rename command in Linux

The Linux rename command is a powerful tool that allows users to efficiently rename multiple files at once by specifying a pattern to match and a pattern to replace it with. This command is particularly useful for batch renaming files in a directory quickly and easily. By utilizing regular expressions, users can customize the renaming process to suit their specific needs, saving time and effort.

rename Syntax:

rename [options] perlexpr files

Linux rename Options:

Option	Description
-v	Verbose mode - print names of files after they are renamed.
-n	No action - show what files would have been renamed.
-f	Force - remove existing files without prompting.
-e	Expression - specify Perl expression to act on filenames.

rename Parameters:

Parameter	Description
perlexpr	Perl expression to match and modify filenames.
files	List of files to rename.

Caution

Exercise caution when using the rename command, as it can permanently rename multiple files at once. Ensure that the perlexpr provided is accurate to avoid unintended renaming of files.

How to use rename command:

Rename files with a specific file extension

rename 's/\.txt$/\.md/' *.txt

This command renames all files with a .txt extension to have a .md extension.

Rename files with a specific prefix

rename 's/^file/file_/' file*

This command adds a prefix “file_” to all files that start with “file”.

Rename files with a specific suffix

rename 's/_old$/_new/' *_old

This command replaces the suffix “_old” with “_new” for all files ending in “_old”.

Rename files using regular expressions

rename 's/(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2})/$3-$2-$1/' *.txt

This command reorders dates in the format “yyyy-mm-dd” to “dd-mm-yyyy” for all .txt files.

Renaming files by changing case

rename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' *

This command changes all file names to lowercase.

Rename files by replacing spaces with underscores

rename 's/ /_/g' *

This command replaces all spaces in file names with underscores.

Rename files by appending a timestamp

rename 's/$/_20220630/' *

This command appends “_20220630” to the end of every file name.

Rename files by removing a specific string

rename 's/\(copy\)//' *

This command removes the string “(copy)” from all file names.

Tip

When using the rename command in Linux, it’s essential to understand the syntax and options to ensure the desired renaming is achieved. Always test the command on a small set of files before running it on a large number of files to avoid unintentional renaming or data loss.

How do I use rename in Linux?

To use the rename command in Linux, execute the following command:

rename --option <value>

How can I rename multiple files in Linux using the rename command?

To rename multiple files in Linux with the rename command, you can use patterns and substitution. For example, to replace all spaces with underscores in file names, you can run:

rename 's/ /_/g' *

How can I change the file extension for multiple files with the rename command?

To change the file extension for multiple files in Linux using the rename command, you can use pattern matching and substitution. For example, to change all .txt files to .md, you can run:

rename 's/\.txt$/\.md/' *.txt

How do I force rename in Linux using the rename command?

To force rename files in Linux with the rename command, you can use the -f or --force option. This option overrides existing files with the same name. For example, to forcefully rename files, you can run:

rename -f 's/old/new/' *

How can I preview the file name changes before renaming with the rename command in Linux?

To preview the changes that will occur before actually renaming files using the rename command in Linux, you can use the -n or --no-act option. This option shows a preview of the changes without renaming the files. For example, to preview changes, you can run:

rename -n 's/pattern/replacement/' *

How do I recursively rename files and directories in Linux using the rename command?

To recursively rename files and directories in Linux with the rename command, you can use the -R or --recursive option. This option allows renaming files within subdirectories as well. For example, to rename recursively, you can run:

rename -R 's/old/new/' *

How can I rename files based on a specific pattern or regex with the rename command in Linux?

To rename files based on a specific pattern or regex in Linux using the rename command, you can use regular expressions. For example, to add a prefix to all file names, you can run:

rename 's/^/prefix_/' *

How do I revert a renaming operation in Linux using the rename command?

To revert a renaming operation in Linux with the rename command, you need to consider the original file names. If you have a list of the original file names, you can rename the files back to the original names. Always double-check before executing any renaming operations to avoid irreversible changes.

rename 's/new/old/' *

Applications of the rename command

• Bulk renaming files
• Changing file extensions
• Removing or replacing certain characters in file names
• Padding file names with zeros or other characters
• Converting uppercase to lowercase (and vice versa) in file names