rename all files in a directory

merlin23 · 03-24-2005, 09:29 AM

does any one has an idea how I can rename all files in a directory like file1 - file1000 for example?

I have many files all with different names and I want them to have all the same beginning in the name, appended with a counter , so file1, file2, file3 ....

Is there an easy way to do this?
I work with Bash-shell....

Itzac · 03-24-2005, 09:43 AM

You'll want to man bash to find out more about bash scripting. You may also find grep or egrep useful, depending on what information you want to pick out of the current file names. Finally, use the mv command to rename a file.

merlin23 · 03-24-2005, 09:58 AM

could it be something similar like this:

#/bin/sh
cnt=0
for i in 'ls'; cnt++;do mv $i $cnt.jpg;

somehow, the syntax don't seem to be right...

the error-message:

rename_all.sh: line 3: syntax error near unexpected token `cnt++'
rename_all.sh: line 3: `for i in 'ls'; cnt++;do mv $i $cnt.jpg;'

mybe somebody helps me a little with this script?

merlin23 · 03-24-2005, 10:16 AM

ok, figured something out like this:

#/bin/sh
cnt=0
for i in ./*; do
let cnt=cnt+1
rename $i pic$cnt.jpg
done

But somehow, not all files get renamed...

If I try it with the mv command, like this:

#/bin/sh
cnt=0
for i in ./*; do
let cnt=cnt+1
rename $i pic$cnt.jpg
done

I get lots of errors:

mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.
mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.
mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.
mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.
mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.
...

Why???
Please help me and give me a hint, I feel really lost...

ahh · 03-24-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by merlin23
[B]If I try it with the mv command, like this:

#/bin/sh
cnt=0
for i in ./*; do
let cnt=cnt+1
rename $i pic$cnt.jpg
done

I get lots of errors:

mv: when moving multiple files, last argument must be a directory
Try `mv --help' for more information.

I presume you mean

Code:

#/bin/sh
cnt=0
for i in ./*; do
let cnt=cnt+1
mv $i pic$cnt.jpg
done

This works on my system.

Do you have file names with spaces in? This would explain why mv thinks you are trying to rename multiple files, as it uses a space as a delimiter between files.

One other point, it looks as though you are running this in the directory where the files are, this means your shell script will be renamed too. It may take a bit of finding afterwards!

Useful tip:- If you want to know what is happening inside a shell script use #!/bin/bash -x