8

I have multiple files in a folder all the different name in windows with common suffix say _(new). Example:

File Name_(new).mp4

How do I rename all the files by removing the suffix _(new) but not changing the name of the files?

Maroof Mandal
  • 183

1 Answers1

1

Running the REN or RENAME command in Command Prompt should work for you:

Assuming the type is always .mp4:

RENAME *_(new).mp4 *.mp4

Otherwise, the following should work:

RENAME *_(new).* *.*

First, you want to CD into the folder it's in.

If you start your computer normally, CMD should put you in your user folder, e.g:

C:\Users\Macraze

or it might put you in the system32 folder:

C:\windows\system32

Either way, you can CD into the folder you want by typing something like:

C:\Users\Macraze> CD Downloads
//whoops, wrong folder, you can just 'CD ../' out
C:\Users\Macraze\Downloads> CD ../
C:\Users\Macraze> CD Desktop
C:\Users\Macraze\Desktop> CD Misc
C:\Users\Macraze\Desktop\Misc> RENAME *_(new).* *.*

When you run this command, the asterisk * is called a wildcard, meaning all content that matches the rule of having _(new). in between the filename / extension will get renamed.

Quill
  • 308
  • how do I specify the folder? Would the prompt rename all files in my computer? – Maroof Mandal Aug 24 '15 at 14:19
  • No, CMD will start in a specific folder and you can CD into a specific folder (and CD ../ out), or drag the folder icon into CMD after CD to specify the folder – Quill Aug 24 '15 at 21:21
  • Input example @MattFrear? – Quill Jan 20 '16 at 16:02
  • @MattFrear try my update – Quill Jan 20 '16 at 16:07
  • C:\Users\mattf\Desktop\Stored Procedures>dir /b CollectionPointProviderDeliveryOptionTypeCountryExportSelect.sql CollectionPointProviderExportSelect.sql CountryDutyExportSelect.sql CountryExportSelect.sql CountrySubscriptionExportSelect.sql

    C:\Users\mattf\Desktop\Stored Procedures>RENAME *_(new).* *.* The system cannot find the file specified.

    C:\Users\mattf\Desktop\Stored Procedures>

     – Matt Frear Jan 21 '16 at 16:48
  • @MattFrear probably because the author of the question is talking about renaming files being suffixed with _(new), your files aren't. – Quill Jan 21 '16 at 22:33
  • 4
    It makes no sense for this answer to be accepted. The proposed command has absolutely no effect, and it certainly does not answer the question. – dbenham Sep 02 '16 at 14:23
  • 1
    @dbenham, then add an answer. Vandalising the post is immature and childish. – Quill Sep 02 '16 at 16:37
  • @Quill - I did not vandalize the answer - I added factual information without making any judgment. Had the question not been closed, then I would have provided my own answer, and included information as to why your answer is wrong. I chose to edit your answer and add a disclaimer at the top because I am afraid many readers will not read late arriving comments, and your answer can lead unsuspecting readers down the wrong path, as evidenced by 5th comment at http://superuser.com/q/1120265/109090. I suggest you test your code and prove to yourself it doesn't work, and then delete your answer. – dbenham Sep 02 '16 at 17:28
  • For an explanation of why a simple REN command cannot solve this problem, see http://superuser.com/q/475874/109090 – dbenham Sep 02 '16 at 18:04
  • 4
    Here, this disgusting monstrosity will work: cmd /V:ON /s /c "set "suffix=_(new)" && set "ext=mp4" && for /F "delims=" %F in ('dir /B "*!suffix!.!ext!"') do @(set "_tmp=%F" && cmd /s /c "rename "%_tmp%" "%_tmp:!suffix!=%"")" Just change the "suffix=_(new)" and "ext=mp4" parts to whatever you need. If you want to see it without it actually doing it just add an echo statement before the rename It's all inclusive and turns on delayed expansion with the /v:on which contributes, a lot, to why it's so ugly. If put in a batch file make sure to use %%F instead of %F. – Brent Rittenhouse Nov 13 '18 at 03:05
  • @Quill, what if it were a prefix: such as New_Filename.ext -> Filename.ext – AAA May 31 '19 at 18:05
  • what if the filenames contain spaces? For example, the following does not seem to be working: ren "Part with spaces-"*.txt "Desired new part"*.txt – oldboy Jul 20 '21 at 23:21
  • 3
    Something seems to have changed. RENAME *_(new).mp4 *.mp4 does nothing for me for the file File Name_(new).mp4 on Windows 10 21H1 – Paul B. Sep 02 '21 at 09:08
  • Does not work for me either. – yaugenka May 29 '22 at 17:56