1000 files, increment each first line number by 1

nextstep

I have 1000 txt files (000-999) and I would like to increment the first (and only) line by one. I already have the first line of text on each file, Is there a way to do a search and replace across multiple files so that each file’s first line increases by one.

All files have the first line: first_line_of_text_

and would like to make the first line of each file:

(the first file) first_line_of_text_000
(second file) first_line_of_text_001
etc

Is there a way to do a search & replace so that each file’s first line is increased by 1?

Many thanks

Ekopalypse

@dajaridi

Natively by npp, jein(yes/no).
Of course you can come up with a regex that appends 000 in the first file, 001 in the second … , but that would be an insanely long one, I guess.
I assume that learning some basics in a scripting/programming language wouldn’t take much longer and would give you a lot more options afterwards.

Javier Rivas

@dajaridi I might have something that you can use, but not with notepad ++, But with a bat file, if your interested

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas Yes please, that would be great! Thank you. I had done it once before and I was sure it was with notepad++ but maybe it was a bat.

Javier Rivas

@Ekopalypse I’m new here, can we share batch file here, if it helps to rename file names? I believe that is what he is asking to rename a .txt filename by adding 000 in front on his filename and counting. I would of never thought that notepad++ can rename a txt filename

Javier Rivas

@dajaridi to make sure I understand this, you have 100 .txt files and you would like to rename all the txt files by adding a counter in front of the name right, 001 filename.txt, 002 filename.txt and so on

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas No, not the text file name itself, but the first line of text in each file.

Ekopalypse

@Javier-Rivas

You can add the source of the batch file by adding ~~~.
before and after the source, but you can’t attach files to the post.
For example

@echo off
set X=%%1
...

But I think OP is asking about manipulating the file contents
instead of the individual file names.

Javier Rivas

@dajaridi the context of a file, like you are editing a txt files and inside you have
Example
I am
John
Smith

And in front of that you want a counter
001 I am
002 John
003 Smith

Like it’s counting rows, if please give an example

nextstep

@Ekopalypse Yes, adding a number starting with 000, last being 999 to the first line of text. Thanks for contributing

Javier Rivas

@dajaridi ok, ok I think I got only the first line, only the first line of context on each txt file

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas

All files have the first line: first_line_of_text_

and would like to make the first line of each file:

the_first_file.txt
first_line_of_text_000

the_second_file.txt
first_line_of_text_001

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas Yes!

Javier Rivas

@dajaridi my files do that but for file names, I’ll do my best to help you

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas If you have an idea that might help, I would be thankful>
For renaming a number of files I use a very useful utility called BulkRename Utility.

nextstep

@Javier-Rivas I have been able to achieve my objext using notepad++ although it is quite inelegant.

I have a folder with 1000 text files, which I duplicated. I then renamed them with a suffix 000.txt -> 999.txt

Each file has a unique first line, with a name and number, and all I did was do a search and replace to add in an extra zero and change the _001 to _0001

It will give me a unique first line, but will be a little more messy when combine with the other folder – but will work for what I am after.

Thanks for your help!! Most appreciates.

Daja

PS I know I’ve done it before, and it’s driving me nuts that I don’t remember how or where I found it…