Wow, thanks gang -- AdvancedRenamer.com did most of what I need and 1-4a.com/rename/ Rename cleaned up what was left, so I'm on my way to reorganizing hard drive data contents into a reference library of sorts, but still horriby manual, just with some new tools that help apply one or more tasks to more files at once than I had been able to achieve before.

So, for me, free Picasa.com is the initial reorganizer that finds all images and moves them to a chronological directory structure, and free IrfanVew.com batch along with AdvancedRenamer.com and 1-4a.com/rename/ have tools that cleanup the rest (and offer for me to batch-insert some IPTC data into groups of image files so they can then be imported intelligently into my Flickr.com account and other web uses "out there" once these image files have a public life off my own computer).

None of these programs are fully automatic or programmable, all require handling exceptions with another program or manually, and all require copius manual configuration to get them setup for my preferences to whack away at reorganizing hundreds and thousands of files to my requirements, but I'm getting there.

Take note, 1-abc.net, your file management utilities offering here have a way to go to help us manage our life-long file libraries, including intelligent reading of the file contents to help us automate some steps in our challenge.

(yes, I know there is no such song, as "Get Down" before I get comments on that...just an example.)

#8, http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php is the best renaming utility I have EVER seen. I use it to create a music list and number the songs (folders 1 through 7) for karaoke shows. I start each file name with a number dependent on the folder. Folder 1 will start at 10001 and number in sequence to the end of the file list. The same with folders 2 to 7... I even insert two spaces between the "song number" and the file name...all becoming part of the actual file name "10007 Beatles - Get Down" for example. That's flexibility!

I'm looking forward to trying this one, it works differently than my other renamers. It looks like I can set up a sequence of rules to apply to names. Would be nice if there were conditional checks (like, if name contains "XYZ" then don't insert the date...).

I also want to recommend a renamer I haven't seen discussed yet, it's called Oscar's Renamer Pro. Lets you edit a long list of file names as if it was a text file. You can also record a simple macro while you change one name, then apply the macro to all the others. If you like the results, click a button and everything gets renamed. It's very powerful and much easier than it sounds. It solves a different kind of renaming issues than 1-abc.net's File Renamer and might be just what you need sometimes. There's a free version for Win XP. The Pro Version: "Unlimited Evaluation Version is fully functional and doesn't expire". They ask $15 to register it for ALL your home PCs (gets rid of the nag screen). Find it at: http://www.mediachance.com/free/renamer.htm
(no, I'm not associated with them, I just feel strongly about sharing this great program).

Thanks GOTD and 1-abc.net.

May as well add this one into the mix

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

List of some of the features:

- Rename multiple files quickly, according to many flexible criteria.

- Rename files in many ways: add, replace, insert text into file names. Convert case, add numbers. Remove or change file extensions.

- Check the detailed preview before renaming.

- Rename photos using EXIF meta data (i.e. "Date Picture Taken", "Resolution" and other information embedded in all JPG photo files) Rename your holiday pictures from a meaningless dsc1790.jpg to NewYork1.jpg in a flash.

- Rename MP3 files using ID3 tags (a.k.a. MP3 ID3 tag renaming).

- Change files' creation and modification time stamps.

- It's free. Easy to Install. Download and start renaming your files now!

when i click on the second email link to get my activation code the software's web site says there is no such user. i am not typing it wrong i am clicking on the link they sent. i have also manually selected and copy/pasted it. note that you have to jump through email hoops not once but twice and get signed up to be spammed by them to get your code, and in my case end up with nothing because their website doesn't acknowledge their own link they sent out. but the spam newletters is already starting to show up even though they won't give me the code. not trying anything from this company ever again.

Does anyone know of a renamer program that intelligently reads the file contents and renames the file according to what it finds (by user-selected criteria), such as a renamer for image files that can rename according to the file's EXIF content, among other user selectable and controllable things?

How about iterative interaction as it finds problem files and waits for the user input before moving to the next file?

I'm familiar with free IrfanView's terrific batch functions, but it's limited, for example, to, say, EXIF date such as $E36868(%Y-%m-%d) = 2005-11-29 pulled from within an image file's EXIF contents and can bring it out into the file's renamed filename, but it can't find the file serial number or some other EXIF image nomenclature data, argh.

My goal is to intelligently wander / scan through any drive and rename and move all image files into a library structure -- useful for other file types, too.

Free Picasa can move all image files to a chronological dated directory structure.

Free IrfanView can batch rename semi-intelligently according to user and EXIF criteria.

PicaJet RoboImport (free to $50 depending) offers some controls, slower than Picasa but more flexible, yet still not "there" yet.

Nothing yet seems to offer to help automate building an intelligent library out of the usual mess I find on everybody's old hard drives every frickin' day ... and manually rebuilding the directory structure so the images are findable is very time consuming.

Today's offering seems limited -- not able to parse and re-use any existing selected part of the existing filename, nor read the EXIF or other contents of files to help make naming and filing decisions, and cannot reorganize into structured directories.

I'm actually getting pretty tired of utilities like this that appear to be merely repackaging of the same internal open source (apparently) program commands available to all programmers.

How about something NEW -- are you listening, GOTD and 1-abc.net and others, eh what?

Who needs a file renamer in this age. Windows does the file renaming without having to install a program, or cost anything extra. This is about the most worthless TYPE of program. Not even worth downloading. Fifteen bucks for what?

I decided against this program but I am very appreciative for the idea and the other software recommendations. My only problem now is to choose one out of the many all of you have been kind enough to post for us.

Today's giveaway is useful, but like John @14, I've found 1-4a Rename to be incredibly powerful and flexible and fast. The user interface is quirky and not like any other I've seen in more than dozen years. But once you get into it, the utility becomes very quick and easy to use. Small footprint, easy on resources and it's not hard to undo changes if necessary.

Awsome app, work great! Thank

File renamers - probably the most crowded software field after file converters. I see nothing that sets today's offering apart from the pack and the registration process is annoying.

I cast another vote for Denis Kozlov’s ReNamer. I've used it for years and it meets all my needs. Simple to use, and effective.

File renamer? Och, I wish another video converter and/or DVD-ripper. Software giveaway benefactors probably just ripping dvd's all days. But batch-file-renaming? Meh.

I'm going to go in a different direction from others and recommend not a standalone program but the built-in bulk renamer that comes with FreeCommander XE, a file manager program. It may not have every function that some of the more advance renamers have but it more than suits my needs, and i'm someone who is constantly renaming files: http://www.freecommander.com/fc_beta_en.htm

(this new XE version is still in beta but it's an advance beta and i've had no difficulties with it)

I've used a variety of renaming programs in the past. For the last couple of years, I've stuck with Advanced Renamer. Apart from handling potential naming errors and providing excellent undo facilities, it is capable of creating new folders and moving renamed files to these, e.g. based on file tags (which it also handles quite happily for media and pic files, even GPS data.

It can take a while to get to grips with the more complicated elements (custom batch scripts, regular expressions etc) but the program is decidedly worth it, especially if you're looking at renaming thousands of files.

So echoing #23 - http://www.advancedrenamer.com/

It is sad to almost always see so many negative votes and comments from people who have not tried the offering, and have nothing constructive to give us. The developers who make their offerings want and need constructive criticisms, or are trying to spread recognition of their programs. What we seem to get most days is an, excuse the expression. Bitch Fest! Which does not do any good for anyone. Also impugning the motives of the developers, as comment #3 does, is Troll like in behavior.

When I recommend a program, I usually have to tell people to ignore the all the negative votes, and the negative comments. I have tried it and I like it.

In the past, I have seen commenters slam a program that converts a media format that is not very common. Only because it isn't common and they couldn't use it. Very childish.

The voters need to pass on a vote if they don't care for the offering. That is NOT its purpose. The forums are for this. And the pack mentality needs to scale back, if we are going keep this a viable community.

All my pictures are labeled by the object in it and the event, there no way this software can do that. Pass

#24
You're right. By far the best one is Rename Master and it's free. BTW I love the ingenuity of RM's JoeJoe developer. www.joejoesoft.com

An excellent free portable alternative is Lupas Rename 2000.

http://www.lupasfreeware.org/rename/

I've tried and compared practically all the freeware file renamers on the Net. The one I have been using for over 10 years is Rename Master (http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/108/). It has everything I have ever needed. And it's portable.

The premise of this program is ridiculous. The overwhelming majority of the files that a user is likely to need to search for, the user will have named them his/her self! Files often need to be renamed later for better organization or something similar.
The exception of course would be file names from a camera or other device.

However, there is a very fine program that can rename, copy and move large numbers of files, using several different criteria, and that program is FREE:

Advanced Renamer
http://www.advancedrenamer.com/

After finding that I needed to semi-register and subscribe to a newsletter,I declined File Renamer and uninstalled.

If it had a popup after a day or so to do such, I may have considered.

But for something that I have not even used to give them my email and agree to subscribe .... not this fellow.

However, I do value GOTD and keep up the good work

Joe Mayers

Okay, let me get in here with my fave. FlexRena for Flexible renamer. Freeware and will add or prepend zeros, add words, use filedates long or short, copy and/or move the new files and much more. I think author Yaru is at vers 8.1 now. Version 3 was all I ever needed. It's a Swiss Army Knife that is complicated and powerful. Newbies need not apply. you'll get cut with it.

#4 and #6

I also have been using "The Rename" for years

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/THE-Rename.shtml

and it has worked very well. However the "Bulk Rename Utility" #6 recommended seems just as good.

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

What is new to me though is that both of these programs can rename photos from their "hidden" EXIF data. In other words, it can sort all your pictures by date, or camera, or any of the other information in your EXIF data just by renaming them.

I had never thought of a renaming utility for being able to do such a useful thing - Thank you both very much for such a useful tip!

Some of these programmes have already being mentioned, but here is an article with short reviews and ratings:

Gizmo's Best Free File Rename Utility

More than enough to find whatever one needs, I would say. Not to mention that Irfan's batch renaming capabilities are good enough for most of my needs.

I've been using Total Commander for at least 14 years to do all of my file manipulation / management, including multiple-file renaming, etc. Having a program like TC makes these one trick ponies like today's offer seem a little lame.

@pattyladd #16 This software is for renaming multiple files at once using a pattern. This function can be very handy for picture files and music files, among others.

My free favorite Denis Kozlov's ReNamer
(as mentioned by #10 and #13)
rated Excellent (4.7/5 by 68 users; 5/5 editor's rating at Softpedia:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Denis-Kozlov-ReNamer.shtml
and, yes, used for years with full satisfaction

Umm I don't understand what this is for. I just right click and rename the file why would I need a app to do that when it's part of windows?

Just to be even-handed, let me say a few positive things about 1-abc.net.
1. I tried their Synchronizer and Hard Drive Washer programs after they were offered by GAOTD, went through a similar registration process, and was not bombarded afterwards by emails.
2. All 1-abc.net programs are intrinsically very small (File Renamer is only 392KB when downloaded without the GAOTD wrapper). In an age of bloat, this is a mercy in itself.
3. They have pleasant, clean interfaces, are very responsive, and work quickly.
File Renamer installed quickly and easily on an old XP sp3 computer, and the email with the licence came at once.

My picture files with long titles from the camera were renamed instantly.
It is a handy little program with a number of features worth exploring.

Everyone seems to have a favourite they have been "using for years".

Me too. Mine is:

http://www.antp.be/software/renamer

As usual the comments section produces a crop of most useful freeware alternatives , so that if you find this particular Giveaway too late to take advantage of the offer, you will probably find a freeware solution.
In this case I have yet to see the stalwart in my own utilities arsenal
the aptly entitled 1 tor all rename from
http://www.1-4a.com/rename/
It is very easy to use and you can add whatever prefix you wish.
including Chaim as many leading zeroes as are necessary to every file in a folder.
Then if they are not all 9 digit filenames a simple manual correction would be a cinch

Iv'e been using 'Renamer'Freeware,
http://www.den4b.com/?x=products&product=renamer
I still use the original 2005 version, tho updates have been available.
Does even more than I need. Bulk renames, previews of proposed renames, all kinds of permutations..
Great !

Here's another free alternative I've been using for a long time. Lets you simulate before renaming. Uses wild cards. Drag n drop. Portable. :)

http://www.fastfilerenamer.com/

This 1-abc-net FileRenamer Ver5-0-0 software is LOUSY.
Please do NOT sell software like that and charge US$15 for it.
It gives the 1-abc software company a bad name.

It is extremely limited in ability to rename files.

The programmer/author is obviously half-hearted and not keen to write a piece of good software.

I have 15 other excellent Freeware file rename utility software in my PC. They far more powerful and easy to use.

I am uninstalling this 1-abc-net FileRenamer Ver5-0-0 immediately after leaving this message.

Another excellent alternative that I have used for years is Renamer:

http://www.den4b.com/?x=products&product=renamer

Besides many common, powerful and flexible renaming options, the one that is particularly useful to me is the ability to combine multiple renaming actions as a reusable rule set.

Renamer is free for personal use. Highly recommended.

The rename facilities that come with Windows really are 3rd rate, even Ren/Rename. So nearly anything else is a vast improvement. I finally turned to something very like GREP fromLinux.

I didn't find the program useful at all, it was basic and lacking in functionality, if you see 1-abc.net all of their product has the same feature and designed almost similar, although i found its 1-abc.net Synchronizer extremely useful.
This produnt i don't think i'll keep, after doing a lot of things right i am not able to rename a single file ? :D :<
BulkRenamer performs nicely in this area.
http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

To d.
Newsletters - are you kidding? There are throw-away email addresses for just this sort of situation.
From habit I use yopmail, I make up an adress such as s76@yopmail.com to register the program (no need to visit yopmail first) then check the inbox for a reply later. You never need go back to that address, just think up another when needed.
No, I have NO connection with yop or any other outfit, just trying to help. :)

#2 @Chaim

this will do it. I really love this FREE program. been using it for years. 32-bit and 64-bit

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

Bulk Rename Utility allows you to easily rename files and entire folders based upon extremely flexible criteria.

Add date/time stamps, replace numbers, insert text, convert case, add auto-numbers, process folders and sub-folders....plus a whole lot more!

Indeed, I'll salute Giovanni. I'm using that File Renamer for years. I have it on all my USB sticks.

An excellent free program that I have used for years:-
The Rename

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/THE-Rename.shtml

Many developers here, like this one for instance, do not really care about our comments and most of the time they focus their attention on programs which can easily be replaced with better or at least as good as FREE APP.

For instance this tool does the job, but why pay 15 BUCKS or download it for FREE as GAOTD with the update limitation if you can do the same things and even more with FREE (and PORTABLE) apps like this one?

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Miscellaneous/File-Renamer.shtml

It doesn't make sense, does it?

==> FREE, BETTER and damn PORTABLE <== Enjoy!!

very basic rename features. I need to rename files by adding leading zero's and keeping the existing file name so all files have 9 digits in file name. this is not possible.

this publisher has not changed it's registration process despite the fact that very few users here seem to like it. To register you must first visit this link...

http://1-abc.net/0028/ed/gtd_vg/m1.htm

There you will enter your name and email address and oh yeah, you must also accept this part of the agreement...

This registration includes a subscription to the 1-abc.net Newsletter. You can unsubscribe from it in each issue. 1-abc.net guarantees to give your e-mail address to no other persons or companies and this newsletter has got nothing to do with junk or spam mails. Except the data you enter here and your IP address no more personal data is saved.

I will pass as I am not in the need of any additional Newsletters at this time. This may be a good program but I think there are many alternatives to this that does either the same or better.

One last suggestion that I would like to make to the publisher. Every giveaway comes with a readme file. Why not use this readme file to include the needed key rather than require an email address? I am certain users here would like that much better.