ren .ext1 ???-new_filename_part.

Command syntax example:

ren .jpg ???-hikingTrip.

I didn’t really test the generated batch file Rename.bat, when writing my previous post. So, I’m very sorry because, after tests, this morning, it does not work at all :-((

After further tests, I realized that, using the UTF-8 code page, in the current console window, prevents from the good execution of the batch file :-((

So, prefer the DOS command chcp 1252, which sets current encoding to Windows CP 1252 (Western Europe). According to your localization, may be you’ll have to choose, instead, one of those, listed below :

• Windows CP 1250 (Central Europe)
• Windows CP 1251 (Cyrillic)
• Windows CP 1252 (Western Europe)
• Windows CP 1253 (Greek)
• Windows CP 1254 (Turkish)
• Windows CP 1255 (Hebrew)
• Windows CP 1256 (Arabic)
• Windows CP 1257 (Baltic)
• Windows CP 1258 (Viet Nam)
• Windows CP 874 (Thai)

Then, after the DOS command dir /b /od > Rename.bat and the opening in Notepad++, the current encoding of the Rename.bat batch file should be ANSI, in the status bar !

The subsequent operations are unchanged and should result to the correct renaming !

Cheers,

guy038

P.S. :

From this article, about different File rename software :

https://windowsreport.com/file-rename-software/

I downloaded 8 of them and, finally, after intensive testing, my preference is for the powerful free renamer software, called Rename Master. Refer below :

http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/108/

It’s a portable program, with optional installer, which is designed from Windows XP through Windows 10

And for downloading the last v3.14 version :

http://www.joejoesoft.com/cms/file.php?f=userupload%2F8%2Ffiles%2Frmv314.zip

Matt, here is a solution, which only needs our beloved editor ;-))

• Open a cmd console window

• Type in chcp 65001 and hit the Enter key

=> This command changes your current encoding to the universal UTF-8 encoding and allows a correct representation of any character

• Type in cd /d %USERPROFILE%\progress\sm and hit the Enter key

=> You should have been moved to the folder containing your ACT and SPR files ( I used the path, seen on your picture ! )

• Type in dir /b /od > Rename.bat

=> A list of all names of the files, of current folder, are re-written, sorted by increasing date of modification, in a file named Rename.bat

Note : If your folder contains other files not desired, you may prefer the syntax dir /b /od *.ACT *.SPR > Rename.bat

• Start Notepad++

• Open the Rename.bat file, in N++

Now, let’s suppose that its contents are as below :

xyzt12345.act
xyzt12345.spr
xyzt 123.act
xyzt 123.spr
xyzt°Ë»ç_.act
xyzt°Ë»ç_.spr
xyzt12345678.act
xyzt12345678.spr

And assuming that you want to change, for instance, the text xyzt, in each file, so the first 4 characters. Then :

• Open the Replace dialog ( Ctrl + H )

• SEARCH (?-s)^.{4}(.+) ( Of course, modify the 4 digit with the exact number of chars to change ! )

• REPLACE ren\x20"$0"\x20"Replacement_Text\1"

• Tick the Wrap around option

• Select the Regular expression search mode

• Click on the Replace All button

You should get the expected below :

ren "xyzt12345.act" "Replacement_Text12345.act"
ren "xyzt12345.spr" "Replacement_Text12345.spr"
ren "xyzt 123.act" "Replacement_Text 123.act"
ren "xyzt 123.spr" "Replacement_Text 123.spr"
ren "xyzt°Ë»ç_.act" "Replacement_Text°Ë»ç_.act"
ren "xyzt°Ë»ç_.spr" "Replacement_Text°Ë»ç_.spr"
ren "xyzt12345678.act" "Replacement_Text12345678.act"
ren "xyzt12345678.spr" "Replacement_Text12345678.spr"

Note that I embedded all filenames, between double quotes, because of possible space characters, in them !

• Now, add the line @echo OFF, at the very beginning of this batch file, to prevent the echo of commands on the console window

Hence the final text :

@echo OFF
ren "xyzt12345.act" "Replacement_Text12345.act"
ren "xyzt12345.spr" "Replacement_Text12345.spr"
ren "xyzt 123.act" "Replacement_Text 123.act"
ren "xyzt 123.spr" "Replacement_Text 123.spr"
ren "xyzt°Ë»ç_.act" "Replacement_Text°Ë»ç_.act"
ren "xyzt°Ë»ç_.spr" "Replacement_Text°Ë»ç_.spr"
ren "xyzt12345678.act" "Replacement_Text12345678.act"
ren "xyzt12345678.spr" "Replacement_Text12345678.spr"

• Save all the modifications of the batch file Rename.bat

• Exit Notepad++

• Type in Rename.bat on the console window and hit the Enter key to start the renaming process ! That’s all ;-))

Best Regards,

guy038

P.S. :

Seemingly, according to what you said, the exact regex S/R, that you need, should be, practically :

• SEARCH (?-s)^.{5}(.+)

• REPLACE ren\x20"$0"\x20"apple_\1"