SOT - Bulk Rename, great for organizing video

Hulk wrote on 2/24/2012, 11:01 AM

I don't know why I haven't shared this info in the past but I've been using a great little free program for a few years now called "Bulk Rename Utililty."
http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

It is totally free. No advertisements pop up, no other garbage is installed, no constant asking to donate. It's 100% solid stable for me and there is a 32 bit and a 64 bit version.

Basically you can grab a bunch of files or a folder of files and apply all kinds of naming conventions. You can include the date and time the file was created as part of the name, etc... The interface is very clean but it takes a half hour or so to get comfortable with it. It's a lifesaver when you have a bunch of video files that you like to rename in chronological order.

Anyway I just thought I'd share.

- Mark

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 2/24/2012, 11:56 AM

The Bulk Rename Untility is an excellent utility. I have developed quite a few advanced renaming rules using the utilitiy's amazing "regular expression" feature. Here is that list:

Delete everything between brackets.bru
Re-order date to put year first (mmddyy to yymmdd).bru
Swap first two words in file name.bru

You can download these regular expression files here:

johnmeyer regular expressions for Bulk Rename

Also, this utility has been discussed or mentioned in these forums many times before. For more information, consult these threads. Interestingly, it is recommended by a different person each time.

Renaming captured clips

Naming and importing timelapse files

Rename File??

OT: butch file renaming utility?

Vegas Pro 11 - Sorting Clips by Date/Time Stamp

Magic Lantern HDR video workflow?

MXF files out of order

OT Sony HD XR550

There are dozens more ...

MUTTLEY wrote on 2/24/2012, 12:13 PM

Dont know about any of those programs but you can batch rename in Windows without a third party.

1. Select files you want to rename (you can press Ctrl+A to select all files or Ctrl+Left mouse to select files of your choice)
2. Hit F2 button on your keyboard.You can also right click and select Rename from the context menu.
3. Rename your first file and hit Enter. The following files will be renamed right after that with an extra number at the end.

Probably not as robust a solution as others mentioned but it's come in handy for me more than once.

- Ray
Underground Planet

NickHope wrote on 2/24/2012, 11:46 PM

Thumbs up for Bulk Rename Utility. I use it all the time.

Here's another file free management utility that has become an important part of my kit: Duplicate Cleaner.

amendegw wrote on 2/25/2012, 5:18 AM

"I have developed quite a few advanced renaming rules using the utilitiy's amazing "regular expression" feature"Some people put "sky diving" on their bucket list. I'd like to learn the Regex syntax before I die. It's the Geek in me [grin].

...Jerry

Grazie wrote on 2/25/2012, 5:33 AM

Your "Geek" is welcome here.

And his/her name is?

G

riredale wrote on 2/25/2012, 4:43 PM

JohnMeyer: What's a "butch file renaming utility?"

We really should keep sexual preferences out of this forum.