How to batch rename and remove last characters

Question

In Windows XP, I'm trying to figure out how to batch rename and remove the last characters of filenames.

Example of removing last 4 characters before file extenstion: file.doc.pdf --> file.pdf

I could do:

ren *.pdf *.
ren *.doc *.pdf

Though this wouldn't work well if there are already other PDFs in the folder.

Not sure if the FOR command is needed here.

For removing: What about using two dots? `ren *.doc. *.` This way other files with .doc extension don't get touched. — nixda, Jun 15 '13 at 22:15

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 16 '18 at 11:31

2

ren * *. -> will give you 'file.doc' repeat above command -> will give you 'file' ren * *.pdf -> will give 'file.pdf'

answered Aug 16 '18 at 11:31

Zimba

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 16 '13 at 00:24

2

If your file names do not contain any periods other than at the end (.doc.pdf), the following will work:

for /f "delims=." %a in ('dir /b *.doc.pdf') do ren "%~a.doc.pdf" "%~a.pdf"

answered Jun 16 '13 at 00:24

Karan

If you want you can insert an `echo` before `ren` to preview all the renaming operations. – Karan Jun 16 '13 at 00:36
Karan, your command works, but only if I paste it into the command window, not from the batch file. Any ideas? – Infinite loop Jun 16 '13 at 01:59
Of course, in a batch file you must double every % sign. So each % will become %%. Try it and see! – Karan Jun 16 '13 at 02:13
BTW, if this and my previous answer helped you don't forget to [accept them](http://superuser.com/help/someone-answers) using the green check mark to the left (click it so it becomes filled). Thanks! – Karan Jun 16 '13 at 02:47
@Karan - There is actually a surprisingly simple solution using only a single REN command :) See [my answer](http://superuser.com/a/734969/109090) – dbenham Mar 29 '14 at 02:52

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17

0

ren *.doc.pdf ????????????????????.pdf

Just make sure the target mask has at least as many ? as the longest base file name.

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17

Community

answered Mar 29 '14 at 02:36

dbenham

STTR · Answer 4 · 2013-06-16T10:47:29.727

-1

file.doc.pdf --> file.doc:

for %I in (*.doc.pdf) do rename "%~nI.pdf" "%~nI"

file.doc --> file.pdf

for %I in (*.doc) do rename "%~nI.doc" "%~nI.pdf"

edited Jun 16 '13 at 10:47

answered Jun 15 '13 at 23:09

STTR

Sorry, but -1. You need to use quotes or both commands will fail if the filenames have spaces. Also, instead of renaming .doc.pdf to .pdf, your first command will actually rename to .doc – Karan Jun 16 '13 at 00:25

4 Answers4