Batch file renaming in Vista doesn't work!

[Malcolm H]

The following text is copied from Vista "Help and Support". The 'Tip' for
renaming several file does not work!! It produces apparently random results.

It works OK in XP but not Vista.

Please can anybody explain.

Malcolm H


To rename a file, you do not need to open the file in a program.

Right-click the file that you want to rename, and then click Rename.

Type the new name, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an
administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide
confirmation.

Tip
You can also rename several files at once. If you give files of the same
type the same name, each file will have the same name followed by a
different sequential number (such as Renamed File (2), Renamed File (3), and
so on). This can be useful for grouping related items. To do this, select
all the files you want to rename, and then follow the same steps as you
would for renaming an individual file. Each of the files will be saved with
the new name, and a different sequential number will be appended
automatically to the end of each file name.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Worked fine for me. I created 4 new text files on my desktop, and selected
all, and 'rename', then typed 'test' before the .txt extension of that file.
It named them test(1), test(2), and so on.

--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
Mark L. Ferguson
..

 

[Malcolm H]

For me yes it produced sequential names as your test but the actual pictures
(they were jpg files) were not in the desired order!

To make it more clear: In windows explorer I moved a number of pictures
into a desired display order and then tried to rename them sequentially in
that order. I got sequential names for all the files but the picture order
had been changed! (Yes - I did view tham alphabetically by name). Very
frustrating and confusing. No problem in XP!

 

[DP]

For me yes it produced sequential names as your test but the actual
pictures (they were jpg files) were not in the desired order!

To make it more clear: In windows explorer I moved a number of pictures
into a desired display order and then tried to rename them sequentially in
that order. I got sequential names for all the files but the picture order
had been changed! (Yes - I did view tham alphabetically by name). Very
frustrating and confusing. No problem in XP!

Have you been able to determine if Vista applied any line of logic in the
renaming? For example, did it rename them 1, 2, 3, 4 based on when each file
was created (or modified)?

 

[Malcolm H]

Have you been able to determine if Vista applied any line of logic in the
renaming? For example, did it rename them 1, 2, 3, 4 based on when each
file was created (or modified)?

I have looked carefully and can see no logic in the renaming sequence,
certainly not a date , file size or dimensions etc.

What I want to do is set the display order for a slide show and then to
renumber the files in the same order so that the slide show can be repeated
at a later date. This seems to be impossible in Vista but easy in XP.

Please can someone try to do what I am trying to do in Vista and report
results.

Many thanks

 

[Malcolm H]

I do understand that Bob but it doesn't solve the problem!

I want to sort the files in a specific order defined by sequential
filenames. The problem is assigning sequential filenames to the required
file order.

It works in XP!

By clicking on the column header in the "Details View" you can sort by any
column you wish . To add columns right click any header.
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to
so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

I have looked carefully and can see no logic in the renaming sequence,
certainly not a date , file size or dimensions etc.

What I want to do is set the display order for a slide show and then to
renumber the files in the same order so that the slide show can be
repeated at a later date. This seems to be impossible in Vista but easy
in XP.

Please can someone try to do what I am trying to do in Vista and report
results.

Many thanks

 

[Bob F.]

Can you define "sequential filenames" please. They are all sequential, are
they not? What do you mean?

--
Regards, BobF.

I do understand that Bob but it doesn't solve the problem!

I want to sort the files in a specific order defined by sequential
filenames. The problem is assigning sequential filenames to the required
file order.

It works in XP!

By clicking on the column header in the "Details View" you can sort by
any column you wish . To add columns right click any header.
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to
so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

For me yes it produced sequential names as your test but the actual
pictures (they were jpg files) were not in the desired order!

To make it more clear: In windows explorer I moved a number of
pictures into a desired display order and then tried to rename them
sequentially in that order. I got sequential names for all the files
but the picture order had been changed! (Yes - I did view tham
alphabetically by name). Very frustrating and confusing. No problem in
XP!


Have you been able to determine if Vista applied any line of logic in
the renaming? For example, did it rename them 1, 2, 3, 4 based on when
each file was created (or modified)?

I have looked carefully and can see no logic in the renaming sequence,
certainly not a date , file size or dimensions etc.

What I want to do is set the display order for a slide show and then to
renumber the files in the same order so that the slide show can be
repeated at a later date. This seems to be impossible in Vista but easy
in XP.

Please can someone try to do what I am trying to do in Vista and report
results.

Many thanks

 

[graham1cr]

The following text is copied from Vista "Help and Support". The 'Tip' for
renaming several file does not work!! It produces apparently random results.

It works OK in XP but not Vista.

Please can anybody explain.

Malcolm H

Using XP or Vista to rename is too cumbersome and you end up with
names with bracketed numbers.

Google and download Rname-it 3.1.1

This utility first came out for Win95 and has worked for ALL versions
of Windows since. I've used it for 10 years. Fast and simple, no
nagware & FREE.

Description: Rename multiple files in a single operation with
Rname-it. You can add or replace a prefix, add, replace or append a
file extension, and add incremental counters to file names. Features
include support for string insertion and/or replacement at a
particular position in the string. Real time and final previews are
available, allowing for experiments before complicated renaming
procedures. It is both powerful and versatile.


Cheers

Graham