How To Easily Rename Multiple Files Using Command Line in Ubuntu

Renaming files can be a tedious task, especially when dealing with a large number of files. However, Ubuntu’s command line interface provides a powerful tool for batch renaming files. In this article, we will delve into how to easily rename multiple files using the command line in Ubuntu.

Understanding the ‘rename’ Command

The primary tool we will be using for this task is the rename command. This command is part of the Perl programming language and it allows you to rename multiple files using regular expressions, a powerful pattern matching and string manipulation technique.

The basic syntax of the rename command is as follows:

rename 's/old/new/' files

Here, ‘old’ is the existing string and ‘new’ is the replacement string. The ‘files’ parameter refers to the files you want to rename. You can use wildcard characters like ‘*’ to select multiple files.

Adding a Prefix to File Names

To add a prefix to all files in a directory, you can use the following command:

rename 's/^/PREFIX_/' *

In this command, ‘^’ is a regular expression that matches the beginning of a string. ‘PREFIX_’ is the prefix you want to add. ‘*’ selects all files in the current directory. So, this command adds the prefix ‘PREFIX_’ to the beginning of each file name.

Adding a Suffix to File Names

To add a suffix to all files in a directory, you can use the following command:

rename 's/$/_SUFFIX/' *

In this command, ‘$’ is a regular expression that matches the end of a string. ‘_SUFFIX’ is the suffix you want to add. So, this command adds the suffix ‘_SUFFIX’ to the end of each file name.

Replacing Strings in File Names

To replace a specific string in all file names, you can use the following command:

rename 's/SEARCH/REPLACE/g' *

In this command, ‘SEARCH’ is the string you want to replace and ‘REPLACE’ is the new string. The ‘g’ after the last slash is a modifier that makes the replacement global. Without the ‘g’, only the first occurrence of ‘SEARCH’ in each file name would be replaced.

Previewing Changes

Before you execute a rename command, it’s a good idea to preview the changes. You can do this by adding the -n option, like so:

rename -n 's/SEARCH/REPLACE/g' *

This command will display the changes that would be made, without actually renaming any files.

GUI Alternatives

If you prefer a graphical interface, there are several tools you can use. One such tool is pyrenamer, which provides a user-friendly way to rename multiple files. Another option is Thunar, a file manager that’s part of the XFCE desktop environment. Both tools offer batch renaming capabilities.

Conclusion

Renaming multiple files in Ubuntu can be a breeze if you know how to use the rename command. With a little practice, you’ll be able to quickly and easily rename files, whether you’re adding a prefix or suffix, or replacing a string. And if you prefer a GUI, tools like pyrenamer and Thunar have you covered. Happy renaming!