How do I bulk remove characters from file names?

eaglescouter · Jan 10, 2007

She (not mine) scanned hundreds of documents into the computer (actually about 800), and gave them really pretty names. Multiple periods, commas, &, #.

Now these files need to be dropped into a SharePoint companyweb, where these are not acceptable characters.

I'm looking for a script/tool/utility that will strip out the illegal characters.

A bulk rename will not work as the file names and document names are critical (just want to strip out the following "& # , . " leaving the extension period naturally

Any ideas?

Windows XP is the OS.

jivetrky · Jan 10, 2007

eaglescouter said:
She (not mine) scanned hundreds of documents into the computer (actually about 800), and gave them really pretty names. Multiple periods, commas, &, #.

Now these files need to be dropped into a SharePoint companyweb, where these are not acceptable characters.

I'm looking for a script/tool/utility that will strip out the illegal characters.

A bulk rename will not work as the file names and document names are critical (just want to strip out the following "& # , . " leaving the extension period naturally

Any ideas?

Windows XP is the OS.

I use this program for all my batch renaming:

http://www.1-4a.com/rename/

It'll do what you are looking to do, it's quite powerful, just take a little time and get used to it.

eaglescouter · Jan 11, 2007

jivetrky said:
I use this program for all my batch renaming:

http://www.1-4a.com/rename/

It'll do what you are looking to do, it's quite powerful, just take a little time and get used to it.

That did part of the job.

Remaining: Removal of inappropriate periods in file names such as "ltr.toclientsept.05.doc" Your suggested tool does not handle illegal file names.

jivetrky · Jan 11, 2007

if you use the Replace option, just put each character in and then leave the second field blank or add a single space.

This also works for the .'s ...it will remove all but the last one

EDIT: The program really can do alot. Sometimes I have to sit there for a few minutes to figure out how to properly manipulate it, but in the end I've never not been able to rename a file how I wanted.

eaglescouter · Jan 11, 2007

Interesting, I took another run at it and your tool did in fact rename the files with multiple periods in them.

I'm still working to rename folders, but you have saved countless hours of labor.

jivetrky · Jan 11, 2007

ahhh, well in that case...

I had an issue with directories too. While I like that first program for file renaming (Even though it has a bit of a learning curve), it doesn't do directories.

But this program does directories, I just tested it with a small batch of directories that had &, #, and .'s And it removed them all:

http://www.den4b.com/downloads.php?project=ReNamer

How do I bulk remove characters from file names?

eaglescouter

Frustrating Senior SETI Nut!

jivetrky

Member

eaglescouter

Frustrating Senior SETI Nut!

jivetrky

Member

eaglescouter

Frustrating Senior SETI Nut!

jivetrky

Member

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