batch file help

[Guest]

I am trying to write a batch file to strip the 4 leading characters from the
name of all files in a directory. I tried using rename but was not having any
luck getting the pattern matching to strip the characters off. Please let me
know if anyone knows a way to do this in a batch file.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I am trying to write a batch file to strip the 4 leading
characters from the name of all files in a directory. I tried
using rename but was not having any luck getting the pattern
matching to strip the characters off. Please let me know if
anyone knows a way to do this in a batch file.

Hi

You can use a VBScript (.vbs file) to do this:


'--------------------8<----------------------

' Folder where files are located
sFolderPath = "c:\test"

Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

' Get all file names that are 5 characters or
' more (excluding file extension) into an Array

arFiles = Array()
Set oFolder = oFSO.GetFolder(sFolderPath)
For Each oFile In oFolder.Files
If Len(oFSO.GetBaseName(oFile.Name)) >= 5 Then
iCount = UBound(arFiles) + 1
ReDim Preserve arFiles(iCount)
Set arFiles(iCount) = oFile
End If
Next

For i = 0 To UBound(arFiles)
sFileName = arFiles(i).Name
sBaseName = oFSO.GetBaseName(sFileName)
sFileExtension = ""
If InStr(sFileName, ".") > 0 Then
sFileExtension = "." & oFSO.GetExtensionName(sFileName)
End If
sNewBaseName = LTrim(Mid(sBaseName, 5))
If sNewBaseName <> "" Then
sNewName = sNewBaseName & sFileExtension
On Error Resume Next
arFiles(i).Name = sNewName
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
WScript.Echo "Error when renaming " & sFileName & " to " & sNewName _
& vbCrLf & "Reason: " & Err.Description
End If
Else
WScript.Echo "Not possible to rename: " & sFileName
End If

Next

MsgBox "Done!", vbSystemModal+vbInformation, "Rename files"

'--------------------8<----------------------

 

[Bob Lawn]

I am trying to write a batch file to strip the 4 leading characters from
the
name of all files in a directory. I tried using rename but was not having
any
luck getting the pattern matching to strip the characters off. Please let
me
know if anyone knows a way to do this in a batch file.

you could try asking in 'microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin' - they're
experts at this sort of thing.
bob

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

I'd use CKRename (a free tool that's great at that sort of thing)
interactively, but that's not batch file automation.

On batch files, I'd create a disposable set of files and try something
like Ren ????*.* *.* to see if that would work... nope.

OK, next is to look up the For statement, especially the NT
enhancements to it - it can do pretty kewl things now. Let's see...

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx

You can use For to parse all files in a dir, or an entire subtree.
That gets you the file( name)s, but I still can't see how to parse the
strings. So I'd Google for a suitable command line utility...

http://www.google.co.za/search?q=command+line+file+rename+utility+download

Lots of tools, but not sure which can be used from batch files.

------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

The most accurate diagnostic instrument
in medicine is the Retrospectoscope

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I'd use CKRename (a free tool that's great at that sort of thing)
interactively, but that's not batch file automation.

On batch files, I'd create a disposable set of files and try something
like Ren ????*.* *.* to see if that would work... nope.

OK, next is to look up the For statement, especially the NT
enhancements to it - it can do pretty kewl things now. Let's see...

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx

You can use For to parse all files in a dir, or an entire subtree.
That gets you the file( name)s, but I still can't see how to parse the
strings.

Here's one way:

@echo off
set tst=12345678
:: Display the 5th and 6t character
echo %tst:~4,2%
:: Display all characters from the 5th character
echo %tst:~4%

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

[/QUOTE]

@echo off
set tst=12345678
:: Display the 5th and 6t character
echo %tst:~4,2%
:: Display all characters from the 5th character
echo %tst:~4%

Arsome, dude! Where did you find that? I didn't see it in...

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds_shelloverview.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx

....etc.? Got any more?

------------------------ ---- --- -- - - - -

Forget http://cquirke.blogspot.com and check out a
better one at http://topicdrift.blogspot.com instead!

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Arsome, dude! Where did you find that? I didn't see it in...

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds_shelloverview.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx

...etc.? Got any more?

Hi,

I guess I have picked it up from posts in the newsgroup
microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin

Running set /? in a command prompt will give you more on this.