Auto Rename Files

Access: Menu > View > Rename Page, Rename Tab, <Alt+R>

Renaming with the Rename Page

Use the Rename Page to rename a complete folder of files at one time, giving each file a name derived from the tag data you specify via a renaming template.

In the figure above, the renaming template shown is "Artist - Title - Year.mp3." Up to seven tag fields can be included in any template made. Any number of templates can be created and saved in the Saved Templates list. The list always includes two generic, default templates that cannot be removed: "Artist - Title" and "Title - Artist." Create others by using the Template Controls shown above and discussed below.

Begin by clearing the Selected Template box with its Clear button. Use the Build Template drop-down list to Add tag fields to the Selected Template box, one at a time, in any order you choose. See heading File Renaming Controls below for a detailed description of the operation of each control.

After building or selecting a naming template, preview proposed filenames by pressing the Preview button. When viewing MP3's, the Data Source button on the Center Toolbar can be used to toggle the tag data source between tags ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags. New names created are shown in the Preview Window on the right. Any number of consecutive previews can be performed before actually renaming files. Previews can be reversed one-by-one with the Undo button beneath the Preview button.

When a preview is produced, each proposed filename is scanned for one of three possible conditions that might prevent a file from being successfully renamed in accordance with the renaming template being used. A descriptive "flag" is placed in front of each name found to have one of these potential problems:

***NO DATA*** None of the tag fields used for renaming were found to contain text. Files with this designation cannot be renamed unless the name is manually edited and approved (right-click on the name and choose "Edit" from the popup).

***PARTIAL DATA*** One or more (but not all) tag fields used as the source for filename text have been found to be empty of text. Whether or not a file is allowed to be renamed using partial data is ordinarily optional and depends upon the setting of the Allow partial data option (see Rename Auto-Edit Options below). However, if a renaming operation involves Directory Restructuring (that is, if files are to be relocated as well as renamed), partial-data files are not allowed to be renamed, regardless of option settings. As with the "No Data" exception above, however, file names with this flag can still be manually edited to bring them into compliance.

***ILLEGAL DATA*** Tag text used to rename a file has been found to contain one or more illegal characters that Windows will not allow as part of a filename ( \ , / , : , * , ? , " , < , > , and | ). Files with this designation cannot be renamed unless manually edited, defects removed, and the name is approved for renaming. You can elect to either prevent a renaming operation entirely when one of these defects is present, or you can have the program simply skip them as files are renamed (see option Stop on illegals in Rename Auto-Edit Options below).

When all file names scheduled for renaming are found to be fault free, the Rename button is turned GREEN. If one or more files have potential problems but renaming can proceed anyway, the button is turned YELLOW. If one or more new names contain illegal characters (and Stop on illegals is active - see Rename Auto-Edit Options below), then the button is turned RED. When this condition exists, renaming cannot proceed without manually editing offending names to remove or replace all illegal characters. To edit, right-click any proposed file name and choose "Edit" from the popup menu.

Checkboxes are optionally provided for each new name to allow specific files to be included or excluded from the renaming process. When satisfied with new filenames, click the Rename button to have allowed files renamed to the proposed names as shown. After a rename has been executed, the operation can be immediately reversed, if desired, by clicking the Undo button on the right side of the Center Toolbar.

Note that sorting the Editors by filename reduces the time required to perform Rename Previews, file renames, and other multi-file operations. The program uses a row-search algorithm that increases in efficiency with the degree to which the Editors are fully sorted by filename, either ascending or descending.