change all file names (prefix to postfix)

Question

I have a directory containing thousands of files with names

t_00xx_000xxx.png

I want to change their names to 00xx_000xxx_t.png

so take the prefix and put it as a postfix, can this be done in only one command

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 01 '18 at 13:37

1

This is possible with the rename command:

First check what would be done (by suppliying -n). If it looks good, drop the -n and run again:

rename -n 's/t_(.+)\.png$/$1_t.png/' *.png  # check only
rename    's/t_(.+)\.png$/$1_t.png/' *.png  # actually rename the files

answered Aug 01 '18 at 13:37

PerlDuck

13,335

`/train03_B> rename -n 's/t_(.+).png$/$1_t.png/' *.png
rename: invalid option -- 'n'

Usage: rename [options] ...

Rename files.

Options: -v, --verbose explain what is being done -s, --symlink act on the target of symlinks

-h, --help display this help and exit -V, --version output version information and exit

For more details see rename(1).`
– Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:51

pLumo · Answer 2 · 2018-08-01T13:49:54.663

1

If the prefix is separated by an underscore (_), you can do the following:

rename -n 's/^([^_]*)_(.*)\.(.*)$/$2_$1.$3/' file(s)

It will work with any prefix and any extension.

Remove the -n to perform the rename if you're happy with the result.

Explanation:

s/search_pattern/replace_pattern/

Search pattern:

^ - Match the beginning of the file name
([^_]*) - Match any character that is not an underscore [^_]* and capture it as $1 (...)
_ - Match the first underscore
(.*)\.(.*) - Match anything .* before and after the last . and capture it as $2 and $3. The . must be escaped because it is a special character in Regex --> \.
$ - Match the end of the line

Replace pattern:

$2_$1.$3 - "Filename_Prefix.Extension" from the search pattern captures.

edited Aug 01 '18 at 13:49

answered Aug 01 '18 at 13:37

pLumo

26,947

/train03_B> rename -n 's/t_(.+)\.png$/$1_t.png/' *.png rename: invalid option -- 'n' Usage: rename [options] <expression> <replacement> <file>... Rename files. Options: -v, --verbose explain what is being done -s, --symlink act on the target of symlinks -h, --help display this help and exit -V, --version output version information and exit For more details see rename(1). – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:53
you're using Ubuntu? – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 13:55
SuSE SLES12 SP2 – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:56
2

then why do you ask this question on askubuntu ? – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 13:56
1

you have another rename tool. that is why it does not work for you – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 13:57
oh I thought I posted in unix/linux .. I am so sorry for that it's a mistake, I will move the question there – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:57
ah yes this is for sure the problem @RoVo – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:58
try prename instead of rename, maybe you have that installed. – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 13:58
but I remember I used the rename here before, but maybe this tool is without the -n flag – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:59
not installed unfortunately, and I don't have sudo rights for its installation – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 14:00
if I am sure with your answer, I can run it directly without the -n, and it will work – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 14:01
no, your rename tool works differently. – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 14:01
nevermind, good luck at unix&linux SE – pLumo Aug 01 '18 at 14:02
is there a way to move the question there ? or do I have to post a new one ? – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 14:04

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 01 '18 at 13:52

0

mmv (available from the universe repository) is nice for this kind of thing, where simple shell globs rather than regular expression can do the job

Ex.

mmv -n -- '*_*_*.png' '#2_#3_#1.png'
t_00xx_000xxx.png -> 00xx_000xxx_t.png

Remove the -n once you are happy that it's working right.

answered Aug 01 '18 at 13:52

steeldriver

136,215
21
243
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mmv: command not found – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:54
@MostafaHussein Then do sudo apt install mmv – PerlDuck Aug 01 '18 at 13:58
i have no sudo rights – Mostafa Hussein Aug 01 '18 at 13:58

change all file names (prefix to postfix)

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