unexpected file renames when editing a text file

[marks542004]

Hi all,

This is a problem a friend experienced on his win xp system.

When he edited a text file in a folder and saved it , all files with
the same extension were renamed as filename(2) , FILENAME(3) ETC , as
if they were all renamed the same.

Has anyone seen this before ?

It is not reliably reproduced.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

filename(2) , FILENAME(3) ETC happens when you Rename multiple files. Your
friend probably had multiple files selected when he renamed the one file.

This is how you do it.

Rename a series of files
1. Select the files you want to rename.
2. Right click the *first* file and click Rename.
3. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

All of the files in the series will be named in sequence using the new name
you type. For example, if you type Summer Vacation 2005 (1).jpg , the other
files in the series will be named Summer Vacation 2005 (2).jpg , Summer
Vacation 2005 (3).jpg , and so on.

Notes
* To select consecutive files or folders, click the first item, press and
hold down SHIFT, and then click the last item. To select nonconsecutive
files or folders, press and hold down CTRL, and then click each item.
* To specify the starting number for the series, type the starting number in
parenthesis after the new file name. The files in the series will be
numbered in sequence starting with the number you type. For example, if you
type Birthday (10), the other files will be named Birthday (11), Birthday
(12), and so on.

If you forget the (1) on the first file and rename it something like Summer
Vacation 2005.jpg all of the files will be renamed in series, starting with
the second picture. I.e Summer Vacation 2005 (1).jpg. The first file will
be named Summer Vacation 2005.jpg. You can rename Summer Vacation
2005.jpg to Summer Vacation 2005 (0).jpg to keep it as the first one in the
series.

To select multiple files and folders
Do one of the following:
* To select consecutive files or folders, click the first item, press and
hold down SHIFT, and then click the last item.
* To select nonconsecutive files or folders, press and hold down CTRL, and
then click each item.
* To select all the files and folders in the window, on the Edit menu, click
Select All.

Notes
* If you have selected all files or folders and then want to clear the
selection, click in a blank area in the folder window.

To change the name of a file or folder
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../proddocs/en-us/windows_fcab_rename_file.mspx

To rename a series of files
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...oddocs/en-us/windows_rename_series_files.mspx


HOW TO: Rename Multiple Files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320167

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[dobey]

Hi all,

This is a problem a friend experienced on his win xp system.

When he edited a text file in a folder and saved it , all files with
the same extension were renamed as filename(2) , FILENAME(3) ETC , as
if they were all renamed the same.

Has anyone seen this before ?

It is not reliably reproduced.

Sounds like he accidentally selected all files while trying to rename one of
them, maybe in the "save as" dialogue box.

This is a sort-of-useful XP feature, is it allows you rename a series of
files quickly.
To reproduce, select a group of file, push F2 type new name. Since you can't
have 2 files with the same name in the same directory, the last file
selected will become "file", and the rest will be "file(1)", "file(2)"
etc...

If you don't have hidden extensions you will get messages about changing
extensions making the file unusable... Also, if you make a mistake and try
to "undo" the name changes, only the last file will return to it's original
name the rest will keep the new name.