Windows 10: batch script to Add characters to filename if doesnt exist

I'm trying create a batch file to add characters to filenames if it doesnt already exist. for example, "test.txt" would change to "test.tmp.txt" and "AlsoTest.tmp.txt" wouldn't change at all because it already contains the ".tmp" string in the filename.Thank you.

:)

 

How to append another character if filename results in duplicate

Hi, my name is Kelly, and I'm an independent consultant and I'm here to help.

To append a character or two to the end of the filename if it may result in a duplicate filename, you can modify your Batch script to check if the new filename already exists in the directory and, if it does, append a number or letter to the end of the filename. Here's an updated version of your script that does this:

@Echo off

setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

for /f "tokens=3 delims=" %%a in ('dir /b *.pdf') do (

set "newname=%%a.pdf"

if exist "!newname!" (

set "counter=1"

set "basename=%%a"

:loop

set "newname=!basename!!counter!.pdf"

if exist "!newname!" (

set /a "counter+=1"

goto :loop

)

)

ren "%%a" "!newname!"

)

This script uses a counter variable to keep track of the number to append to the filename. If the new filename already exists in the directory, the script appends a number to the end of the filename and checks if the resulting filename exists. If the resulting filename also exists, it increments the counter and tries again until it finds a unique filename.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

 

How to append another character if filename results in duplicate

Hello folks. So, I've created a Batch script that will rename files in the same directory, renaming them with text between the second and third "_" character in the original filenames. But, of course, it skips resulting duplicates. Is there possibly a way to have it append a character or two to the end of the filename if it may result in a duplicate filename, such as (1) or _a?

Script:

@Echo off

for /f "tokens=3 delims=_" %%a in ('dir /b *.pdf') do (

ren "*_%%a_*" "%%a.pdf"

)

 

Which non-alphabetic and non numeric characters are accepted in a filename?

Thank you Mr_Meow and Rodrigo.Queiroz, but playing a bit with the directory list I was given, I realize there is one step I cannot resolve.

I can find from the lists I was given, the names that have illegal characters but it is a bit complicated to do:

"filename","full path/filename","owner","creation date","loast modified date"

As soon as I try a Text-to-column action in Excel, the lines having illegal character may mess up the column twice and working from there to find illegal filenames is more complicated. I could simply load up the CSV and not do a text-to-column and then find the illegal filenames, it would be easier. But the problem is the next step.

Even if I isolate the illegal filenames, the only known way to fix this is to give the owners those filenames and ask them to rename them. This will take a few months to do because it will be their lowest priority and they are pretty busy right now.

Isn't there a tool existing that can scan a server or directory to find all invalid filenames and somehow offer a solution to rename them (depending on the case)?

If not, I don't see how this will be fixed with in a few days (no deadline, its just that this has been going on for so long) ...