How to bulk rename files

[miez]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know how to rename a lot of files at once in Linux? I have for example files called 01file.mp3 and 01test.mp3. I want to rename the files, so that the "01" is removed and the files will be like file.mp3 and test.mp3.

I've got over 500 mp3's wich I have to rename. So doing this by hand is causing a little too much time .

[viking777]

Assuming you are using the nautilus file manager this script would probably do it:

http://www.webupd8.org/2009/12/nautilus ... cript.html

If you are not using Nautilus just google "bulk rename" along with the name of the file manager you are using.

[doktornotor]

Code: Select all

$ for i in $(ls /path/to/your/mp3/collection); do mv "$i" "${i:2}"; done


(Assuming that all the files are dumped in one directory.) Kindly note that you must not have any filenames that only differ in the ## prefix. Otherwise, you will get a nice cleanup of your collection.

Example result:

Before:

Code: Select all

$ ls
01test01.mp3  02test02.mp3  03test03.mp3  04test04.mp3  05test05.mp3

After:

Code: Select all

$ ls
test01.mp3  test02.mp3  test03.mp3  test04.mp3  test05.mp3

[miez]

Tested and worked. Thanks a lot guys.

[tenfoot]

I installed pyRenamer and it works perfectly. It is in the Repositories.

[Midnighter]

Used pyRenamer at one point, but Gprenamer has far more options, and feels just that bit more ... well, it works great.