Renaming files in a folder to sequential numbers

Question

I want to rename the files in a directory to sequential numbers. Based on creation date of the files.

For Example sadf.jpg to 0001.jpg, wrjr3.jpg to 0002.jpg and so on, the number of leading zeroes depending on the total amount of files (no need for extra zeroes if not needed).

Answer 1

On OSX, install the rename script from Homebrew:

brew install rename

Then you can do it really ridiculously easily:

rename -e 's/.*/$N.jpg/' *.jpg

Or to add a nice prefix:

rename -e 's/.*/photo-$N.jpg/' *.jpg

Answer 2

This script will sort the files by creation date on Mac OS bash. I use it to mass rename videos. Just change the extension and the first part of the name.

ls -trU *.mp4| awk 'BEGIN{ a=0 }{ printf "mv %s lecture_%03d.mp4\n", $0, a++ }' | bash

Answer 3

To work in all situations, put a \" for files that have space in the name

find . -name '*.jpg' | gawk 'BEGIN{ a=1 }{ printf "mv \"%s\" %04d.jpg\n", $0, a++ }' | bash

Answer 4

Again using Pero's solution with little modifying, because find will be traversing the directory tree in the order items are stored within the directory entries. This will (mostly) be consistent from run to run, on the same machine and will essentially be "file/directory creation order" if there have been no deletes.

However, in some case you need to get some logical order, say, by name, which is used in this example.

find -name '*.jpg' | sort -n | # find jpegs
gawk 'BEGIN{ a=1 }{ printf "mv %s %04d.jpg\n", $0, a++ }' | # build mv command
bash # run that command 

Answer 5

I had a similar issue and wrote a shell script for that reason. I've decided to post it regardless that many good answers were already posted because I think it can be helpful for someone. Feel free to improve it!

numerate

@Gnutt The behavior you want can be achieved by typing the following:

./numerate.sh -d <path to directory> -o modtime -L 4 -b <startnumber> -r

If the option -r is left out the reaming will be only simulated (Should be helpful for testing).

The otion L describes the length of the target number (which will be filled with leading zeros) it is also possible to add a prefix/suffix with the options -p <prefix> -s <suffix>.

In case somebody wants the files to be sorted numerically before they get numbered, just remove the -o modtime option.

Answer 6

ls -1tr | rename -vn 's/.*/our $i;if(!$i){$i=1;} sprintf("%04d.jpg", $i++)/e'

rename -vn - remove n for off test mode

{$i=1;} - control start number

"%04d.jpg" - control count zero 04 and set output extension .jpg