How to rename multiple files with the same extension

rogueeve · 05-16-2007, 04:24 PM

How do you rename multiple files with the same prefix but different extensions to have a new prefix?

For example say I have tcpserver.c, tcpserver.h & tcpserver.fdh and want to drop the "server" from their names.

Under DOS I can do:

ren tcpserver.* tcp.*

What is the equivalent command under unix? Obviously mv tcpserver.* tcp.* does not do as intended.

David the H. · 05-16-2007, 04:40 PM

Use the rename command:

rename 's/tcpserver/tcp/' tcpserver.*

rogueeve · 05-16-2007, 10:53 PM

That did not work, it returned to the shell prompt with no errors but the filenames were not changed.

But, I was able to get it work by typing rename tcpserver tcp tcpserver.*

I made a shell script /usr/bin/rene:

rename $1 $2 $1.*

Now next time I can just type rename tcpserver tcp.

Thanks

David the H. · 05-18-2007, 01:54 AM

That's interesting. My rename won't let me do it your way. I always get a "bareword not allowed" error. I HAVE to use the s/1/2/ pattern.

Different distros sometimes use different programs with the same name and function though, so I guess it's not too surprising.