Rename Files by Date Modified

How This Page Works

This web page helps you generate batch renaming commands for your files. It takes selected files, prefixes their last modified date (in YYYY-MM-DD format) to their original names, and then creates a list of commands that you can run in your terminal to perform the renaming.

Fields and Buttons:

• Select Files: Click this button (often styled as "Choose Files" or similar by your browser) to open a file dialog. You can select one or multiple files from your computer.
• Command Type:
  • mv (Linux/macOS): Select this option if you are using a Linux or macOS system. It will generate mv (move/rename) commands.
  • ren (Windows): Select this option if you are using a Windows system. It will generate ren (rename) commands.
• Command Output Area: This (usually grey) box below the controls will display the generated renaming commands once you select files. You can copy the text directly from this box.
• Save Commands to File: This button appears after commands are generated. Clicking it will download a script file:
  • rename_files.sh (if "mv" was selected): A shell script for Linux/macOS, starting with #!/usr/bin/env bash.
  • rename_files.cmd (if "ren" was selected): A batch script for Windows, starting with @echo off.
  You can then execute this downloaded script in your terminal to rename the files.

Important Usage Notes:

• Run from the Correct Folder: The downloaded script (rename_files.sh or rename_files.cmd) needs to be placed and run from the same folder where the files you want to rename are located. If you run it from a different location, the commands won't be able to find your files.
• For .sh files (Linux/macOS): Before you can run the rename_files.sh script, you might need to make it executable. To do this, open your terminal in the folder where you saved the .sh file and type the command: chmod +x rename_files.sh. After doing this once, you can run the script by typing: ./rename_files.sh.

General Note: Always review the generated commands within the script before running it, especially if your filenames contain unusual characters. This tool attempts to handle common cases, but complex filenames might require manual adjustments to the commands inside the script.