# Anyway to easily edit the names of many files (Windows 7)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 31, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885 "2011-07-31T02:20:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/1 "2011-07-31T02:20:12Z")

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I’ve got hundreds of files that all fit the same basic scheme “Number - Name.” The numbers are all different, and the names are all different. I want to edit them down so it’s just “Name.” Is there any easy way to do this other than manually editing each one? Googling has been no help, all I can find is batch rename to get things like “File001, File002, etc.” That’s not what I’m looking for.

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**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/2 "2011-07-31T02:34:46Z")

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[http://www.antp.be/software/renamer](http://www.antp.be/software/renamer)

AntRenamer is your friend

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/3 "2011-07-31T02:35:48Z")

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I occasionally use [A Better Finder Rename](http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/) on the Mac to do exactly this kind of thing. There is a [Windows version](http://www.publicspace.net/windows/BetterFileRename/index.html).

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**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/4 "2011-07-31T02:42:08Z")

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Excellent. Looks like both of those will do what I’m looking for, but I’ll probably go with the first one since it’s free.

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**Author:** ![Fourtyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Fourtyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourtyfold)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/5 "2011-07-31T17:03:52Z")

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I’ve always used [1-4 Rename](http://www.1-4a.com/rename/), for all it’s faults it has all the options I need, and a shitload of others. (it’ll rename according to Star Trek ‘stardates’ if you want)

edit: I haven’t tried it on Win 7

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyway-to-easily-edit-the-names-of-many-files-windows-7/590885/6 "2011-07-31T18:42:34Z")

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I like this one: [Bulk Rename Utility](http://http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php). It has a weird interface, but once you get used to it, it’s quite easy to use. It’s also free.