Batch rename popup selections (6.10.0071)

[admin]

In 6-20-5
if you enter an extension it retains the original
text.txt
enter *.doc
results in text.doc.txt
likewise *. results in text..txt

Yep, this is a feature. If it would replace the extension (which is what I think you expected) then appending an extension (which is what happened) would not be possible. Okay, whether appending an extension is a meaningful operation is another question.
Anyway, to change the extension(s) simple use the command "Set extension..."

EDIT: okay, I admit the results are surprising after reading "The original file extensions are preserved if the template contains no extension." It might be seen as a bug...

And, welcome user #400!

[Muroph]

Yep, this is a feature. If it would replace the extension (which is what I think you expected) then appending an extension (which is what happened) would not be possible. Okay, whether appending an extension is a meaningful operation is another question.

It didn't append the extension.
Look:
text.txt -> text.doc.txt
The extension didn't change.
Appending the '.doc' extension would result in 'text.txt.doc'.
You can do it using the template (.+)>$1.newextension in regex rename, tho I don't see any point in it either (hmm... maybe create a bunch of .bak files?).

EDIT: okay, I admit the results are surprising after reading "The original file extensions are preserved if the template contains no extension." It might be seen as a bug...

Then it should only say 'Original file extensions are preserved', 'cause even if a new extension is specified, it won't replace the original.

- Speaking of colors, I think it'd be nice to have items not to be renamed in grey, to show they'll stay untouched
-> You mean in the new name list? Grey means disabled ... could be confusing.

You could just make smth like the warnings, but in another color.
I think just a blue * would be enough.

- Preview window: I'd have "Preview Rename" as window title, and recall the pattern on the "header" (white background), might be useful to track what is wrong with it while looking at the preview (esp. with regexp)
-> yes, I thought about that. But once I display the pattern you ask for editing+preview on the fly! Wink I know this is the way to go... later...

I'd like that too.
Maybe ask for real-time preview is too much.
It'd really slow down the pc with a lot of files.
But joining the template and the prev windows and adding a 'Refresh List' button would be nice.
You'd be able to see the old & new names, easily edit the template and only update the list when necessary.

[graham]

admin wrote:
EDIT: okay, I admit the results are surprising after reading "The original file extensions are preserved if the template contains no extension." It might be seen as a bug...


I can see your thinking about the extensions but Don - I was merely following your Help files!

vis.

Tip: To remove all extensions let the name template end with a dot.

You can't win all the time!

Maybe I should stick to engineering?

[graham]

Sorry to immediately follow up but..

admin said:
Anyway, to change the extension(s) simple use the command "Set extension..."


But that doesn't work! Or not for me, Rename Now button is not active

I do feel that the appending of an extension, or prefixing an extension with an extension is so unlikely that it would be better removed unless you can think of a good use. The Preview window saves the day but I do think this particular 'feature' is featureless!

[j_c_hallgren]

BTW, Friday's are my real work day here at the cottages as it's customer turnover day so just now getting to look at this exciting and valuable new feature (which may increase my usage of XY for rename! )...anyway...

-> what about a 3rd button "Preview..." (default button) beside OK and Cancel? Would also help to not be bothered with a preview for the "automatic" modes.

Yeah, that'd be perfect!

I agree with this also!

-> You mean in the new name list? Grey means disabled ... could be confusing.

Well... I don't know. Disabled or untouched kinda means the same here, as in items in grey would indicate there wouldn't be renamed, it's not really a new name, the renaming operation for this one won't occur, is "disabled" in a way...

Haven't seen this yet, but maybe just a different shade/color? But I'd more agree with jacky anyway based on what's been written here...

-> yes, I thought about that. But once I display the pattern you ask for editing+preview on the fly! I know this is the way to go... later...

Yeah, sure. But let's say both on the fly are coming later, at least for now it could help make things easier (esp for regexp)

The current method to get back to changing the template seems easy enough for now...but I do agree with seeing the pattern!
And I'd make an additional tweak: Change the redundant "Rename Preview" in the white header area to type of rename, such as "Batch Rename Preview" or "RegExp Rename Preview", and then maybe add "using : " followed by the template there.

[admin]

admin said:
Anyway, to change the extension(s) simple use the command "Set extension..."


But that doesn't work! Or not for me, Rename Now button is not active

I do feel that the appending of an extension, or prefixing an extension with an extension is so unlikely that it would be better removed unless you can think of a good use. The Preview window saves the day but I do think this particular 'feature' is featureless!

Doesn't work? Works here. If the Rename Now button is not active you should get a warning info in red. What does it say?

featureless: dots can be used in filenames like any other character. So when you have a file Kennedy.txt you can use the pattern "* J.F." to rename it to Kennedy J.F..txt . A bit strange but it should be kept a possibility.

[admin]

Okay folks,

thanks for all the words. I'll answer them collectively:

>text.txt -> text.doc.txt
>The extension didn't change.
Whoops. Right!

Batch rename Info: I'll change it to simply: 'Original file extensions are preserved'

Help File Nonsense: will be fixed.

>items not to be renamed in grey
what about prefixing "[unchanged]" and leaving it in black, and having all actually renamed items in green!?

>real-time preview
later, boys. With a Refresh button is a good idea, although with numbers of < 1000 files (EDIT: well, < 100) real-time should work alright.

> [admin:] what about a 3rd button "Preview..." (default button) beside OK and Cancel? Would also help to not be bothered with a preview for the "automatic" modes
Well, that was nonsense, because the "automatic modes" do not have that dialog where the button would appear!

>Change the redundant "Rename Preview" in the white header area to type of rename
Yep, done already

[j_c_hallgren]

>items not to be renamed in grey
what about prefixing "[unchanged]" and leaving it in black, and having all actually renamed items in green!?

I'd try to keep the prefix as short as possible, so maybe "No Chg" instead of "unchanged"? And...The colors as you've suggested make perfect sense to me!
Update: Could these prefixes for warnings all be in bold? To make it stand out from file name just a bit better..

what about a 3rd button "Preview..." (default button) beside OK and Cancel? Would also help to not be bothered with a preview for the "automatic" modes
Well, that was nonsense, because the "automatic modes" do not have that dialog where the button would appear!

But for non-automatic, having the choice to be safe (Preview) or take a chance (OK) seems to be reasonable..

[admin]

>items not to be renamed in grey
what about prefixing "[unchanged]" and leaving it in black, and having all actually renamed items in green!?

I'd try to keep the prefix as short as possible, so maybe "No Chg" instead of "unchanged"? And...The colors as you've suggested make perfect sense to me!
Update: Could these prefixes for warnings all be in bold? To make it stand out from file name just a bit better.

Nope. But I use < and > now to make them stand out, like "<unchanged>". Yes, it's long but "No Chg" will raise questions...

[graham]

admin said:
Doesn't work? Works here. If the Rename Now button is not active you should get a warning info in red. What does it say?

Ok just realized the errors of my ways - in the group of files there was a folder, BUT no red warning info. The Preview correctly shows the file conversions and omits the folder but you cannot continue.

May I suggest a warning is shown for folders or they are just ignored, and allow you to continue to rename the files listed in the Preview.

[admin]

admin said:
Doesn't work? Works here. If the Rename Now button is not active you should get a warning info in red. What does it say?

Ok just realized the errors of my ways - in the group of files there was a folder, BUT no red warning info. The Preview correctly shows the file conversions and omits the folder but you cannot continue.

May I suggest a warning is shown for folders or they are just ignored, and allow you to continue to rename the files listed in the Preview.

Yes, a clear bug. And your suggestion is fine, of course.

[admin]

You know how you can press CTRL and the left and right arrow keys and you jump from word to word in most text areas? This doesn't appear to be working in the batch rename window in 6.10.0071.

What I always wanted to know: why did you call this thread "Batch rename popup selections"?

[jacky]

>items not to be renamed in grey
what about prefixing "[unchanged]" and leaving it in black, and having all actually renamed items in green!?

Perfect like this, yes, well done!

Well, that was nonsense, because the "automatic modes" do not have that dialog where the button would appear!

Well, unless I had it wrong I thought you meant a new button on the window asking the pattern: Preview, Ok, Cancel
That way one could choose whether or not to preview.

BTW, I really vote against the preview for automatic modes, more a pain than anything else (to me at least). Maybe some would like that, but please add an INI Trick to make it optional.

Having the pattern shown there is great

ps: Zebra stripping is nice, but why not use the List/Browse mode colors instead of some hard coded ones (I guess) ? (I like my grey a little darker )

[admin]

Well, that was nonsense, because the "automatic modes" do not have that dialog where the button would appear!

Well, unless I had it wrong I thought you meant a new button on the window asking the pattern: Preview, Ok, Cancel
That way one could choose whether or not to preview.

Will be obsolete when there's RTRP.

Zebra: there's 4 grid colors, one for each list mode. Not suitable here, because colors are inter-dependent. I also hard-coded the red and the green. Just to leave some decisions with me and to punish users that set their background to black

INI Trick... I'll see...