Bulk renaming files

[thiago.eec]

Hi Kovid,

When renaming multiple files on the Editor, it throws an error if some of the files has the same name as before. Can't calibre just ignore this?

Example:

Original:

file001.html
file003.html
file003a.html
file004.html
file008.hmtl

After renaming:

file001.html
file002.html
file003.html
file004.html
file005.hmtl

The 4th file has the same name before and after, which causes calibre not renaming any file.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by thiago.eec

Hi Kovid,

When renaming multiple files on the Editor, it throws an error if some of the files has the same name as before. Can't calibre just ignore this?

Example:

Original:

file001.html
file003.html
file003a.html
file004.html
file008.hmtl

After renaming:

file001.html
file002.html
file003.html
file004.html
file005.hmtl

The 4th file has the same name before and after, which causes calibre not renaming any file.

I tend to do a bulk rename in two steps. Using your file names, I would rename them to refilexxx.html and then to filexxx.html. This avoids the probability of ending up with files named out of order.

file001.html
file002.html
file004.html
file003.html
file005.html
file006.hmtl

[kovidgoyal]

Because it doesnt know ifthe name conflict is ok or accidental.

[thiago.eec]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I tend to do a bulk rename in two steps. Using your file names, I would rename them to refilexxx.html and then to filexxx.html. This avoids the probability of ending up with files named out of order.

I also have to use a two steps process. For me, this is really unnecessary.

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Because it doesnt know ifthe name conflict is ok or accidental.

Well, let's think about the process:

1) User selects all the files he wants renamed
2) Then, the user explicitly tell the Editor to rename then (right-clicking and choosing this option)
3) A window pops-up and he choose the prefix and starting number
4) Only then the renaming occurs

Is this possible to happen accidentally? I wonder how the user could not mean all the files to be renamed.

Maybe, a confirmation dialog could be added in case of identical names appearing.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by thiago.eec

I also have to use a two steps process. For me, this is really unnecessary.

To you it may be unnecessary. To the operating system, having two files with the same name in the same directory is going to be an issue so renaming a file to the name of an existing file in the same directory is not going to fly.

[thiago.eec]

Originally Posted by DNSB

To you it may be unnecessary. To the operating system, having two files with the same name in the same directory is going to be an issue so renaming a file to the name of an existing file in the same directory is not going to fly.

About the existence of another file with the same name in the same directory, you are absolutely right. The code I proposed would not work, because of that.

Now, about the original question, I think you've got me wrong. What I was suggesting is that calibre could handle this, instead of the user having to do it manually, renaming twice. As I said on my last reply, I don't think the user would rename it accidentally, so calibre could aloud it.

[nqk]

I think it can't be done accidentally. Even if it is the case, it can be undone easily.

[kovidgoyal]

The renaming doesnt happen accidentally, obviously. The *name conflict* could happen accidentally, i.e. the user may not realize that his or her new naming scheme is conflicting with existing file names.