Automatically rename files using patterns

Renaming files automatically using patterns is a common task that can be handled with scripting. Below is a complete guide using Python to rename files in bulk based on customizable patterns. You can adjust the pattern to fit your specific use case such as:

• Adding a prefix or suffix

• Changing file extensions

• Replacing part of the filename

• Sequential numbering

Example Python Script to Rename Files Using Patterns

python
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import os

# Directory containing files to rename
directory = '/path/to/your/files'

# Pattern logic - Example: rename 'image_*.jpg' to 'photo_*.jpg'
old_pattern = 'image_'
new_pattern = 'photo_'

# Optional: use sequential numbering
use_sequential_numbering = True
file_extension = '.jpg'
start_index = 1

# Renaming process
for index, filename in enumerate(os.listdir(directory), start=start_index):
    if old_pattern in filename:
        old_path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
        
        if use_sequential_numbering:
            new_filename = f'{new_pattern}{index}{file_extension}'
        else:
            new_filename = filename.replace(old_pattern, new_pattern)
        
        new_path = os.path.join(directory, new_filename)
        os.rename(old_path, new_path)
        print(f'Renamed: {filename} -> {new_filename}')

Customization Options

1. Add Prefix or Suffix

python
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new_filename = 'prefix_' + filename
new_filename = filename.replace('.jpg', '_suffix.jpg')

2. Change File Extension

python
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base = os.path.splitext(filename)[0]
new_filename = base + '.png'

3. Use Regular Expressions

python
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import re
pattern = re.compile(r'old(d+).txt')
replacement = r'new_1.txt'

for filename in os.listdir(directory):
    match = pattern.match(filename)
    if match:
        new_filename = pattern.sub(replacement, filename)
        os.rename(os.path.join(directory, filename), os.path.join(directory, new_filename))

Notes

• Always back up your files before running bulk rename scripts.

• You can integrate user input with input() or use command-line arguments with argparse for flexibility.

• Use os.path.isfile() to avoid renaming folders accidentally.

Let me know if you want this tailored for a specific pattern or system (e.g., Windows batch, Linux shell script).