In Windows, add a prefix to multiple PDF files

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I have a folder with 100 invoices & they all need to carry the prefix "INVOICE_" in front. I tried to run a command but it doesn't seem to be working.

I've tried ren * INVOICE_*.PDF but it doesn't work. Can someone help me figure this out?

edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

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asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps which you could add to do this, should you be using Windows which does not know how to do that.
– K7AAY
Nov 15 at 0:36

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edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

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asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps which you could add to do this, should you be using Windows which does not know how to do that.
– K7AAY
Nov 15 at 0:36

add a comment |

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2
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favorite

edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

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asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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windows cmd.exe

edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

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asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

3,06621437

asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

3,06621437

edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

3,06621437

edited Nov 15 at 0:38

K7AAY

3,06621437

asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

111

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asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

111

asked Nov 15 at 0:28

Lia

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Lia is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps which you could add to do this, should you be using Windows which does not know how to do that.
– K7AAY
Nov 15 at 0:36

add a comment |

softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps which you could add to do this, should you be using Windows which does not know how to do that.
– K7AAY
Nov 15 at 0:36

softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps which you could add to do this, should you be using Windows which does not know how to do that.
– K7AAY
Nov 15 at 0:36

add a comment |

4 Answers
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up vote
2
down vote

A quick and dirty batch file which will do what you want.

@echo off

::Create a temporary filename.

set _tmpfile=%random%



::Store the prefix you want to use in the rename in a variable

set _prefix=INVOICE_



::List of files to be renamed are held in the _tmpfile

::so be sure that you are in the correct folder/directory.

dir *.pdf /b>%_tmpfile%



::Now, loop through the _tmpfile and rename each file using the _prefix variable

:: Remove the ECHO below in order for this to work.

for /f %%x in (%_tmpfile%) do ECHO ren %%x %_prefix%%%x



::Delete the _tmpfile

if exist %_tmpfile% del %_tmpfile%

Update: the batch file, as is, won't rename the files. It would just show you the command it would run if you remove the "ECHO" string from the "for /f in %%x" line. Then the batch file will rename the files.

Hope this helps!

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

The ren command works differently than you expect; click on its link to learn more about it. A third party file renaming utility will make this much easier. There are a number of Open Source free programs which are available, such as
https://sourceforge.net/projects/renameit/
http://file-folder-ren.sourceforge.net/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mfrv02/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/multifilerename/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilerenamer/
https://sourceforge.net/projects/personalrenamer/
http://regexrenamer.sourceforge.net/
http://rename.sourceforge.net/

among others.

Can't make a recommendation of a specific app here, but https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps.

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

You question title says “in Windows”,
so I’m going to ignore the cmd.exe tag
and give you a PowerShell solution.
Go into PowerShell
(type powershell at your cmd prompt, or run it from the menu)
and type

dir *.pdf | rename-item -newname {$_.name -replace "^","INVOICE_"}

Seems pretty self-explanatory: take the name of each PDF file
and rename it to a new name that’s formed
by replacing the beginning of the old name
(denoted by the regular expression ^) with “INVOICE_”.

Copied almost verbatim
from How to Batch Rename Multiple Files in Windows at How-To Geek.

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

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up vote
-1
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Try this command

ren *.pdf INVOICE_*.pdf

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

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4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

up vote
2
down vote

A quick and dirty batch file which will do what you want.

@echo off

::Create a temporary filename.

set _tmpfile=%random%



::Store the prefix you want to use in the rename in a variable

set _prefix=INVOICE_



::List of files to be renamed are held in the _tmpfile

::so be sure that you are in the correct folder/directory.

dir *.pdf /b>%_tmpfile%



::Now, loop through the _tmpfile and rename each file using the _prefix variable

:: Remove the ECHO below in order for this to work.

for /f %%x in (%_tmpfile%) do ECHO ren %%x %_prefix%%%x



::Delete the _tmpfile

if exist %_tmpfile% del %_tmpfile%

Hope this helps!

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

add a comment |

up vote
2
down vote

A quick and dirty batch file which will do what you want.

@echo off

::Create a temporary filename.

set _tmpfile=%random%



::Store the prefix you want to use in the rename in a variable

set _prefix=INVOICE_



::List of files to be renamed are held in the _tmpfile

::so be sure that you are in the correct folder/directory.

dir *.pdf /b>%_tmpfile%



::Now, loop through the _tmpfile and rename each file using the _prefix variable

:: Remove the ECHO below in order for this to work.

for /f %%x in (%_tmpfile%) do ECHO ren %%x %_prefix%%%x



::Delete the _tmpfile

if exist %_tmpfile% del %_tmpfile%

Hope this helps!

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

add a comment |

up vote
2
down vote

A quick and dirty batch file which will do what you want.

@echo off

::Create a temporary filename.

set _tmpfile=%random%



::Store the prefix you want to use in the rename in a variable

set _prefix=INVOICE_



::List of files to be renamed are held in the _tmpfile

::so be sure that you are in the correct folder/directory.

dir *.pdf /b>%_tmpfile%



::Now, loop through the _tmpfile and rename each file using the _prefix variable

:: Remove the ECHO below in order for this to work.

for /f %%x in (%_tmpfile%) do ECHO ren %%x %_prefix%%%x



::Delete the _tmpfile

if exist %_tmpfile% del %_tmpfile%

Hope this helps!

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

A quick and dirty batch file which will do what you want.

@echo off

::Create a temporary filename.

set _tmpfile=%random%



::Store the prefix you want to use in the rename in a variable

set _prefix=INVOICE_



::List of files to be renamed are held in the _tmpfile

::so be sure that you are in the correct folder/directory.

dir *.pdf /b>%_tmpfile%



::Now, loop through the _tmpfile and rename each file using the _prefix variable

:: Remove the ECHO below in order for this to work.

for /f %%x in (%_tmpfile%) do ECHO ren %%x %_prefix%%%x



::Delete the _tmpfile

if exist %_tmpfile% del %_tmpfile%

Hope this helps!

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

edited Nov 16 at 0:48

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

answered Nov 15 at 1:20

JSanchez

1,51289

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

add a comment |

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

You might want to explain the bit about doing a dry run and then deleting the ECHO. (2) Why don’t you just do for %%x in (*.pdf) do and skip the tmpfile?
– Scott
Nov 15 at 20:56

@scott: for #1, I thought the comments in the batch file would be enough. I'll update the answer. For #2, during my testing, the batch would add the prefix twice to the first file. Figured safest thing was to redirect to temp file, then loop that.
– JSanchez
Nov 16 at 0:44

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

Can't make a recommendation of a specific app here, but https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps.

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

Can't make a recommendation of a specific app here, but https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps.

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

Can't make a recommendation of a specific app here, but https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps.

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

Can't make a recommendation of a specific app here, but https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com is the preferred place to ask about apps.

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

K7AAY

3,06621437

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

dir *.pdf | rename-item -newname {$_.name -replace "^","INVOICE_"}

Copied almost verbatim
from How to Batch Rename Multiple Files in Windows at How-To Geek.

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

dir *.pdf | rename-item -newname {$_.name -replace "^","INVOICE_"}

Copied almost verbatim
from How to Batch Rename Multiple Files in Windows at How-To Geek.

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

dir *.pdf | rename-item -newname {$_.name -replace "^","INVOICE_"}

Copied almost verbatim
from How to Batch Rename Multiple Files in Windows at How-To Geek.

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

dir *.pdf | rename-item -newname {$_.name -replace "^","INVOICE_"}

Copied almost verbatim
from How to Batch Rename Multiple Files in Windows at How-To Geek.

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

answered Nov 15 at 7:04

Scott

15.4k113789

add a comment |

up vote
-1
down vote

Try this command

ren *.pdf INVOICE_*.pdf

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

add a comment |

up vote
-1
down vote

Try this command

ren *.pdf INVOICE_*.pdf

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

add a comment |

up vote
-1
down vote

Try this command

ren *.pdf INVOICE_*.pdf

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

Try this command

ren *.pdf INVOICE_*.pdf

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

answered Nov 15 at 0:47

Keltari

48.8k17112161

add a comment |

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