting an error.
What is wrong with the batch file?
TIA

Example:
newname.bat
rename e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 ?144326 carmen.jpg e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144326 carmen.jpg
rename e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 ??144740 carmen.jpg e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144740 carmen.jpg
rename e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144810 carmen.jpg e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144810 carmen.jpg
rename e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144811 carmen.jpg e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144811 carmen.jpg
rename e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144832 carmen.jpg

REMARK:

The Question Mark in the first files is the Hex Character "3F" which doesn't appear in Windows but does appear in some File Renaming Applications and in the Command Prompt.

 

[cradom]

If that is the actual bat file you're using the command wrong. The second part should just be the filename, not the whole path.

ren

Reference article for the ren command, which renames a file or directory.

docs.microsoft.com

If that's the output, maybe that ? char is not passing the parsing in the command.

 

[Gylenthal Georges]

If that is the actual bat file you're using the command wrong. The second part should just be the filename, not the whole path.

ren

Reference article for the ren command, which renames a file or directory.

docs.microsoft.com

Even trying the same batch file with your suggestion does not work.

If that's the output, maybe that ? char is not passing the parsing in the command.

The character "3F (?)" in the Batch seems to confuse Windows.

 

[clifford_cooley]

Are you using quotes? The full path name that includes spaces will need to be enclosed in quotes. Spaces will split the path into multiple parameters causing errors.

rename "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg" "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144832 carmen.jpg"

 

[Gylenthal Georges]

Are you using quotes? The full path name that includes spaces will need to be enclosed in quotes. Spaces will split the path into multiple parameters causing errors.

rename "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg" "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\20030106 144832 carmen.jpg"

Tried that already without success.

As a tip for everyone who send an answer to this thread I advise to try to run the batchfile on their PC and see if it works before sending an answer (replace the "?" by character 3F).

 

[clifford_cooley]

Now that I think about it. I think I ran into issues before when including the path in the destination parameter. The destination only needs a name to change the file to. After all the file is being renamed not moved.

rename "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg" "20030106 144832 carmen.jpg"

 

[Gylenthal Georges]

Now that I think about it. I think I ran into issues before when including the path in the destination parameter. The destination only needs a name to change the file to. After all the file is being renamed not moved.

rename "e:\pictures\sorted\2003\?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg" "20030106 144832 carmen.jpg"

A "more elaborate" answer:

The primary filename "?20030106 ??144832 carmen.jpg" has the character 3F ("?") in the filename.
If I look up for the file in Windows Explorer or most Windows utilities, the file will be displayed as "20030106 144832 carmen.jpg".
The character 3F will be omitted.
Something similar is happening when running the Batch file with the Command prompt and Windows will not find the PRIMARY file.
Windows Powershell see the PRIMARY file WITH THE CHARACTER 3F and doesnt seem to have the same restrictions of the Command prompt, but Powershell uses a complete different way to program a Batch file (read "*.cmd") file which I don't fully master.
Does this answer your input in this thread?

 

[clifford_cooley]

Someone else will need to help you fix your UI. I don't use Explorer. Never have and never will. I can help you with your command-line script. Which is what I thought you were asking for. Sorry, my mistake.

 

[Bighorn]

There's still a few characters that can't be used, pretty much the same as in DOS as I recall from 30 years ago, one is the ? and another is the double-quotes ". The double-quotes can be worked around, at least in displaying and saving of file names by using 2 single-quotes. An example that may apply in this case:

 

[pjaj]

Or you could download and install Bulk Rename Utility for free and save yourself a lot of time and trouble.

 

[manbit]

Like Pjaj mentioned above, bulk rename utility works flawlessly for this purpose.