Home / ubuntu / Questions / 878940
Accepted
Ken
Asked: 2017-02-03 00:10:37 +0800 CST

How to rename a certain prefix in multiple files?

  • 772

I have a folder that contains over 500+ files with a certain prefix. Those files are spread in multiple folders in one directory. My objective is to re-name that prefix in those multiple files.

Sample File Names and Paths:

  • MyFiles/my-old-FileOfAlice.txt
  • MyFiles/Folder 1/my-old-FileOfTom.odt
  • MyFiles/Folder 2/my-old-FileOfJane.doc

The Objective Is To Rename Them To:

  • MyFiles/my-new-FileOfAlice.txt
  • MyFiles/Folder 1/my-new-FileOfTom.odt
  • MyFiles/Folder 2/my-new-FileOfJane.doc

Notes:

  • The files do not have the same extension.
  • The files are spread in multiple folders under the same directory. I am using Kubuntu 16.10. Any Ubuntu oriented answer will be accepted and appreciated.

Any command line, program, guide, tutorial, or link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

command-line

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You can use the following command:

    find -name "*-old-*" -exec rename 's/-old-/-new-/' {} \;

    This searches for files containing -old- recursively beginning in your current directory and renames them by replacing the -old- with -new-.

    Note: replacing old may be enough, but I included the - in case, there is a second old in the name (like my-old-Folders.doc).

    • 9