bash script automatic file rename if exists

AutoC · 09-03-2009, 03:59 AM

Hi,

I have a folder that has files of the form
1.wav
2.wav
3.wav
|
|
10.wav

Now, I rename these files using a script as
He.wav
was.wav
going.wav
|
|

Now, if a word repeats, It should not overwrite.It should become something like
and.wav
and_1.wav

Is there someway I can do this?

colucix · 09-03-2009, 04:32 AM

Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but take a look at the --backup option of mv. You can select --backup=numbered to make a numbered copy of the destination file, if it already exists. However, the format will be:

Code:

and.wav~1~

You can also customize the suffix, for example by putting the current date in the name of the backup:

Code:

mv --backup=simple --suffix=$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S) <source> <destination>

but in this case if you want to do a numbered copy you have to deal with the assignment of the correct progressive number and things are more complicate. In other words you cannot use automatic numbered backup and suffix customization at the same time.

JulianTosh · 09-03-2009, 04:40 AM

TFT... another nifty tool to stick in my bag of tricks. I really should get out and read the man more often..

colucix · 09-03-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Beotch

TFT... another nifty tool to stick in my bag of tricks. I really should get out and read the man more often..

He he... you never stop learning something new in the *nix world!

mastermindx · 06-23-2015, 03:31 PM

Just for the new users, you can simply add the time to the filename and it will never repeat:

Code:

cp /srcdir/example.mp4 /destdir/example-`date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S`.mp4