[SOLVED] rename multiple files at a time

biki_happy · 08-22-2012, 08:05 AM

Hi,
I have number of files named 11.log,12.log,...........,20.log. I want to rename/move them as 10.log,11.log,.........,19.log respectively. Please suggest a script.

Thanks,

David the H. · 08-22-2012, 09:39 AM

Do you see the box at the bottom titled "Similar Threads"? Start by looking there. Or use the LQ search feature. If you had done that before you posted you would've found some of the hundreds of previous threads asking the exact same thing.

pixellany · 08-22-2012, 11:14 AM

Code:

for filename in $(ls); do
     newfilename = <insert code to determine new file name>
     mv $filename $newfilename
done

Depending on where the files are, you might need "ls -R" instead of ls, and you might need to test for directories in the ls listing

anomie · 08-22-2012, 12:20 PM

Make use of mv(1)'s -i option when testing / building this sort of script -- or learn the hard way.

My 2 cents.

SharpyWarpy · 08-22-2012, 08:49 PM

@ pixellany: Would this work?

Code:

#!/bin/bash
x=10
for i in * 
do 
   j=$(printf "%.2d_$i\n" $x)
   mv $i $j
   x=$((x+1))
done
unset x
exit 0

I'm thinking since he wants to start the numbering of files with 10. My 2 cents worth also

sKaar · 08-22-2012, 09:27 PM

hmm, on slackware there's a script already built, called, magically enough, rename, i'm sure it's in other distros.

SharpyWarpy · 08-22-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sKaar

hmm, on slackware there's a script already built, called, magically enough, rename, i'm sure it's in other distros.

Yes, rename is very common. Unfortunatly it might be confusing to use this way. At least for me. That's because I have the evil handicap of misunderstanding things that SHOULD be easy.

sKaar · 08-23-2012, 04:22 AM

mmm, yah, i still have to look up the way it's used when ever i actually have to use it, man rename helps for a refresher, but, dummy files to test may help.

biki_happy · 08-23-2012, 08:19 AM

Thanks to all for the replies. However, I have successfully done it using the script

x=1
for i in `seq 11 20 `
do
z=$(($i - $x))
mv $i.log $z.log
done
exit 0

Thanks to my friends Sudhir and Sooraj, with whom I have discussed and finally Sudhir came up with success.

Thanks.......