Written by
Netizens
Renaming files goes beyond mere aesthetics. It unlocks a treasure trove of benefits:
mv Command: A Renaming PowerhouseThe mv (move) command is your primary weapon for basic file renaming. It serves double duty, moving and renaming files in one fell swoop.
The fundamental structure of the mv command is straightforward:
mv <source_file> <new_file>
Replace <source_file> with the current filename and <new_file> with your desired new name.
For instance, to rename a file named “mystery_document.txt” to “project_report.docx”, you’d use:
mv mystery_document.txt project_report.docx
Giving Your File a New Name:
This is the bread and butter of mv. Simply provide the new filename as the second argument.
Renaming with Confirmation:
Feeling cautious? Add the -i flag to prompt for confirmation before renaming:
mv -i mystery_document.txt project_report.docx
Moving and Renaming Simultaneously:
The mv command can also move files while renaming them. Specify the new location as the second argument:
mv report.txt ~/Documents/completed_reports/final_report.pdf
This moves “report.txt” to the “completed_reports” folder within your Documents directory and renames it to “final_report.pdf”.
mv Techniques: Batch Renaming and MoreThe mv command offers hidden depths for power users. Let’s explore some advanced techniques:
Wildcards like * allow you to rename multiple files matching a pattern. For example:
mv *.jpg photos/*.renamed.jpg
This renames all .jpg files in the current directory to files with the prefix “renamed_” and the .jpg extension within the “photos” directory.
Pro Tip: Use the -n flag for a dry run to see which files would be renamed without actual modification.
mv and rename Commands in Linuxfor i in *.txt; do mv "$i" "${i%.*}_$i"; done
This renames all .txt files, adding a sequential underscore-separated number before the original filename extension.
rename CommandWhile mv is fantastic for basic tasks, the rename command offers more flexibility for complex renames. It utilizes Perl regular expressions for powerful pattern matching and manipulation.
Suppose you have a bunch of files named “image (1).jpg”, “image (2).jpg”, and so on. You can use rename to remove the numbering:
rename 's/\s\(\d+\)\././' *.jpg
This replaces the space, parenthesis, number, and closing parenthesis followed by a dot ( .) with just a dot ( .).
The rename command allows for conditional renaming based on specific patterns. Imagine renaming all .png files larger than 1MB to have a “_large” suffix:
rename ' условие '-e ' действие ' *.png
Replace ' условие ' with the condition (e.g., -s gt 1048576 for file size greater than 1MB) and ' действие ' with the renaming action (e.g., s/$/_large/).
Note: Replace условие and действие with their actual commands in Cyrillic characters for proper functionality.
For those who prefer a visual interface, most Linux distributions offer file managers with graphical renaming options. Right-click on a file, select “Rename,” and enter your desired new name. This is a convenient option for beginners or quick renames.
With the mv and rename commands at your fingertips, you’ve unlocked the power to transform your file management into a well-organized masterpiece. No more cryptic filenames hindering your workflow! Embrace clear and descriptive names, and experience the joy of efficient file management in Linux.
Get free consultation for your digital product idea to turn it into reality!
Get Started
