Help! Windows XP feature missing in Windows Vista: Renaming Files.

[Guest]

How can I rename hundreds of files in a folder at the same time using the
exact-same-method of Windows XP in Windows Vista? I'm he only person that
switched to Windows Vista in the office... we have aerial images in TIF
format and TXT files that provide information about the aerial images.

For example:

I need to rename these files:
DSC001.TIF
DSC001.TXT
DSC002.TIF
DSC002.TXT
DSC002.TIF
DSC003.TXT
DSC003.TIF
DSC004.TXT
DSC004.TIF
DSC005.TXT
DSC005.TIF
DSC006.TXT
DSC006.TIF
etc.

To look just like this:
Dade County (0).TIF
Dade County (1). TXT
Dade County (2).TIF
Dade County (3). TXT
Dade County (4).TIF
Dade County (5). TXT
Dade County (6).TIF
Dade County (7). TXT
Dade County (8).TIF
Dade County (9). TXT
Dade County (10).TIF
Dade County (12). TXT
etc.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT CHANGE THE ORDER

If I used Windows XP's method to do this in Windows Vista, Windows Vista
changes the order of these files causing me CHAOS!!!!

This is what we do to accomplish the task in Windows XP:
1) All files are in the same folder.
2) Select the last file.
3) Scroll all the way up until the first file is vissible, but making sure
the last file is still selected.
4) Press and hold the SHIFT key.
5) Select the first file; all files will be selected now.
6) Right-Click to the firt file and select: Rename.
7) Highlight the existing file name EXCEPT its extension (in this case: .TIF)
8) Name this file: Dade County (0).TIF <--- Note: the file extensions is
the same, we don't mess with file extensions.
9) Press enter and you are done!!!

Problem is, Windows Vista arranges all TIF files in a group and all TXT
files in a separate group when renamingthe files bringing out the chaos at
the office!!!

This is what you get with Windows Vista:
Dade County (0).TIF
Dade County (1). TIF
Dade County (2).TIF
Dade County (3). TIF
Dade County (4).TIF
Dade County (5). TIF
Dade County (6).TXT
Dade County (7). TXT
Dade County (8).TXT
Dade County (9). TXT
Dade County (10).TXT
Dade County (12). TXT

Can anyone help???

 

[Ian Betts]

Just as in XP, click the first file, hold down the Shift Button, click the
last file, all between are selected. Now right click and chose rename.

 

[Dave Cox]

Just as in XP, click the first file, hold down the Shift Button,
click the last file, all between are selected. Now right click and
chose rename.

I'd even go one step further and suggest he use a dedicated graphics
cataloging program since he said it was an office setting and he works
with hundreds of photos.

you can find many on the web if you do a google search.
you can go from free with Picasa or top of the line with one as
ACDSee. The main advantage of these types of programs is you can
actually tag the photos with all you information and do not need to
have a seperate TXT file for each. Plus numerous other features
inclucing batch renaming.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ian, but I don't think you understood or followed what I described
before. I know Vista can do what you say, and I am aware of the process. The
problem is, Vista changes the order of the original files when it renames all
files. Try it with a bunch of files that contain at least two different file
types and are located in the same folder. Follow my instructions and you will
see what I mean. Thanks anyway.... I really don't know why Microsoft changed
this when it went from XP (and earlier versions) to Vista.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Dave, it seems to me that Microsoft has no solution to this... each
image masures from 75 MB to 97 MB in size. Reducing the size or resolution is
not an option (state and federal mapping standards). The resolution is one
pixel per foot on the ground and the text file functions has a geodetic
coordinate file to instruct surveying and mapping software where each image
corner will be projected in a coordinate system. I'll explore what Picasa can
do for us, otherwise we will not be switching to Vista at the office.

 

[Dave]

I used to use MultiRen with XP.. don't know if it works with Vista
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,27029,00.asp

 

[Arie]

Using your method, in Vista I get:

Dade County (0).TIF
Dade County (0). TXT
Dade County (2).TIF
Dade County (2). TXT
Dade County (3).TIF
Dade County (3). TXT

Seems your particular problem is caused by sorting/grouping the files.

I would argue that Vista's rename makes more sense then XP's. Not that it
would help in your case where you want to mimic XP's behavior...



--
Arie Slob,
MVP, Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Arie.Slob

MCDST, MCP
http://www.microsoft.com/mcp

http://www.helpwithwindows.com
http://www.windowsbbs.com
http://www.windowsnewsletter.com

 

[Marco Desloovere]

Using your method, in Vista I get:

Dade County (0).TIF
Dade County (0). TXT
Dade County (2).TIF
Dade County (2). TXT
Dade County (3).TIF
Dade County (3). TXT

Seems your particular problem is caused by sorting/grouping the files.

Indeed, I get the same puzzling result in my Vista.
Why are the lines with "(1)" missing, i.e. why does the numbering jump
from "(0)" to "(2)"?

Marco