How Do You Rename A Herd Of Files On Your Mac?

The Mac’s Finder makes finding files, moving files, viewing files easy. Not renaming files. OK, rename one or two. That’s easy. Try to rename 100 files in the Mac’s Finder.

There’s gotta be an Excedrin Headache # for that. Here’s the solution.

FileWrangler. It’s one of those regularly rated Five Star Mac utility applications that once you try, you’ll buy.

Except there’s no need to buy because File Wrangler is free.

First, what does it do? Wrangles files? Sorta. Lets say you have a folder full of files, like digital images, or documents, or whatever. There’s a different name for each and you want to rename the files.

That’s OK using the Finder for a few files. Maybe half a dozen. An even dozen if you’re a glutton for punishment. Got 100 files that need to be renamed? Uh huh. Try File Wrangler.

File Wrangler renames files. Fast. Very fast. For free.

Put your files in a folder. Open File Wrangler and then use it to open the folder. Then choose from any one of the included naming schemes, and click the Rename Files button.

How hard is that?

The latest version of File Wrangler is faster than Bambi ordering dinner at a Five Star Restaurant. The latest update also includes user-definable configuration sets and a custom interface.

That means you can set up the interface the way you want, and define a specific ‘renaming’ project so it can be used again and again.

File Wrangler’s preferences let you modify how you want to name files, and how to notify you in case there’s a “violation” of rules on the naming of files (it happens).

Here’s how to get started. Download FileWrangler from MacUpdate. While you’re downloading you can read all about why users give it four and five stars. Did I mention that it’s free?

Open FileWrangler and use it to open a folder with files. My example has six files, all .JPG photos. The ‘Renaming” section lets me add a prefix to the file name, add a suffix to the file name, and change the extension, if I choose.

I can also choose numeric, alpha, date, time, or a custom prefix or suffix. I can also trim the file, change the case, start the numbering at a specific number and so on.

Try it a few times and you’ll see just how handy something handy can really be.

OK, ready, Click the button that says “Rename Files.”

That’s it. Click. Hundreds of files can be renamed in seconds. Thousands in a few seconds. FileWrangler is fast.

Of course, as fast as it is at renaming a gazillion files, it’s not as fast at undoing what you just did. That’s the only feature I could think of that’s needed. Undo.

Regardless, whenever you’re making changes on the names of many files, it’s best to work with a copy of the original files. It’s easy enough to make duplicates of a folder full of files.

How does FileWrangler compare with an older Mac application called A Better Finder Rename? They both rename files.

FileWrangler’s interface is easier to handle than ABFR. FileWrangler is free. ABFR costs $40.

Got files to rename? Lots of files? Just want lots of files to sort numerically, alphabetically or both? Try FileWrangler.